A Connecticut man paid $35 for a bowl at a yard sale in 2020; experts revealed it was a rare 15th-century Chinese treasure and it sold for $721,800

North America Culture Sat, 03 Oct 2026 08:43:23 GMT Moderate confidence — 73/100

Image: APA Connecticut man paid $35 for a small blue-and-white porcelain bowl at a yard sale near New Haven in 2020, unaware that he had stumbled upon an exceptionally rare Chinese imperial-era artefact.
The unnamed antiques enthusiast suspected the bowl might be special and later sent photographs to Sotheby's for an evaluation.
Specialists identified it as a Ming dynasty bowl dating to the early 15th century, during the reign of the Yongle Emperor.

Image: APA Connecticut man paid $35 for a small blue-and-white porcelain bowl at a yard sale near New Haven in 2020, unaware that he had stumbled upon an exceptionally rare Chinese imperial-era artefact.
The unnamed antiques enthusiast suspected the bowl might be special and later sent photographs to Sotheby's for an evaluation.
Specialists identified it as a Ming dynasty bowl dating to the early 15th century, during the reign of the Yongle Emperor.

Sources: Times of India