Qing dynasty '$83m' Pinner vase #2? Similar Qianlong porcelain vase is for sale

A Qianlong porcelain vase similar to one which received a bid of £53.1m is going up for auction

Following on quickly from their previous sale which was led by a $500,000 Zhang Daqian painting, 888 Auctions is eagerly preparing to present some fine Chinese ceramics in its February 23 Chinese Antiques and Estates sale.

The auction takes place in Canada, but full internet bidding will be provided.

There are items listed at a wide range of prices from lowly trinkets to up to the headline lot of C$60,000, so there are things to excite a wide range of Asian art collectors.

888's reticulated vase with carp medallion and Qianlong mark

Amid the mix of jade and shoushan stone, horn and ivory carvings, antique furniture and representations of Chinese & Tibetan deities, the likely top lot is one of the ceramics.

This is lot 421, a Qing Period porcelain vase with a 'medallion' carp design.

It's difficult for regular readers to ignore how similar the vase is to the now world-famous Bainbridge auction house find: the Pinner vase, which seemed to break the record at the time for a Chinese art work, selling for £53.1m ($83m) in the UK though the sale was never completed in the end as a dispute arose which could not be resolved.

The Qianlong period Pinner vase from Bainbridges

The vase in 888's auction is valued at C$30,000-60,000, but perhaps this will prove to be an underestimate… watch this space to find out more.

Aside from the carp medallion, the vase's reticulated body features foreign lotus scrolls and a band of stylised dragons beneath the flared rim.

Out of the blue and white porcelains, perhaps the star lot is 386, an 18th/19th century blue and white porcelain yuhu vase. This too is Qing dynasty - indeed it carries a six-character Qianlong Mark on the base. The body features a landscape scene and is listed at C$6,000-8,000.

Recent and related articles

· Chinese Qianlong antique mammoth tusk looms large in Florida auction | 9 February 2012

· Fine art auction sales up 14%: Christie's has Chinese collectors to thank | 1 February 2012

· Chinese carved hardwood opium bed supports a price of $53,680 in Chicago | 28 January 2012

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Images: 888 Auctions