I owned broken vase my whole life then glued it back together to sell it at auction… now it’s sold for £49k
AN old broken vase that had been glued back together has sold for an incredible £49,000.
The Chinese vase, which was described as having “cracks all over” had been valued at between £80 and £120.
But following a bidding war at TW Gaze auctioneers in Diss, Norfolk, it was eventually bought by a buyer from China.
Both the auctioneer and the vendor, from East Norfolk, were “very surprised” at how much it eventually sold for, the auction house said.
It was originally thought the lidded vase dated from the 20th Century but now it is believed to be a “superb quality” creation dating from the Qianlong period in the 18th Century.
According to the auction catalogue, the vase looked as if it had been “dropped and repaired back together” and it was said to feature a foliate design on an “ornate aubergine coloured” background.
Elizabeth Talbot from TW Gaze Auction House said: “The vendor, who had known it most of their life, had no history or special provenance for it.
“It was in terrible condition, having been badly smashed and then reconstructed, and the value suggested was reflective of the fact that it looked far too damaged to be of great commercial value, and this is what had been explained to the vendor.
“Therefore, the vendor who is from East Norfolk, was needless-to-say very surprised but very happy at the result.”
She added the “earnestness of bidding” indicated the interested parties believe it to be a piece from early in the period.
The auction house also had a “sleeper” item on its hands last year when an Italian School painting sold for £160,000 after being classed as a Victorian copy.
It comes as Brits continue to unearth amazing finds in their barns – selling it off for thousands.
One woman ended up bagging £8,400 for a toy found in her loft.
And a man sold a painting his dad had bought for £89 – scooping a whopping £23k.