The Demand of Chinese Moon Vase As Collectible.
A rare porcelain Chinese moon vase has made its way into the world of collectibles, spurring an unprecedented surge in prices. The piece was initially estimated to sell for $1.3 to $2 million, but that amount has now been exceeded by a new record-breaking vase. A prominent Chinese-art gallery owner in New York has questioned the authenticity of the item. The gaudy fish-themed ornament was supposedly plunder from the Old Summer Palace outside Beijing during the Second Opium War, which sparked widespread looting of Chinese artwork. Initially, the vase was made in Jingdezhen around 1300. A 1338 copy was presented to Pope Benedict XI. The emperor had it shipped to Europe in 1381, where mounts were added. The 18th century watercolour shows the vase with mounts. The mounts were later removed. The moon vase was regarded as a utilitarian object and not a collectible. The demand for this particular type of Antique Chinese moon vase as collectible was initially fueled by a desire to preserve t...
