China Trade painting, 1840s – took €55,000 (£47,010) at Ivoire Besançon.
This 19th century China Trade painting was a highlight of the sale held by Ivoire Besançon (22% buyer’s premium) in France on October 17.
The painting was brought to the auctioneers on a valuation day by an owner who was reluctant to get it out of the boot of his car, certain that it had little value. However, Ivoire Besançon’s auctioneer Jean-Paul Renoud-Grappin showed it to the Asian specialist Cabinet Ansart Papillon which identified the 3ft x 6ft 4in (92cm x 1.93m) oil on canvas as a China Trade painting showing the waterfront at Honam, Canton, and the Pearl River.