Siblings break 'unique' family antique worth £200,000 during childhood game

The vase was later sold for £48,000 - a fraction of what auctioneers said it could have gone for if undamaged

John Keightley with the Galle vase (Hansons)

Siblings who accidentally destroyed a French vase in a childhood game were told the “unique” item could have fetched hundreds of thousands if undamaged.

The unnamed pair used to play “hit the target” with their parent’s vase, with the boy balancing the 20-inch tall antique on his head while the girl threw a ball at it.

After the girl scored a direct hit, the vase was left in two pieces and although stuck back together was left with a 12inch crack.

On the death of their parents, the siblings took the item to Hanson’s Auction house where – due to the damage – it was valued at between £600 to £800 by John Keightley.

It was identified as a product of French artist Emile Galle, who made the vase during 1900 as his style turned towards floral motifs and naturalism.

“It is such a unique piece because it was done at a time when Galle was writing about orchid varieties…which makes it a great example of his work,” Mr Keightley, head of decorative arts, told The Independent.


 A detail of the vase
 (Hansons)

Another detail of the vase (Hansons)

Interest in the vase piqued, Hanson raised the initial offers to £15,000 – but the item eventually sold for well over that, at £48,000. However, experts estimated that if undamaged, the vase could have sold for as much as £200,000.

Mr Keightley said the auction house was “quite surprised by the end result. Perfect Galle vases have made less than this.”

He added the pair were pleased and were not disappointed with the sale. “It happened a very long time ago and it’s something they have lived with.”