However, as they appeared to be without any marks, he took the widely used cautious line of an illustration and only a brief description in the catalogue of his sale at Bushey Auctions (16% buyer’s premium): ‘A pair of Chinese blue and white vases, hexagonal form decorated with flowers and leaves, 52cm [20½in]. Estimate £400-£600.’
Interest was triggered as soon as the lot went online and on August 30, two bidders in the room, three on the phone and four online competed for the vases, which they believed to be late 18th or early 19th century.
The winning bid, at £8200, came online from Hong Kong.