by Roland Arkell
Purchased for £1 from a Hertfordshire charity shop earlier this year, a Qianlong famille rose wall vase will carry an estimate of over £50,000 at Sworders in the autumn.
The lucky purchaser of the vessel – which is inscribed with an imperial poem – was unaware of the significance of his find and had been deluged with bids and enquiries after placing it for sale on eBay. He took the decision to withdraw it from the online auction site and take it to his local saleroom for a fuller appraisal.