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What a find! $35 bowl found at yard sale turns out to be rare artifact

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Agence France-Presse

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2021/afp/03/04/ming-dynasty-bowl.jpg"/><figcaption>This handout photo obtained March 3, 2021 courtesy of Sotheby&#x27;s shows a Chinese 15th century bowl that was sold by chance for 35 USD at a yard sale and is now about out to be auctioned for a estimated value of 300-500,000 USD. <em>Sotheby&#x27;s/AFP/Handout</em></figcaption></figure></div><p>NEW YORK - How about this for bargain-hunting? A small bowl bought for $35 in a yard sale in the US turned out to be a rare 15th century Chinese artifact possibly worth $500,000.</p><p>The porcelain bowl -- with delicate floral motifs -- was acquired by a buyer, whose identity is being kept secret, in the northeastern state of Connecticut.</p><p>The buyer had the item appraised by ceramics experts at Sotheby&#x27;s, first by sending photos, then by taking it into the auction house for a closer look. </p><p>Experts said it was painted for the court of Emperor Yongle, the third emperor of the Ming dynasty who ruled from 1402 to 1424.</p><p>&quot;There are only six (other) such bowls known in the world. It is a very exclusive group,&quot; Angela McAteer, head of Chinese artworks at Sotheby&#x27;s in New York, told AFP.</p><p>Sotheby&#x27;s will put the newly discovered seventh bowl up for auction on March 17, when it is expected to sell for between $300,000 and $500,000.</p><p>Five of the bowls are in museums: two in Taiwan, two in London and one in Tehran. </p><p>The sixth was last seen on the market in 2007, said McAteer, meaning interest in the auction from private collectors and institutions is likely to be keen.</p><p>Many Chinese artworks entered collections in the West in the 19th century before being passed down through generations.</p><p>But McAteer says experts are unlikely to ever know exactly how the bowl made its way from China to the junk sale.</p><p>cat/rle/pdh/dw</p><div><strong>© Agence France-Presse</strong></div><figure class="op-interactive"><iframe height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/T_3cActauPo?enablejsapi=1" width="560"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more in <a href="//www.iwantv.com.ph/">iWantv</a> or <a href="//tfc.tv/">TFC.tv</a></div>

<p>NEW YORK - How about this for bargain-hunting? A small bowl bought for $35 in a yard sale in the US turned out to be a rare 15th century Chinese artifact possibly worth $500,000.<br /> </p>

NEW YORK - How about this for bargain-hunting? A small bowl bought for $35 in a yard sale in the US turned out to be a rare 15th century Chinese artifact possibly worth $500,000.