China prices smash through estimates again

ONCE AGAIN, Chinese antiques attracted competitive bidding and astonishing prices at Sheppard’s Irish Auction House in Durrow, Co Laois this week.

A set of four little Qing dynasty polychrome porcelain dishes, estimated at just €500-€800, sold for €50,000 to an Irish collector in the saleroom who was competing with a Chinese phone bidder. Afterwards, he quipped: “I could have bought a Lamborghini.”

The Celtic Tiger may be stuffed but the sale proved that a really determined Irish bidder can still trump the might of Chinese new money. Among other Chinese highlights: a group of 12 Qing dynasty Sheng Xiao white jade figures, €40,000 (€2,000-€3,000); Qing dynasty tea-dust glaze baluster vase, €38,000 (€300-€500); a pair of Qianlong period “famille rose” figures of standing ladies, €28,000 (€4,000-€6,000); a Qing dynasty porcelain scent bottle, €26,000 (€200-€300), and a Qing dynasty blue and white bowl depicting a five-clawed dragon, €10,500 (€200-€300).

Earlier during the three-day Dublin and provincial sale, Feeding the Pet Raven(oil on canvas) by Theodor Kleehaas, made €5,800 (€5,000-€7,000); a pair of Regency, Cork-made pier cabinets, €7,500 (€8,000-€12,000); a tiger-skin rug, €2,800 (€800-€1,200); and a Viennese presentation box addressed to the Austro-Irish aristocrat and politician, Eduard Joseph Graf von Taaffe, €800 (€800-€1,200). Quirkier lots included a 1930s purple velvet hooded opera cloak which made €340 (€200-€250) and a 9ct gold Aer Lingus pin, €85 (€80-€120).