Tayler and Fletcher will be holding a Fine Art sale at their North Cotswold Saleroom in Bourton-on-the-Water, on Thursday, February 22.

On sale will be some really special Chinese ceramic plaques.

Martin Lambert, Fine Art Auctioneer and Valuer said: "They are delicately hand decorated with figures and animals within countryside surroundings and are quite simply one of the best items I have been given the privilege to sell by auction in my 20 year tenure here as Head of Fine Art and Antiques".

The plaques are unusually large at 53cm high and 38.5cm wide and come fresh to the market via a contact in Southern France.

The plaques also carry original paper labels to the reverse detailing that they were housed within the original Bentall’s Furniture depository in October 1939.

Although catalogued as Republic period (late 19th/early 20th century,) the general consensus is that they are earlier, quite possibly made during the late 18th century reign of the Chinese Emperor Qianlong (himself an aficionado and collector of such objects).

It is fair to say that worldwide interest has been generated and on sale day, this Thursday, February 22, at 10.30am, some of the world’s major dealers and collectors will undoubtedly vie for this prize eclipsing the pre-sale £2,000 - £3,000 estimate and substituting it with a more realistic one at somewhere between £50,000 and £100,000.

Apart from the many mainland China bidders that will undoubtedly be involved both on the telephone and with the live internet bidding platform, many previewing (private) viewings have taken place and this has resulted in exceptional interest as regards this exceptionally rare pair of large porcelain Chinese plaques in good condition.