A CHINESE vase with an asking price of just €150 sold at a Co Laois auction yesterday for €110,000.
The 12-inch-high blue-and-white porcelain vase attracted an opening bid of €50 before a bidding war erupted between two international antique collectors.
Both had recognised it online as an authentic Imperial vase, and flew in for the one-day sale of furniture and collectibles at Sheppards Irish Auction House in Durrow.
Afterwards, the purchaser, London antique dealer Richard Peters (48), said:
Just how incompetent are the valuers at Shepards Auction House. They were lucky their were two bidders, if not it would have gone for a couple of hundred quid.
Only in Ireland would the auctioneer claim it as a victory. Can you imagine the reaction from the Carlow family if it had gone for the guideline price only to appear in Christies a month later with a guide price of £100,000.
[i]Mr Sheppard said
Just how incompetent are the valuers at Shepards Auction House. They were lucky their were two bidders, if not it would have gone for a couple of hundred quid.Only in Ireland would the auctioneer claim it as a victory. Can you imagine the reaction fr
Obviously the auctioneer,while not knowing the items real value,advertised it properly on the internet and caught the eye of the right people. Well done to him.
Obviously the auctioneer,while not knowing the items real value,advertised it properly on the internet and caught the eye of the right people. Well done to him.
Apparantly the piece is actually worth close to €3mhttp://www.independent.ie/national-news/valued-at-just-euro150-bought-for-euro110000-but-it-could-be-worth-euro33m-2088013.html
I agree Redroar, and they can spout on all they like about putting the guide price 'low' to attract interest. And the family who sold it being 'chuffed and delighted' are only exposing themselves for the fools they are considering the English bloke will be selling it for 3 million.
I agree Redroar, and they can spout on all they like about putting the guide price 'low' to attract interest. And the family who sold it being 'chuffed and delighted' are only exposing themselves for the fools they are considering the English bloke w
Obviously the auctioneer,while not knowing the items real value,advertised it properly on the internet and caught the eye of the right people. Well done to him.
Sorry what exactly is their job then? Because I can stick it on ebay or in the buy and sell myself without knowing the real value of the item. Well done my arse.
The English collector basically called Sheppards incompetent twice. If I was the family who brought a vase to be valued, had it valued at €150, sold for a €110,000 and then resold for €3m I'd be getting the shotgun out.
Harry Headbanger 05 Mar 23:25 Obviously the auctioneer,while not knowing the items real value,advertised it properly on the internet and caught the eye of the right people. Well done to him. Sorry what exactly is their job then? Because I can st