Contents Claims Solved: Ming Vase

Establishing authenticity can be tricky, especially when it comes to a treasured item believed to have been made in 15^th century China. This was the challenge faced by a claims adjuster in this month’s Contents Claims Solved.

The object in question was a 15^th century Ming Dynasty vase. The insured purchased the vase in Hong Kong for $1,000 in 1971. A prudent collector, he still had his original receipt from the Hong Kong dealer certifying the age of the vase. The vase was broken and the insured was now claiming $7,000. This valuation came from a noted New York City appraisal firm that charged $300 an hour for their services.

The claims adjuster wanted to verify the valuation and called upon contents claims specialists to examine a set of images of the vase — the same images used by the NYC appraisal firm to determine their valuation.

Case Background

Vases from the Tianshun period (1457-1464) come up in the marketplace on occasion, though they are not common. Provenance and assured authenticity are major factors that drive valuation for these items, as reproductions of these forms have been widely made in China starting in the 16th century and continuing to the present day. Auction results confirm that true authentic period vases sell for many thousands of dollars, and Ming imperial pieces for many hundreds of thousands or even more. At the other end of the spectrum, modern reproduction “Ming-style” vases sell for as little as a few hundred dollars.

The subject vase presented a number of troubling attributes. The four character markings on the base of the vase were atypical, both in their nature and their placement, which appeared to be on the inside bottom of the vase. Similarly, the reign marks that appeared in calligraphic script on the exterior neck of the piece were most unusual and again atypical of pieces from the stated period. The ceramic form lacked the refinement and grace of a Ming vase, with the broken base pieces being atypically thick. In addition there was a lack of glaze on the bottom rim and the form of the vase itself was cruder than would be typical of genuine 15th century pieces of Chinese porcelain.

Traveling To The Lost Cities Of The World

Gazing at the Andean peaks soaring above the Lost City of the Incas and the lush valley below, it's easy see why it was voted one of the New Seven Wonders of the World in 2007. The 15th century A.D. Peruvian site was abandoned shortly after Spanish conquistadors invaded the neighboring areas, falling to ruin until 1911, when an American scholar stumbled across the remains.

History's once glorious metropolises have become ever more sought-after destinations as Americans get back into travel mode. Machu Picchu welcomes as many as 1 million tourists annually, and that number is said to be growing as much as 6% per year. Last August the UNESCO World Heritage Committee even sent a recommendation to the Peruvian government to limit the number of visitors because the increasing foot traffic was starting to erode the UNESCO World Heritage site.

For boutique travel companies specializing in trips to historical, archaeological and cultural sites, the economic downturn of recent years was little more than a speed bump. For Bruce Poon Tip, founder of Gap Adventures, a Canadian travel company specializing in adventure tours to 100 countries, business actually expanded 40% in 2008, at the height of the recession. It continues to enjoy double-digit growth among its American customers, he says.

"The old traveler used to like Marrakesh and markets and the hustle and bustle of travelers' towns like Cairo, but the new traveler is interested in Antarctica, Galapagos, Mongolia and Tibet," Poon Tip says. "Archaeology falls into that trend, especially newly excavated sites that are often harder to get to and very remote."

The Americas offer travelers dozens of lost cities to explore. Mexico has the Mayan city of Chichen Itza, with Mesoamerica's largest ball court and the hulking pyramidal remains of Teotihuacan, with its well-preserved, color-splashed murals. There's Tical in Guatemala and Copan in Honduras. Even the the Western U.S. boasts the tumbleweed-strewn ghost towns of two centuries ago.

Beyond well-traveled Machu Picchu, Gap Adventures arranges tours to lesser-known citadels as well. One is Choquequiroa, an Incan site excavated a few years ago. Getting there requires an arduous five-day hike, but Poon Tip says it's become a popular destination. He's also negotiating to bring groups to the so-called Lost City of Colombia, a site perhaps better identified as the Lost City of Gold.

"We're working with the government to solve issues to get passengers in and out, and we've even met with the elders of the [indigenous] communities there," says Poon Tip, who plans to launch the first tour there this fall. "It's incredible, and something I've personally never seen before."

Some of history's most awe-inspiring ancient architectural wonders reside in areas of unrest, most notably in the Middle East. Mesopotamia, Babylon and other cities are located in what is now Iraq. There is even speculation that the lost city of Akkad lies fragile and exposed under the foundations of modern-day Baghdad, where recent troubles have helped unbury ancient archaeological clues.