Among all the lots at Christie's London spring sales, one piece is left unrecognized by many, yet an excellent item for Chinese furniture collectors. Lot 137, a huanghuali display cabinet, was just offered at the "Fine Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art" sale, and sold for £1.5m. This hammer price is about 19 times of the pre-auction estimate, corresponded with our specialists' prediction.

The pre-auction estimate of this cabinet is only £80,000 - 120,000. Yet, real collectors would not let the chance of winning such an excellent piece of furniture to pass by. The bidding atmosphere was intense, a bidder at the saleroom won this lot at £1.5m at last,  bringing a perfect ending to the auction.

Before the auction, specialists at The Value examined this cabinet in London. They confirmed that the cabinet "is in very good condition, and the hammer price could easily exceed the estimate in multiple times, maybe 20 times."

A LARGE HUANGHUALI DISPLAY CABINET, SHU GUI, QING DYNASTY (1644-1911)

Auction House: Christie's London
Saleroom: King Street Sale: Fine Chinese Ceramics and Art
Auction Date: 2017/5/9
Lot No.: 137
Size: 198 x 98 x 61cm
Provenance: The property of a Lady
Estimate: £80,000 - 120,000
Hammer Price: £1,500,000
Sold: £1,805,000 (with buyer's premium)