ASHEVILLE, N.C. — Rare Chinese and American objects brought considerable interest at a January 15–16 sale at Brunk Auctions. Among the top lots was a rare Eighteenth Century Chinese vase, a record-breaking Southern painting, and a silver object owned by one of the most influential men in Nineteenth Century America.

A Chinese Qianlong period (1711–1799) vase was the top lot in the two-day auction. The fine and rare object was a carved enameled celadon porcelain with two panels of finely enameled famille rose landscapes of Western figures.

While the exact history of this vase is unknown, circumstantial evidence suggests it was part of the collection of Charles Oswald Liddell, an important British collector. Liddell lived and worked in China from 1877 to 1913, and established one of the finest collections of Chinese porcelain at the time. During his time in China, he purchased several pieces from Prince Chun, the last regent of the Qing Dynasty. It is likely that this vase was part of a 1929 auction in London by Bluett & Sons of the Liddell collection.

On the auction block again, 87 years later, the storied vase brought considerable international interest, with bidders flying in from around the world to view the object in person. After heated bidding online and in-house, the object sold to an anonymous phone bidder. Including premium, it attained $625,400.

A complete report will appear in a future issue.