An unassuming vase, deemed a mere imitation by an antiques expert and neglected in an attic for 40 years, has astonishingly sold for £53million at auction.
The BBC's nostalgia-tinged '70s show 'Going for a Song' is fondly remembered as a trailblazer for the beloved 'Antiques Roadshow', where everyday folk and experts alike scrutinised trinkets and treasures to assess their genuineness and worth.
In one memorable episode, a working-class couple sought the verdict on their 16-inch tall porcelain vase, only to be informed by the programmes connoisseur that it was a "very clever reproduction".
Subsequent to this expert assessment, the vase, considered a precious family asset, was ignored in the attic for four decades.
After the couple died, their family stumbled upon the vase amid their possessions. David Reay of Bainbridges Auction House noticed the vase sitting atop a bookcase, reports Express.
He recounted in 2010: "They told me it had been valued at just £800 two months earlier. They also told me the owner had taken it on Going for a Song on the BBC about 40 years ago. He was told it was a very clever reproduction."
After its rediscovery, the vase was examined by specialists at the Arts Club of London, revealing its authentic origins. The exquisite piece, dating back to around 1740, was discovered to have been crafted for the fifth emperor of the Qing dynasty.
The Qianlong Vase, which had been in the family for generations after being acquired by an ancestor who travelled extensively, was initially valued at £1million. However, during the auction, the price surged to a staggering £43million, with the total cost, including fees and taxes, reaching £53,105,000.
Auctioneer Peter Bainbridge described the electric atmosphere in the room as the bidding escalated: "There was a silence that wrapped itself around the sale as the figure grew slowly but surely up to the sky. I'm an auctioneer, so at that point, I'm just doing the professional job I'm paid to do.
"But once the hammer's down, you do take stock slightly and think, 'Oh, wow, that's really rather a lot of money'."
The sellers were left stunned, briefly leaving the room to come to terms with the news, while Peter earned a substantial £10million commission from the sale.
Antiques Roadshow is available to watch on BBC iPlayer.
