The most expensive in the world of Chinese porcelain vase is now no longer the most expensive: Chinese collectors have not paid for it at auction Bainbridges promised $ 83 million. Vase resold half the price

Vase time of Emperor Qianlong. Around 1740
Bainbridges, London. 11.11.2010
Estimate: 0,8-1,2 million pounds
Result: 51.6 million pounds
Source: bloomberg.com

This was in November 2010. At the auction of a small London auction house Bainbridges appeared rare porcelain Chinese vase of Emperor Qianlong era (about 1740), decorated with curly cuts and paintings in the range of "pink family." Vase once owned by spouses, William and Pat Newman (as it came to him - unknown). After the death of William (2006) and Pat (in 2010) their property passed to his sister Pat - Jean. Jean old woman who lives in the London district of Pinner with his son, a former lawyer, Tony Johnson, disassemble things sisters, when she accidentally bumped into a beautiful vase. They appealed to the auction house Bainbridges, who sells affordable antiques. The expert, who got a vase in hand, could not believe in what it is true - too incredible it seemed to him. In the auction house, which has existed since 1979, have never brought anything too valuable. At that time, the highest price ever Bainbridges were 100,000 pounds for the Chinese cup in 2008. Specialist auction house estimated the vase Jean and Tony Johnson modestly - in the 0.8-1.2 million pounds. In afternoon trading November 11, 2010 the final bid for this lot is 43 million pounds (51.6 million pounds with the Commission.) It was a real sensation. Beynbridzhskaya vase was declared the most expensive in the world, and the auction house commission 8.6 million pounds for this one lot approximately equal to that of its total revenue in the last ten years.

But this story is so did not get his happy ending. Asian collector, promised millions for a masterpiece of Chinese porcelain, and did not pay for. more than two years left on hold . According to a certain art dealer, over the years a certain amount transferred, but the total bill for $ 83 million has not been paid. There were a lot of rumors about who this mysterious buyer. Now Bloomberg has data that it could be a millionaire businessman Beijing Yaohoy Wang (Wang Yaohui). The latter has not commented on these "suspicions».

But if the hour of the auction house Bainbridges was spoiled, for the owners of the vase, of course, not all was lost. Tired of waiting, Jean and Tony Johnson resell your china in a private transaction by Bonhams auction house for an amount in the range of 20 to 25 million pounds. A fact confirmed by representatives of resale Bonhams. Specializes in Asian antiques dealers call last price over the fair, and 51 million pounds for vase believe fiction.

Prepared Maria Onuchina, AI

Sources : bloomberg.com , prospectmagazine.co.uk , artinvestment.ru