"Chinese vase found in house clearance fetches HK$645m" from South China Morning Post

"A Qianlong-period vase that was discovered during a routine house clearance in London and was put up for sale in a small provincial auction house has sold for an astonishing £51.6 million (HK$645.20 million), the highest sum ever paid at auction for any Asian artwork and 40 times the presale estimate."

"After a news report noted the presence of the vase in the sale, dealers travelled to Bainbridges from across Asia. Others were in town for Asian Art in London's schedule of gallery exhibitions, shows and lectures."

"Last month, another 18th-century imperial vase was bought by collector Alice Cheng for a record HK$252.7 million at Sotheby's Hong Kong."

"It would have resided "no doubt" in the royal palace and was fired in the imperial kilns. The auctioneer said it was a mystery how the 40cm high piece ended up in London, where it was recently discovered in the suburb of Pinner. Its provenance was described simply as belonging to an English family collection, probably acquired during the 1930s."