Imperial Chinese Vases Valued at £150,000 to be Auctioned
A pair of ornate 'soldier' vases, believed to date from 18th-century China, will be among items from a historic English mansion to go under the hammer.
A pair of one-meter-tall Chinese imperial "soldier" vases, believed to originate from the Kangxi period in 18th-century China, are expected to fetch £150,000 at auction. The vases, named for their sentry-like appearance, have been displayed for decades at the entrance of Breamore House, a Grade II-listed Elizabethan mansion near Fordingbridge, Hampshire.
The nickname also alludes to a historical anecdote where Augustus the Strong of Saxony reportedly exchanged 600 cavalrymen and horses for 151 Chinese porcelain vases. The pair will be sold by Dukes of Dorchester in Dorset, as part of a larger auction featuring ceramics, sculptures, clocks, and antique books from the 16th-century home.
One of the "soldier" vases is adorned with a depiction of warriors on horseback within a walled city. The other features a scene of a Mandarin official in court with attendants and musicians. Also from the Kangxi period, a rouleau vase decorated with a mountainous landscape and pagodas is estimated to sell for £4,000. Additionally, a 70-piece 1720s Chinese export iron-red armorial dinner service is valued at £20,000.
Other notable items in the sale include a nearly 500-year-old English Bible with an estimated value of £8,000, and a George III ebony bracket clock by Peter Bonyer of London, priced at £2,000. An 18th-century English statuary marble figure of a young boy, attributed to Joseph Wilton, could reach £20,000.
The Kangxi period (1661-1722) is recognized as a prosperous era in Chinese history during which the Qing dynasty solidified its rule. Emperor Kangxi is credited with revitalizing the imperial kilns at Jingdezhen, leading to advancements in ceramic production, particularly in blue and white porcelain.
A spokesperson for Dukes of Dorchester commented that the "soldier" vases have "long occupied a guard-like role at Breamore House," often positioned flanking doorways or mantelpieces. Similar pairs of Kangxi period vases are held in The Royal Collection at Windsor Castle. The entire collection, comprising approximately 80 lots, is expected to raise £250,000 and represents items that have remained within the historic country house for generations, making them "completely fresh to the market."
Breamore House, originally built in 1583, was restored after a fire in 1856. The property also served as a filming location for scenes in the 2005 film "Pride & Prejudice."