Old vases make pots of money (From Stroud News and Journal)

Old vases make pots of money

A PAIR of cracked Chinese vases discovered in a Stroud bungalow have sold at auction for £30,000.

Experts at the Wotton Auction Rooms only valued the 19th Century damaged porcelain vases found in Farmhill, at around £500 after seeing they had been patched up with sticking plaster and animal glue.

The vases which stood at 12 inches high had both suffered damage to the necks and lids.

But on Tuesday, a hushed auction room witnessed the intense bidding battle as two collectors fought it out to buy the pieces.

"Although I felt they had great decorative merit I believed the damage would deter any serious collector paying much more than a few hundred pounds for them. I am pleased to have been proved wrong," said auctioneer Philip Taubenheim

"The principle colour was yellow, used almost exclusively for the Imperial Family,". The buyer of the pricey porcelain flew in from Holland to be at the sale after spotting the vases on the auction rooms' website.

The rival bidder, a London porcelain specialist, only let the pieces go when the price reached a staggering £30,000 Mr Taubenheim added that the vendor had been informed of the amazing result last week and was "understandably delighted".