Garage Find sells for £16,250

A routine valuation led to an extraordinary discovery in a Bournemouth residence, when a pair of Chinese blue and white porcelain dragon bowls were found stored in a simple cardboard box beneath a stack of newspapers. The remarkable pair went on to sell for £16,250 at Duke’s Auctioneers in Dorchester.

The bowls, finely painted with dragons chasing flaming pearls and bearing six-character Daoguang seal marks to the base. Each also features a dragon medallion painted to the interior, consistent with decorative styles of the period and highly sought-after among collectors of Chinese imperial porcelain.

Measuring 6.5cm high and 14.5cm wide, the bowls were part of a domestic collection that had gone largely unnoticed for decades. Their discovery highlights the enduring potential for valuable objects to surface in everyday homes - sometimes hiding in the least expected places.

Will Batt, Head of Sale commented:

“The excitement of uncovering objects like these never diminishes. To find imperial Chinese porcelain of this quality in a modest household setting is extraordinary. Their result at auction reflects both their rarity and the strength of the international market.”

The strong hammer price demonstrates the continued demand for fine Chinese porcelain, particularly examples bearing imperial marks and displaying traditional dragon iconography associated with power, authority, and good fortune.

Duke’s Auctioneers continues to offer complimentary valuation services for clients throughout the region, and further, with recent discoveries such as this serving as a reminder that treasures can still be waiting to be found in attics, cupboards, and forgotten boxes.