How To Devalue A Vase

Failing to recognise a valuable antique can be very costly, as a family from the South-West London has just found out. A rare vase, worth £50,000 in pristine condition, has been put up for auction with an estimate of £3 - 6,000.  The reason for the dramatic difference is that an aunt of the family who own it had a hole drilled in the base to turn the 18^th century Chinese porcelain vase into a lamp. It was brought from China in the early 20^th century by the current owner’s great-grandfather. The 15-inch vase dates to the reign of Emperor Qianlong and despite the ‘damage’ the auctioneers, Dukes of Dorchester, are still saying it might reach £20,000 when it comes up for auction on 24 July.