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Kitchen bowl sells for £203,000 Kitchen bowl sells for £203,000
(2 days later)
A family's everyday porcelain bowl has sold for £203,000 at auction after it turned out to be a very rare 15th Century Chinese Ming dish.A family's everyday porcelain bowl has sold for £203,000 at auction after it turned out to be a very rare 15th Century Chinese Ming dish.
The owners, from Dorset, kept it on a kitchen dresser after inheriting it from relatives in Ireland.The owners, from Dorset, kept it on a kitchen dresser after inheriting it from relatives in Ireland.
It was only when they moved house and called in an auctioneer that they found out it was a brush washer from about 1430 - the reign of Emperor Xuande.It was only when they moved house and called in an auctioneer that they found out it was a brush washer from about 1430 - the reign of Emperor Xuande.
It was sold Lawrences Auctioneers in Crewkerne, Somerset, on 16 October. It was sold at Lawrences Auctioneers in Crewkerne, Somerset, on 16 October.
The bowl was used by Chinese artists when King Henry VI was on the British throne. The bowl was used by Chinese artists when King Henry VI was on the English throne.
The 8in (21cm) dish was acquired by the owner's relatives in the early part of the 20th Century when they were prominent in the Chinese tea trade.The 8in (21cm) dish was acquired by the owner's relatives in the early part of the 20th Century when they were prominent in the Chinese tea trade.
It was not highly prized just lying around the house for decoration amongst other bits and pieces Richard Gold, director at Lawrences AuctioneersIt was not highly prized just lying around the house for decoration amongst other bits and pieces Richard Gold, director at Lawrences Auctioneers
Richard Kay, a director at Lawrences Auctioneers, added: "This was very early Ming which makes it rarer that it survived as intact as it had.Richard Kay, a director at Lawrences Auctioneers, added: "This was very early Ming which makes it rarer that it survived as intact as it had.
"It is unusual to have a large piece of virtually perfect blue and white, particularly from the early part of the Ming dynasty.""It is unusual to have a large piece of virtually perfect blue and white, particularly from the early part of the Ming dynasty."
Undamaged pieces from this era can fetch up to £2m but the bowl was only valued at between £5,000 to £10,000 because of a small chip and four hairline cracks.Undamaged pieces from this era can fetch up to £2m but the bowl was only valued at between £5,000 to £10,000 because of a small chip and four hairline cracks.
However, a bidding war broke out between dealers from the Far East and Europe and it was eventually sold to a specialist London dealer for £203,000, including buyer's premium.However, a bidding war broke out between dealers from the Far East and Europe and it was eventually sold to a specialist London dealer for £203,000, including buyer's premium.
Richard Gold, also a director at the auction house, said: "It was not highly prized just lying around the house for decoration amongst other bits and pieces. They were very pleased with the sale price.Richard Gold, also a director at the auction house, said: "It was not highly prized just lying around the house for decoration amongst other bits and pieces. They were very pleased with the sale price.
"The Chinese will pay a lot of money for something that is perfect, a lot of purists won't touch it if it is damaged."The Chinese will pay a lot of money for something that is perfect, a lot of purists won't touch it if it is damaged.
"But quality pieces like this one are still incredibly rare.""But quality pieces like this one are still incredibly rare."