Chinese Celadon vase shatters estimate

A Chinese porcelain celadon vase shattered its estimate of £200 to £300 to sell for an eye-watering hammer of £16,500 at auction in the Cotswolds.

The vase, an inverse baluster shape with 3 small lug handles, was snapped up by an internet bidder from mainland China at The Cotswold Auction Company’s April sale.

While the celadon vase was the clear stand-out, several other notable sales were made on the day. Another porcelain vase, in Cong form and from the late Qing Dynasty/early Republic period, sold to a different Chinese buyer for a hammer of £1,200.

Among the jewellery, a stunning platinum diamond solitaire ring sold for £3,800, and an elegant Georgian rivière necklace for £2,700. A gem-set leopard’s head brooch in the style of Cartier also went for £1,250.

Silver was a hot seller this time out, with two sets of George V silver cutlery hammering down for a combined total of over £3,000 – one for £1,850, the other £1,450. A pair of Victorian silver column oil lamps sold for £950, and a Portuguese wine flagon for £500.

Watches also performed well, with the star timekeeper a vintage Breitling Geneve 2504 automatic wristwatch, hammering down at £370. And a slice of wedding cake housed in a specially commissioned tin to celebrate Prince William’s marriage to Kate Middleton in 2011 sold for £260.

Finally, three bottles of Chateau Margaux Premier Grand Cru Classe wine, two from 1986 and one from 1985, went for £900.

Auctioneer Lindsey Braune said: “This month’s sale was a great success. We were completely bowled over by the Chinese celadon vase, which sold for more than 50 times its high estimate. Jewellery, silver and watches all performed well, including a very fine Georgian rivière necklace.”