Chinese wine pot up for auction

The Imperial Chinese wine was initially thought to be "worthless"

An Imperial Chinese wine pot which one valuer thought was worthless could be sold for up to £100,000 at an auction.

The true value of the extremely rare porcelain Imperial piece only came to light when the Dukes of Dorchester auctioneers inspected it.

It dates back from the reign of the Chinese Emperor Qianlong, 1736-1795.

The owners, who live near the town and were selling their house, were pleasantly surprised by the valuation. The auction got under way on Thursday.

The owners, who wish to remain anonymous, said: "We thought the pot was colourful, but we really didn't think it was of any value.

"Besides, another valuer saw it 10 years ago and said it was worthless."

Guy Schwinge, from Duke's, said: "This ceremonial wine ewer belongs to a special category of official wares produced for the mainly Buddhist altars in the palaces and temples of Peking and Chengde, the Court's summer retreat in the hills north of Peking.

"The style of the ewer suggests that it was used on a Buddhist altar of the Tibetan-inspired Lamaist sect, which delighted in exotic decorations incorporating monsters and beaded borders".