The Shocking Reason This Overlooked Flowerpot Just Sold for £50K

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A damaged garden pot abandoned left at a house in London has fetched nearly £50,000 following the discovery of its remarkable past by the homeowners’ grandchildren.

The massive 4-foot pottery vase turned out to be an overlooked masterwork by a renowned 20th-century potter, serving as one of the largest pieces ever created by Hans Coper in 1964.

The renowned artist's creations have been exhibited in prestigious institutions like the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York and the Victoria and Albert Museum in London.

The 'avant-garde' ship was ordered by a woman client when Coper was instructing at the Camberwell School of Arts in southern London. London .

She held onto it for decades until it was inadvertently shattered and crudely mended back into place.

Due to its deteriorated condition, it was moved to a flower bed at the rear of her London residence, serving as an decorative container for plants.

Next, following the inheritance of her home’s contents, the woman's grandchildren reached out to Chiswick Auctions in West London about an old pot they had discovered. Expert Jo Lloyd assessed the item and noted that it was overrun with weeds and encrusted with snails.

The ship was a combined structure made up of two parts and, when assembled, stands nearly 4 feet tall.

Owing to its poor state, the auction house provided a cautious valuation ranging from £6,000 to £10,000.

However, the interest in the item was so substantial that it sold at auction for £36,500. With additional fees included, the total cost borne by the successful American bidder reached £47,800.

Maxine Winning, who leads the design department at Chiswick Auctions, reflected on the successful sale stating, "There’s immense joy among everyone."

The seller did not anticipate the container reaching its projected goals, hence they are extremely delighted.

'A bidding war ensued with participants from America, Denmark, and a woman in attendance.'

'The ability to sell a severely damaged ceramic piece at such a price demonstrates just how collectible and esteemed Hans Coper’s work is.'

Specialist restorers have estimated that it might take £8,000 to completely refurbish the ship.

When recounting her initial visit to the site, ceramics expert Mrs. Lloyd mentioned, "The owners invited us over for an overall assessment of their household items. During our time there, they pointed out something intriguing located within their garden." It was then that she set eyes upon the remarkable pottery piece.

I took it outdoors and then carried it back in. From a distance, it was hard to identify, particularly since it was entangled with vegetation. However, it possesses a distinct design, and the bottom section bears his mark.

The vendor’s grandmother was part of the artistic community. Upon reviewing her diary, it appeared that she had attended an exhibit featuring Hans Coper’s works and reached out to him as a result. They met for a visit, which led to further interactions.

We aren't sure about the rest of her purchases, but she cherished this container deeply until it got broken.

It appears to have undergone crude repairs, with a significant portion at the top entirely absent.

This piece stands as one of the tallest creations by Copernicus, whose typical works generally measure between 10 centimeters and 40 centimeters tall. Comprising two distinct sections, this artwork demands meticulous care to be restored to its original splendor.

In 2018, a surprised retiree was stunned when they discovered their deceased spouse's Hans Coper vase. auctioned off in Devon for a record-shattering £381,000 .

This set the record for the highest price ever achieved for a piece of modern and contemporary studio pottery at the time, which was quite surprising for the seller since her late spouse had only purchased the vase for £250 in the 1970s.

Following her husband's passing, the owner had tucked away the Cooper and Rie vase in a cupboard and was amazed when auctioneer Nic Saintey initially appraised it at £5,000 to £6,000.

In 2018, reflecting on the sale of the vase from Cooper's 1970s Cycladic collection, Mr. Saintey referred to it as a 'perfect storm.'

He commented, "This was unheard of: two major bidders who, starting around the £50k-60k range, kept competing vigorously. While it’s common to have two strong contenders for an item, this level of enthusiasm was extraordinary—it sold for 20 times the estimated price."