The French auction house Osenat has announced the sale of a Chinese porcelain vase for nearly 8 million euros, exceeding the initial estimated price by over 4,000 times.
“Incredible. The vase sold for more than Napoleon’s sword from the Battle of Marengo in 1800!” said Jean-Pierre Osenat, the chairman of Osenat auction house, in an interview with Le Parisien.
The Chinese “tianqiuping” porcelain vase sold for nearly 8 million euros. (Photo: Maison Osenat).
The auction for ownership of the vase was described as “intense” and “unprecedented” by Mr. Osenat.
According to the Guardian, over 30 buyers from China participated in the recent auction, believing the vase dates back to the 18th century.
Cédric Laborde, a director at Osenat, stated: “Since we announced the sale, we have been surprised to see more and more Chinese buyers coming to Paris to admire this vase.”
The white ceramic vase, standing 54 cm tall, is classified as a “tianqiuping” vase, named for its spherical shape. The body of the vase features intricate Chinese motifs, including dragons and clouds.
Ultimately, the Chinese porcelain vase, which had a starting price of around 2,000 euros, was sold for a staggering 7.7 million euros. Including additional fees, the final sale price reached 9.12 million euros.
The auction of the Chinese porcelain vase took place in Paris, France. (Photo: Osenat).
However, experts have assessed the vase as “ordinary” and believe it originates from the 20th century. Mr. Osenat mentioned that if the vase were from the 18th century, it would be a much more valuable antique.
“The seller had never seen the vase. She inherited it from her grandmother, a collector in Paris from the previous century,” Mr. Osenat shared.
“The Chinese are very passionate about their history and proud of historical artifacts,” Mr. Laborde noted. He also believes that the vase will be displayed for the public in the future.
