Treasure Tuesday's Fabulous Find

Found this 19th Century, Chinese famille rose, 28.5" high, baluster shaped vase on the internet estate sale site Everything but the House.  

Bidding was a bit contentious, so I just set a maximum bid and closed the computer until the auction was over.  It's easy to get caught up in the moment and end up paying more than you really wanted to.  

I ended up winning the item for $457.  No shipping or delivery expense since the item was located in my area.  I picked it up myself.

Thrift Master Tip:  You often get the best deals on local items that are expensive to ship.  That will eliminate most out-of-area bidders.

Here it is in my living room.  As you can see, I have an affinity for Asian porcelain.  In this shot there's a mix of Korean, Japanese, and Chinese pieces.

Thrift Master Tip:  You can find deals on Asian porcelain in port cities or places with older war veterans who often brought these items back from overseas.

 Gilt metal base in the French style.

Richly hand-painted raised enamel in famille rose design with vivid flower blossoms, foliage, exotic birds, butterflies, and insects against pale green celadon background. 

Found this pair of very similar vases by doing an image search on the internet.  

Same basic shape and size, similar decoration.  They had already sold, and price was not listed.  I took a chance and emailed the dealer, who was kind enough to tell me the sale price was $8,475 for the pair.