Southport resident cashes in £50,000 vase

A rare Chinese vase has been sold at auction by a Southport resident for £50,000.

The ‘Empress’ vase sold for ten times it pre-sale estimate at an Asian art auction in Shropshire last week after two Chinese telephone bidders became embroiled in a bidding war.

The elegant, pear-shaped vase, probably Daoguang, belonged to the same Southport owner who sold a rare, large Chinese vase for £150,000 with Halls in July.

It was decorated using a technique known as doucai with two ornamental pheasants perched on rocks amid flowering magnolia and peonies, elements believed to represent the Empress.

The vase was one of eight precious objects that Halls had promoted to international buyers at an event organised by the Association of Accredited Auctioneers during the 20th annual Asian Art in London festival in the lead-up to the auction. The vase was one of the most admired and viewed of the items.

Mr Clement said: “It was another fantastic result for the Southport owner of the Empress vase and she was very pleased indeed. She knew it was something interesting because she had owned it for 30 years and it was one she very much admired and loved.