Valuable pieces of past return to their homeland

Something quite extraordinary occurred in the UK at the end of last week: A new world record was set at auction. The item for sale was sold for 43 million pounds ($69 million) and totally eclipsed the previous record of 18 million pounds for a Qing Dynasty vase bought in Hong Kong five weeks ago.

"It's a world record for a piece of Asian art," stated Helen Porter of Bainbridges, the auction house in question.

As in Hong Kong, the piece that sold in West London was also a Chinese vase. The 18th Century porcelain piece, believed to be from the Qianlong reign (1711-1799), was discovered by an unassuming British pair in a leafy suburb of London. Relatives had passed away and it was during the subsequent house-clearance that the vase was discovered. Remarkably, it was said to have been insured for just 800 pounds prior to the sale because they simply didn't realize what a unique item they had in their possession.