Rare 1,000-yo crystal jug sold at £3.2million

[Owlscrying]

A rare crystal jug mistakenly valued at £100 in January, has sold for more than £3 million at auction.

The carved rock crystal pitcher, one of the most desirable works of art from the Islamic world, was believed to be a cheap French claret jug when it was originally put up for sale in Somerset.

Despite being valued as almost worthless, it fetched £220,000 at an initial auction. Luckily for the original owner, the sale was declared void.

The 1,000-year-old pitcher, also known as a ewer, was sold on Tuesday to an anonymous bidder at Christie's in London for £3,177,250, including the buyer's premium.

The jug was made for the court of the Fatimid rulers of Cairo, Egypt around the late 10th century or early 11th century AD.

It is believed to be one of only seven fully-carved surviving pieces of its kind.

The ewers were carved from a single piece of flawless rock crystal, which was hollowed out, leaving a surface just two millimetres thick.

go

[Bloody . Magdelene]

I bet the guys who had it previously feel stupid now. XD

[Grandpa Greenman]

Wow it is beautiful. You never know what you will find in the attic.

[Star_girl]

Wow 2 mm thick! That is amazing that it has survived.. Really stunning.

[goalienan]

Wow, absolutely beautiful..

[~KSseeker~]

Oh man, that is pretty! I want one!