A damaged flower pot, initially considered worthless, was auctioned for $66,000 after being recognized as a creation by Hans Coper, a renowned 19th-century ceramicist. The pot, commissioned by a former client and kept as a garden ornament after being repaired, was rediscovered by her grandchildren who understood its significance. Auction house experts, initially valuing it at $7,900 to $13,000, were amazed by the item’s distinctive style, even in its damaged condition.
"The vendor didn't expect the vessel to achieve its estimate, so they are over the moon," Maxine Winning, head of design at Chiswick Auctions, noted regarding the surprising auction outcome.
"From afar, you couldn't tell what it was, especially as it was covered in weeds," expert Jo Loyd recounted, highlighting the pot's transformation from garden ornament to valuable art.
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