A large imperial porcelain vase, standing thirty-seven centimetres tall and made for the Qianlong emperor, passed down through a single English family before arriving at Sotheby's. Estimated at between £100,000 and £200,000, it sold in November 2025 for £304,800, comfortably above the top end of the estimate. Its story combines rare craftsmanship, an ownership history leading back to a famous collecting family, and a surprising appearance in a property brochure. Here’s why a Sotheby's specialist called it pure gold, how the design was made, and what it can teach anyone with an old family treasure at home.
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