"Masterpiece" Chinese teapot discovered by accident sells ...

A Chinese teapot, esteemed as an 'Imperial masterpiece,' garnered a staggering £1 million in the U.K. after being serendipitously discovered during an ordinary valuation.

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Auctioneers at Duke's in Dorset were left astounded when the teapot fetched 1,000 times its initial estimate, igniting applause among the audience.

This petite, pear-shaped teapot stood at merely 13 cm tall, boasting a lid with a peach and pip design, and was enveloped in a finely detailed green celadon glaze.

Experts assert that the teapot was crafted for the Qianlong Emperor, who presided over China from 1735 to 1796, and was celebrated for his passion for ceramics.

During his reign, the Imperial kilns yielded some of China's most exquisite porcelain treasures, which are now incredibly prized by collectors.

In recent years, rare Qianlong porcelain artifacts have surfaced in unexpected locations, having been removed from China in the 19th century and passed down through unsuspecting families.

The Celadon glaze pear-shaped Qianlong teapot, sold at Duke’s in Dorset for £1 million (Image: Duke's)

The owner of the teapot was completely unaware of its Imperial provenance, and it was identified by chance during a routine valuation in Dorset.

"As the owner presented the wine pot for an appraisal, my heart skipped a beat," recounted Lee Young, Head of Asian Art at Duke's. "Upon turning it over and recognizing the intricately drawn blue seal mark of Qianlong, it was immediately clear that I was examining an artifact crafted for the Emperor himself."

According to the auction house, the craftsmanship and extraordinary quality of the teapot made it comparable to other pieces from the Forbidden City and the Summer Palace in Beijing.

The Qianlong mark, coupled with the pot's exceptional quality, identified it as a piece intended specifically for the Emperor (Image: Duke's)

Initially estimated at £1,000 - £2,000 before the sale, it soon became evident that the teapot was far more exceptional than anticipated.

When Duke's showcased the teapot in London during Asian Art Week, the exhibition drew hundreds of collectors and dealers from China, Hong Kong, Japan, Taiwan, and Europe.

On November 11, as the teapot went under the hammer, it incited a fierce bidding war involving no less than 10 bidders.

The price surged in £20,000 increments, with a dramatic £100,000 jump at one point, as one bidder strove to outmatch the competition.

When the auction concluded, the teapot had achieved an impressive £800,000, with additional fees bringing the total to just over £1 million ($1.28 million).

This sale marked a new record as the most valuable item ever sold in Duke's history and contributed to a record single-sale total of over £3 million.

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Following the sale, Guy Schwinge, a partner at Duke's, commended the expert who initially identified the teapot. "Lee has an extraordinary eye for quality, and this result underscores his skill at uncovering treasures and delivering remarkable outcomes for our clients."

A 600-year-old Chinese teapot crafted for a Ming Dynasty Emperor has fetched a remarkable £11 million.

This nine-inch imperial blue and white ewer was created for Yongle Emperor Zhu Di during his reign from 1402 to 1424.

The auction at Sotheby’s Hong Kong saw intense competition between a bidder in the room and an online buyer, ultimately selling for £9.3 million, escalating to £11 million with fees.

The ewer, adorned with a 'five-clawed dragon,' was intended for Zhu Di's 'personal use' and stands as the most valuable ewer ever sold at auction. According to Sotheby's, it is among the most 'significant pieces' of the era, crafted by China’s 'imperial kilns' for use in the imperial palace in Beijing.

The nine-inch imperial blue and white ewer made for Yongle Emperor Zhu Di, has sold for £11 million in Hong Kong

This porcelain pot, featuring a 'five-clawed dragon,' was made for Zhu Di's 'personal use' and ranks as the most valuable ewer ever sold at auction

A spokesperson for Sotheby’s Hong Kong remarked: 'This outstanding blue and white ewer is utterly unique and represents one of the most essential pieces of blue and white porcelain from this crucial period in the history of Imperial porcelain, having been made not just by the Imperial kilns but specifically for the Emperor’s personal use.'

‘The five-clawed dragon design is the most potent symbol of Imperial power, widely recognized from the succeeding reign of Emperor Xuande and standardized throughout the Ming and Qing dynasties.'

‘However, it appears initially during the Yongle period, and this elegant ewer is among the few known to feature this critical design in its blue-print.'

Nicholas Chow, a specialist at Sotheby’s Hong Kong, added: 'This is one of the most iconic imperial porcelains we have sold in the past 50 years.'

One of the most 'significant pieces' from the period, made by China’s 'imperial kilns' for Beijing’s imperial palace, according to Sotheby's

‘This magnificent ewer, decorated with a five-clawed dragon and a masterpiece of blue and white porcelain, was crafted for the personal use of the Yongle Emperor at the zenith of the Ming dynasty.'

‘The ewer featured on the cover of the T.Y. Chao auction in 1987, one of the most celebrated collections of Chinese art ever presented at Sotheby’s, and has not appeared on the market for nearly 40 years.'

Zhu Di was the third Emperor of the Ming dynasty, ruling from 1402 to 1424.

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