Two charity shop finds have sold for thousands at auction after their 19th-century origins were discovered – with one originally priced at just £2.
A blue and yellow ‘five dragon’ dish had been donated to a charity shop in Dorset, and was set to sell for just £2, while a blue and white ‘dragon’ bottle vase was priced at a more steep £100 in a Surrey charity shop.
Both pieces are of 19th-century Chinese origin, brought to UK auctioneers Woolley and Wallis, where Chairman and Asian Art specialist John Axford immediately identified them as significant works, as reported by What’s The Jam.
READ MORE: Skating elves set to smash record for most on a rink
- Advertisement -
The dish was found after the vigilant charity shop manager decided to get it checked “just in case”, having planned to flog it for £2.
Expert John Axford instantly recognised the distinctive decoration and identified the dish as dating to the Daoguang period, from around 1821 – 1850.
A six-character Daoguang mark confirmed the attribution, and research revealed that a similar example appears in the Chinese Imperial collection, recorded in The Imperial Porcelain of Late Qing, from the Kwan Collection.
The dish features a five-claw dragon pursuing a flaming pearl among swirling flames and cloud scrolls, with two further dragons decorating the dish.
The underside continues the dramatic design, with two dragons above a band of lotus-petal lappets, all executed in translucent yellow over an underglaze blue wash.
- Advertisement -
Given a conservative estimate of £1,500 – £2,000, the dish far exceeded expectations, selling for more than £7,000.
And as the dish was a donation, the proceeds have been donated to charity.
Meanwhile the ovoid vase, with its long slender neck, also garnered attention – with the piece featuring three dynamic dragons chasing a sacred pearl of wisdom amongst clouds, flames and rolling waves.
- Advertisement -
Impressed by the craftsmanship and curious whether the piece might be the work of a particular artist or workshop, the Surrey-based shopper who purchased it for £100 took it to Woolley and Wallis for advice.
There, Axford again confirmed it to be a 19th-century Chinese piece from the first half of the century.
Estimated at £1,500 – £2,500, the vase sold for £5,080 after competitive bidding.
Both pieces were sold in Woolley and Wallis’ Fine Asian Art sale on Tuesday (11 November).
READ MORE: Giant huntsman spider discovered in box of bananas at school
