Luckier'n a Mofo & Dim Sum: Bought for $3 at yard sale, bowl sells for $2.2 million

[onedef92]

Bought for $3 at yard sale, bowl sells for $2.2 million



Rare Chinese bowl is example of Northern Song Dynasty pottery (and shit).

UPDATED 7:26 AM EDT Mar 20, 2013

(CNN) —A rare Chinese bowl bought for about $3 from a yard sale in the U.S. sold for $2.2 million at an auction in New York on Tuesday.

The bowl, found in New York state, "was bought for a few dollars from a tag sale near the consignor's home in the summer of 2007," said Cecilia Leung of Sotheby's. "At the time, the purchaser had no idea that they had happened upon a 1,000-year-old treasure."

The previous owner displayed the bowl in their living room for several years before they became curious about its origins and had it assessed, Leung said. Sotheby's pre-sale estimates valued the bowl, which measures just 5 inches in diameter, at between $200,000 to $300,000.

The 'Ding' bowl is an example of Northern Song Dynasty pottery and described by Sotheby's as "remarkable and exceptionally beautiful."

The only other known bowl of the same size, form and almost identical decoration has been in the collection of the British Museum in London for over 60 years, according to Sotheby's.

The bowl was purchased by London dealer, Giuseppe Eskenazi, for $2,225,000, after a prolonged battle between four bidders.

[VatorMan]

WOW.

[Cybercowboy]

Just think, somebody probably ate Corn Flakes out of that thing, then popped it into the dishwasher.

[Knooger]

Originally Posted by Cybercowboy

Just think, somebody probably ate Corn Flakes out of that thing, then popped it into the dishwasher.

Or perhaps made a video titled, "Two Girls, One Bowl".

[onedef92]

Originally Posted by Cybercowboy

Just think, somebody probably ate Corn Flakes out of that thing, then popped it into the dishwasher.

Prolly nuked it in a microwave, too.

[Cybercowboy]

Originally Posted by onedef92

Prolly nuked it in a microwave, too.

Hmmm, I see gold along the edge of the bowl. Speaking from experience, if you microwave a dish that has gold on it, it won't have any after the microwave goes beep. Does make for a purdy show inside the oven though...

I would think 1000 years ago, gold-looking paint/glaze would contain gold.

[onedef92]

Originally Posted by Cybercowboy

Hmmm, I see gold along the edge of the bowl. Speaking from experience, if you microwave a dish that has gold on it, it won't have any after the microwave goes beep. Does make for a purdy show inside the oven though...

I would think 1000 years ago, gold-looking paint/glaze would contain gold.

Maybe they stopped nuking after they realized their error and shit? Damage pro'lly wouldn't be too severe if the device wasn't set at maximum wattage.

[snide]

That's one fugly bowl.