The demand for quality imperial porcelain by Far Eastern trade and collectors has seen prices soar and any fresh work that has appeared in the provinces of late has been pounced upon by the London trade.
The 13in (33cm) tall vase at Gilding’s was no exception.
Consigned by a local private vendor, it was given an estimate of £10,000-15,000. In excellent condition and finely painted, it had a good blue colour and exceeded expectations after it was contested by five telephone bidders.
It finally sold to a London dealer at £54,000 – the best price Gilding’s have taken for porcelain.
The excitement generated by the vase, helped contribute to the buzz which saw fairly mundane furniture sell well above hopes. An inlaid Edwardian mahogany display cabinet needed work to one of the doors but quadrupled expectations
at £4000. An 18th century joined oak dresser with alterations was also a surprise when it took £2500 from the trade. Elsewhere, a George III-style mahogany breakfront bookcase, c.1900, doubled expectations at £2800.
£54,000 Chinese gem charms London specialists
COINCIDING with London’s Asia week, the 507-lot sale held by Gilding’s (12.5% buyer’s premium) at Market Harborough on November 13 featured this blue and white six-character mark and period Qianlong (1736-95) meiping, right, on its front cover.
