It appears to have been the case, “What do you want first? Good news or bad news?” When an antiques expert visited a house in Leicestershire.

The expert visited the property to evaluate some of the items.

He drew his attention to a cracked and plastered vase hidden under a table.

He immediately knew it was something special.

The homeowner was told the good news that even with a cracked crack, the item was worth £ 25,000.

But the bad news is that if the large china lantern vase were in good condition, it could have sold for up to £ 700,000, according to Hansons Auctioneers.

Despite its appearance, Hansons owner Charles Hanson realized the potential of the 18-inch tall pot due to its Chinese lineage.

He said, “It is full of eastern promise.”

It dates from the period of Emperor Qianlong, circa 1735-99, which makes it rare and potentially highly sought after.

“She was sitting under a table in the living room. I spotted her during a routine home visit in Leicestershire to evaluate a collection of antiques.”

“In good condition, auction estimates would have ranged from 600,000 to 700,000 pounds.”

The vase, set 182, is set to go on sale at the Hanson Fine Art auction on 7 December, at an indicative price of £ 15,000 to £ 25,000.

The auctioneers said the vase features contrasting shades of cobalt blue and is decorated with herds of deer, including red deer and blue deer, in a mountainous area with pine trees and rockwork.

They said the neck of the vase had parallel bands depicting cranes and clouds, the Lingzhi prunus, the fruiting peach branches and the motifs of Roy’s head.

Mr. Hanson said, “The vase was probably manufactured in imperial kilns under Tang Ying’s supervision during the early years of the Qianlong reign, around 1740, making it almost 300 years old.

“The landscapes are reminiscent of the work of Wang Hui, circa 1632-1717. A similar pair of vases was displayed at the Minneapolis Museum of Art in America in 2004.

“ Even though the vase we found has been cracked and glued together again, it’s still exceptional thanks to the subtle combination of glazed blue and coppery red pigments.

Also, the thick blue and red dotting gives a gray impression on two deer and on the stem of the vase a more pink color is achieved.

This demonstrates both the dexterity of the painter and the skill of the furnace master at perfect firing of red copper dyes.

The Chinese are extremely proud of their artistic heritage and advanced skills that their ancestors mastered centuries ago. Consequently, such finds often spark strong bids from the Far East as wealthy collectors love to bring items home. ”

The Chinese Lantern Vase is due to go on sale at the Hansons’ Derbyshire Fine Art Auction on December 7.

To find out more email: [email protected].