The ‘late 18th century Qing famille rose bottle vase’ offered for sale by Glasgow auctioneers Mulberry Bank on October 20 failed to sell.
The auctioneers are now expected to now seek to seek further verification on its authenticity and will advise their client accordingly on its future sale.
The 13in (32cm) vase – similar in form and decoration to Jiaqing vase sold by Christie’s for close to £9m as part of the Fonthill treasures in 2010 – had been estimated at £1.5m-2m.
Labels suggest the vase had been included a 1965 exhibition, the collection of a former chairman of HSBC and was purchased in the US in 1982.
Differences of opinion are commonplace in the Chinese works of art market.
Prior to the sale, some doubts were expressed to the ATG over the vase’s date and the veracity of the provenance. Small differences in the quality of the ‘drawing’, the colouration and the craquelure led some to question its imperial credentials.
Bidding on the day reached £780,000 although the auctioneer said this was insufficient to sell.
Kirsty Harris, a director at Mulberry Bank Auctions told ATG: “We had the piece verified by Douglas Wright, a leading authority on Asian works of art. We have received very positive feedback from all parties who actually came to the saleroom and viewed and handled the piece.
"We may seek further verification on its authenticity that would help dispel any doubts.”
