Chinese vase worth €200,000

A CARLOW family is on the brink of receiving a second major windfall from an inherited hoard of Chinese porcelain initially thought to be ornaments of little or no value.

Two years ago, the family, who have declined requests to speak publicly, made €110,000 from the sale, at auction, of a blue-and-white vase initially valued at €100.

Now a similar vase from the collection is expected to make €200,000 when it goes under the hammer at Sheppard’s auctioneers in the Co Laois village of Durrow. Bidding is expected from international collectors when the auction is broadcast live on the internet on November 29th.

The second vase, 11¼ inches (30cm) high, is almost identical to the first – with just slight variations in the decoration, as each was hand-painted. Made in the 18th century, during the reign of the Emperor Qianlong, it is “in the Ming-style” of a form known as “Yuhuchunping” (pear-shaped).

Auctioneer Michael Sheppard said the family’s decision to sell the second vase in Ireland rather than London or Hong Kong was a “major vote of confidence in the ability of an Irish auctioneer to connect with a global market”.

Other items from the 98-piece Carlow collection also sold at Sheppard’s for tens of thousands of euro. To date, the family has made about €320,000 from the collection; if this vase reaches the top estimate in a fortnight their windfall will exceed €500,000.