FOR generations in the 18th and 19th centuries, Scots made their way to the Far East to get involved in the many areas of mercantile trade that existed in China and elsewhere.

Often they would bring home souvenirs, or invest in the exquisite pottery at which the Chinese were masters. Now, what is believed to be Scotland’s biggest “lockdown auction” may have families across Scotland looking out those strange Chinese objects secreted in attics or still in use for everyday activities.

For Edinburgh auctioneers Lyon & Turnbull have just sold an exquisite rare vase made in the 18th century in the Imperial workshops in the Forbidden City in China for the sum of £45,000 – and it wasn’t even in perfect condition. The vase had been in the possession of the Earls of Balcarres and Crawford at Balcarres House in Fife, home of the Lindsay family since the 16th century.

The Qianlong (1736-95) mark and period-painted enamel lotus vase was one of 14 lots consigned by the family in a continuing sale of items from their remaining collections.

The auctioneers’ research showed that it was probably among the collection of Chinese literature and works of art amassed by the 25th Earl (1812-1880) and his son, the 26th Earl (1847-1913), a collection which is now mostly distributed amongst several British institutions.

“It was not in perfect condition,” said Lyon & Turnbull. “After careful research by specialists, it was revealed that holes to either side of the neck of the vase suggested it once had a pair of bronze dragon-shaped handles, similar perhaps to those that adorn two pairs of enamel vases of this type in the collection of the National Palace Museum in Taipei.”

Lockdown auctions consist of the auctioneer selling items via live streaming, with Lyon & Turnbull pioneering such sales in Scotland.

Also from the Earls of Crawford and Balcarres was a textbook Kangxi (1661-1722) blue and white cylindrical form brush pot or bitong painted with a narrative scene. The composition of two kneeling figures paying tribute to a seated officer in a garden probably relates to one of the Ming epics – the literary inspiration for many “scholars” objects of the period. Estimated at £500-700, it took £13,750.

The firm explained: “Despite the absence of Far Eastern buyers in the room, auctioneer and managing director Gavin Strang took bids across four different international platforms and bi-lingual telephones via video-conferencing software. More than 500 bidders registered their interest.”

Grace Tu, head of Asian art at Lyon & Turnbull, commented: “The sale attracted a great level of interest from a wide range of international markets, especially Mainland China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Vietnam, Japan, India, USA, Canada and the UK. Our internet bidding system, great teamwork and good reputation in the art world over the years were key to the success of this sale, regardless of the lockdown restriction.”

Other auction houses have adapted to survive the pandemic. Christie’s of London said that between April and July 2020, they will have more than doubled the number of online sales compared with the same period in 2019.

Chief executive Guillaume Cerutti said: “These online offerings include a diverse range of categories sourced by our team from around the world. Increasingly, consignors see that their objects benefit from the extraordinary profile and broad reach that our platform offers to buyers and new audiences everywhere.

“For example, we will offer a spectacular D color diamond ring of 28.86 carats, with an estimate of $1–2 million, in our jewels online sale which opens from June 16-30. Similarly, demand for private sales is very strong, with activity in the first quarter up 27% on 2019, and transactions ranging from $30,000 to $35m.”