£56,000 SINO TIBETAN BRONZE LAMA AND £20,200 CHINESE PORCELAIN VASE STARS OF KEYS’ WINTER FINE SALE

Two oriental lots were the star lots at Keys Fine Art Auctioneers’ winter Fine Sale, with both achieving hammer prices far in excess of their pre-sale estimates.

A rare, fine and delicately cast Sino Tibetan gilt bronze of Lama made £56,000 against a pre-sale estimate of £800-£1,200.  The 21.5 cm high statue, featuring the Lama seated cross-legged on a lotus base with details inlaid in turquoise, and with a lengthy inscription on the base, was bought by a UK buyer.

Meanwhile a Chinese porcelain vase decorated in pale rose palette with members of the Imperial family and attendants in a garden setting, sold for £20,200 against a pre-sale estimate of £250-£350.

Both lots featured on day one of the three day sale, which saw nearly 1,400 lots go under the hammer at the firm’s Aylsham, Norfolk salerooms.

Keys director Kevin Lines said, ““The bronze Lama was very special – rare and very finely made.  Our pre-sale estimate was conservative, and we thought that it might well sell for more, but no-one foresaw it reaching the price it did.

“The prices achieved for both the Lama and the Chinese vase, along with strong hammer prices across all three days of our Fine Sale, demonstrate that regional auction houses can harness the internet to compete at the highest level, attracting international bidders."