Cut-price vase urns me £20m
China-AN antique Chinese vase has sold for £20million — after a deal to flog it for £43million broke down.
Ex-solicitor Tony Johnson, 56, inherited the 18th century vase — initially valued at £1million — from an aunt in 2010.
A Chinese tycoon agreed the £43million deal but sparked a two-year row as he refused to pay £8MILLION auction fees on top.
Tony, of Ventnor, Isle of Wight — who owned it with mum Gene, in her 80s — has now sold the 16ins porcelain vase to a new Far East buyer.
Expert Ivan Macquisten said: “At a Beijing show, a similar vase was listed in the top 12 items in Chinese art history. It wasn’t as good as this.”
B.N