Qianlong Vase

The blue gilded vase was made for the court of the Qianlong Emperor - the sixth emperor of the Qing dynasty in China.

A man who bought a vase for a pound (less than Rs 90), was amazed to find that it could be sold for as much as 80,000 pounds, as it once belonged to the Qianlong Emperor

A Chinese vase discovered in a battered shoebox stuffed in an attic in France is set to be the star of a Sotheby's auction next month. Experts have identified the find as an exquisite porcelain vessel made for the 18th century Qing dynasty Emperor Qianlong and the guide price for its auction on June 12 starts at a modest 500,000 euros ($590,000).

According to the catalogue, the vase, which is 60 centimetres (23 inches) tall and depicts three blue dragons on a yellow background, is from the 20th century but it bears an unverified mark from the 18th century Qianlong era.

The blue gilded vase was made for the court of the Qianlong Emperor - the sixth emperor of the Qing dynasty in China.

A man who bought a vase for a pound (less than Rs 90), was amazed to find that it could be sold for as much as 80,000 pounds, as it once belonged to the Qianlong Emperor

A Chinese vase discovered in a battered shoebox stuffed in an attic in France is set to be the star of a Sotheby's auction next month. Experts have identified the find as an exquisite porcelain vessel made for the 18th century Qing dynasty Emperor Qianlong and the guide price for its auction on June 12 starts at a modest 500,000 euros ($590,000).

According to the catalogue, the vase, which is 60 centimetres (23 inches) tall and depicts three blue dragons on a yellow background, is from the 20th century but it bears an unverified mark from the 18th century Qianlong era.