A large doucai. Lotus and Bats jar and cover. Qianlong seal mark and period. est. £300,000-500,OO(). Photo courtesy Sotheby's

Sotheby’s London is delighted to announce the extraordinary discovery of a large Qing dynasty doucai ‘Lotus and Bats’ jar with its cover intact, which wilI be offered for sale in the forthcoming Fine Chiriese Ceramics and Works of Art sale on Wednesday, 9th November 2011. The jar, which bears the Qianlong Emperor’s seal mark dating it to the 1gtF century, had spent 30 years on the dining room floor of a private home in Shropshire, its value unknown. It now cornes to auction carrying an estimate of £300,000-500,000.

The jar was discovered by fine art agent Jeremy Rye. lnvited to the Shropshire home to appraise an English dessert service, he noticed the 18-inch Chinese jar on the floor. The owners had no idea of its value, but Jeremy recognised the jar’s exquisite qualities and its potential significance and brought it to the attention of Sotheby’s.

The jar bears the auspicious Chinese ‘Lotus and Bats’ motif, expertly painted and glazed in daucai, or ‘dovetailing colours’ technique, applied to a small group of the highest-quality porcelains. This resuits in an elegarit effect of bright colours softly blending into the outiines, of which this jar is a fine example.

Stephen Loakes, Sotheby’s Senior Specialist in Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art said: «The discovery of this jar is macle more exceptional by its intact cover; often, jars and their covers become separated over time, and it is a rarity to have a complete set.” 0f the sale, he notes: ‘This promises to be one of our most exciting London sales, offering objects of the highest quality and rarity. We are honoured to preserit works from two of Britain’s greatest collectors of Chinese works of art, which wilI present collectors with the opportunity to acquire pieces of the most refined quality and provenance.”