Most Expensive Vases
Vases! Do you really know what makes them special? The flowers, right? In fact, any woman will tell you that a vase is never alluring until you have flowers in it. However, it is a whole different story, for those who have a great desire for vintage items from the bygone days.
Truth be told, an antique vase can not only hold flowers, but also has an interesting historic background. Perhaps this is why it would cost you a great deal of money just to own one. Let us review some of the expensive vases in the world then.
1. Pinner Qing Dynasty Vase - $80.2 Million
The Pinner Qing Dynasty Vase, a rare 18th-century Chinese porcelain vase, was discovered in a home in Pinner, London. With exquisite floral designs and traditional motifs, it fetched millions at auction due to its fine craftsmanship and historical significance.
2. Chinese Imperial Phoenix Revolving Vase - $43.56 Million
The Chinese Imperial Phoenix Revolving Vase, crafted during the 18th-century Qianlong period, features intricate openwork and a rotating inner section depicting a phoenix. In 2021, it set a record by selling for $43.56 million at a Beijing auction.
3. Ru Guanyao Brush Washer Bowl - $37.68 Million
The Ru Guanyao Brush Washer Bowl, a 900-year-old ceramic from China's Northern Song Dynasty, is renowned for its rare blue-green glaze and "ice crackle" pattern. In 2017, it set a world record by selling for $37.7 million at Sotheby's Hong Kong.
4. Chinese Painted Enamel and Bronze Qing Dynasty Vase - $29.6 Million
Chinese painted enamel and bronze vases from the Qing Dynasty (1644–1911) are exquisite artifacts that showcase the era's artistic excellence. These vases feature intricate enamel designs on bronze surfaces, reflecting the period's refined craftsmanship and aesthetic sensibilities.
5. Chinese Ming Dynasty Meiping Vase - $28.5 Million
The Chinese Ming Dynasty (1368–1644) meiping vase, characterized by its tall, narrow form with a wide shoulder and small mouth, was traditionally used to display plum blossoms. These vases often featured intricate designs, including floral motifs and phoenixes, and were typically crafted from porcelain with various glazes.
6. Chinese Famille-Rose Butterfly Double-Gourd Vase Pair - $22.5 Million
The Chinese Famille-Rose Butterfly Double-Gourd Vase Pair is a highly valued porcelain artifact, featuring vibrant, hand-painted butterfly motifs. Created using the famille-rose technique, it showcases intricate craftsmanship, rich colors, and a unique double-gourd shape symbolic of prosperity.
7. Chinese Yangcai Famille-Rose Porcelain Vase - $21.46 Million
The Chinese Yangcai Famille-Rose porcelain vase, originating in the 18th century, features vibrant overglaze pink enamels introduced from Europe. These vases, crafted for the Qing dynasty's Qianlong Emperor, are highly prized by collectors today.
8. Chinese Yamanaka Reticulated Vase - $21.43 Million
The Chinese Yamanaka Reticulated Vase is an exquisite, intricately carved porcelain masterpiece renowned for its double-layered reticulated design. Created during the Qing Dynasty, it's valued for its fine craftsmanship and historical significance, attracting global collectors.
9. The Yongzheng Emperor’s Double Dragon Amphora - $20.98 Million
The Yongzheng Emperor’s Double Dragon Amphora is a rare porcelain vase from China's Qing Dynasty, adorned with two intricately detailed dragons. Its refined craftsmanship, vibrant glazes, and auspicious dragon symbolism exemplify the artistic achievements of Yongzheng-era porcelain.
10. The Taber Family Tianqiuping Vase - $18.86 Million
The Taber Family Tianqiuping Vase is a rare Qing dynasty porcelain, commissioned by the Qianlong Emperor (1711-1799). Known as a 'Celestial Sphere vase', it features intricate doucai and famille rose designs symbolizing Daoist immortals' attributes.
So there you have it; a brief overview of some of the most expensive vases in the whole world. If you ask me, flowers are not really necessary for such antique and valuable vases. But then again, it is a matter perception!
