An exceptionally rare 15th century Chinese porcelain bowl has sold at auction for nearly $US722,000 after being bought in a yard sale for just $US35.An antiques enthusiast came across the Ming Dynasty-era piece while browsing a yard sale last yearOnly six other such bowls are known to exist
The small white bowl adorned with cobalt blue paintings of flowers and other designs was among a variety of Chinese artworks sold by Sotheby's as part of its Asia Week events on Wednesday.An antiques enthusiast came across the Ming Dynasty-era piece and thought it could be something special when browsing a yard sale in the New Haven, Connecticut area last year, according to Sotheby's.Sotheby's estimated it was worth between $US300,000 and $US500,000.
It eventually sold for a bid of $US580,000. The official purchase price, which included various fees, was $US721,800. "Today's result for this exceptionally rare floral bowl … epitomises the incredible, once in a lifetime discovery stories that we dream about as specialists in the Chinese Art field," Angela McAteer, head of Sotheby's Chinese Works of Art Department, said in a statement.
The bowl dates back to the early 1400s during the reign of the Yongle Emperor, the third ruler of the Ming Dynasty, and was made for the Yongle court.
I think i have a few of them laying round the house.
That Ming is worth a lot of cha-ching!
Wow
That’s amazing! Boggles the mind to realise that this bowl has been around for over 600 years - the things it must have “seen”. Simply astonishing! Worth the $1m.
Less trivia more substance ThisIsNotJournalism
Wowzah
Here’s me thinking $44.85 is too expensive for a bowl…