An Antiques Roadshow guest was left absolutely stunned after discovering the potential auction value of a Chinese bronze vase he inherited from his grandad. The item had originally been purchased at an auction house in Bradford, where it was being used as a doorstop.
Expert Appraises the Rare Bronze Vase
During a throwback episode of the BBC programme, originally broadcast in 2011, expert David Battie examined the vase in Saltaire. The guest explained that his grandad had seen the vase at the end of an auction and made a bid, though he did not know how much was paid.
David Battie, an oriental specialist, expressed high admiration for the piece, stating: "It is, undoubtedly, the oldest bronze we've ever had on the Roadshow. This falls into the category of later Chinese bronzes." He noted that the vase appeared to date back to the Yuan dynasty, spanning from 1279 to 1368.
Intricate Design and Craftsmanship
The expert pointed out that the squiggles on the vase were based on sea dragons, and he lauded the exquisite craftsmanship. He remarked: "On the sides, you've got these dragon handles. What I like about this is, it's in complete contrast to the rather fine tracery here."
Examining the facial features on the dragon handles, David highlighted that the creator would have used wax to fashion those elements. He added: "It's just brilliant! It's got condition problems. It was, some time, buried."
Condition Issues and Valuation
The vase had some issues, including a portion of the bronze being cleaned, causing discolouration. David advised against repeating this action. Additionally, one handle appeared on the brink of snapping, and the base had detached at some point in its history.
Despite these flaws, David noted: "We're looking at something which is pushing 1,000 years old. If this were in a smart dealer's catalogue in London, I could see it having a price tag of somewhere between £10,000 and £15,000."
Guest's Reaction
The man was visibly taken aback, his jaw dropping before he responded: "Seriously? Seriously? That's really unbelievable, to be honest. Thank you (grandad) very much. That's a real shocker. I love the piece myself, but I didn't think it was going to be worth something like that."
Antiques Roadshow is available to watch on BBC iPlayer.
