BLOG
Finds and Interests
I always look forward to seeing what exciting items have gone under the hammer at thousands of new items streaming in, and I always try to highlight a few of my favorites to share with our followers. There’s usually a good story behind so many of these pieces, and sharing my passion for antique and vintage items is the best part of my job. Let me tell you about some items from our partners that caught my eye.
Recently, a Ming dynasty plate made a huge showing at an auction. Kim Teaver, a well-known auction house in the Twin Cities, handled the sale of a rare Chinese porcelain plate. It is glazed in imperial yellow, which shows that it was made for royal members of the ruling dynasty. Highly prized by collectors, the plate sold for just over $52,000.
Looking at the plate, I knew it looked familiar, and that’s when I researched a similar sale. This set of two imperial yellow Ming-era plates sold in 2017 for $7,000, and while prices can fluctuate over the years, the difference between the two sales made me wonder why there was such a gap.
When I’m unsure of something, I seek out friends and colleagues who might be able to help. Lark Mason of Lark Mason Associates is a leading expert in Chinese art and antiquities. In addition to being an author, appraiser, independent curator, educator, and art consultant, he regularly appears on Antiques Roadshow.
He let us know the difference between the two sales. The single dish, which sold for $52,000, is much rarer. In an email, he wrote, “The first is much rarer; it is a Hongzhi mark from 1488-1505. The others are from the Zhengde period and are more common, and the colors are paler and weaker.”
I’m always looking to learn more about items that catch my eye. As a reseller, fan, and history buff, there’s never too much information on an item that’s up for sale or one I am considering selling from my own inventory. I’m passionate about helping collectors and others learn everything they can about their treasures because even if two pieces seem similar, they could be very different.