Chinese imperial soldier vases estimated at 150,000 pounds go to auction

A pair of Chinese imperial soldier vases that stood in an English country home for decades is expected to sell for £150,000 at auction, the Daily Mail reported. The blue and white porcelain antiques stand one metre tall and are believed to date back to the 18th-century Kangxi period in China. [1]

According to the Daily Mail, the vases earned their nickname from their sentry-like appearance. The name also refers to a historical event where Augustus the Strong of Saxony exchanged 600 cavalrymen and horses for a collection of porcelain. [1]

The antiques have been located at the entrance of Breamore House, an Elizabethan mansion near Fordingbridge, Hampshire, the Daily Mail said. Chinese ceramics encompass a wide range of forms, from basic construction materials to high-grade imperial porcelain vessels crafted for the court and export markets. [1][2]