What seemed to be a regular cardboard box full of old pots was discovered to hold antique Chinese treasures and has now sold for £100,000 at an auction.
The box was discovered when a grieving son was clearing out his mother's house following her death. The 67-year-old nearly donated all the boxed up plates, bowl, and dishes, to a charity shop before deciding to get them valued by auctioneers.
He initially expected the items to be worth around £30 to £50 but was left shocked when he was told some of the items could be worth between £4,000 to £6,000. Some of his mother's crockers was dated to the late 16th century Chinese Ming Dynasty and were antiques.
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The seller, a retired computer engineer, who wished to remain anonymous, said: “I thought they might fetch a bit of money but didn’t think they would be worth much. I took them along to Hansons Auctioneers for valuation and consigned them into auction expecting them to make around £30-£50.
“But later on I got a call from Hansons to say some of the Chinese ceramics in the box were worth more. They planned to put them into a different sale with estimates of £4,000-£6,000. I thought brilliant.
"I was pleased with that. What happened next was unbelievable. I watched the auction live online and the prices kept rocketing.
"I was shouting at the computer. My sister was watching live online from Australia and we were texting each other. We just couldn’t believe what was happening.”
The collection included an imperial porcelain yellow ground medallion bowl, Daoguang (1821-1850), with a seal mark in blue, sold for £14,500 from a £1,500-£2,500 guide price. An Imperial porcelain famille rose pink ground medallion bowl, Daoguang (1821-1850), fetched £8,800 and two bowls sold to a private UK buyer for £30,290.
He added: “I grew up being surrounded by plates and dishes. Mum liked to display them on the walls. She would have had no idea the dishes were valuable.
“She inherited them from a chap she used to help to look after many years ago in Etwall, a former Rolls-Royce engineer. They were given to her as a mark of gratitude. They must have been on display in her home for 30 or 40 years.
“I’d been clearing mum’s house and had considered taking the pots to a charity shop. Oddly, the ones I thought might be valuable weren’t but the ones I thought weren’t worth much were.
“I’m still recovering from the excitement of it all. The proceeds will be split between myself, my brother and my sister. I think I’ll be treating my wife to a special holiday.”
Charles Hanson, owner of Hansons Auctioneers, said: “I am absolutely delighted for this Etwall family. I spotted the Chinese items in a cardboard box in our saleroom after they had been consigned to auction by one of our valuers.
“They were originally destined for Hansons’ monthly antiques and collectors sale but I knew they were important. They were validated by consultant valuer and Chinese ceramics expert Adam Schoon.
“He said what made the four dishes which achieved £63,000 particularly special was the fact they’d remained together as a set. They may have been used as altar pieces in a Chinese monastery or temple.
"They probably came to England after the First or Second World War. It was an unbelievable find and a tremendous result. It’s wonderful to discover items like this on your doorstep.
"Our Derbyshire saleroom and company headquarters is in Etwall, the village where those treasures were tucked away for decades. This local find attracted worldwide interest, 10 phone bidders and a superb result for our client. That makes me proud.
“So, what’s in your cardboard box? If you’re having a spring clean, have inherited some pieces or you’re handling a house clearance, never dismiss anything. Bring us your cardboard boxes and let us take a look.”
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