In a story that appears à propos of nothing, CNBC casts doubt upon the authenticity of the Qianlong vase purchased from Bainbridges for £51.6m in November:

“I’ve seen the vase itself. I went out to look at it,” New York gallery owner James Lally of J.J. Lally & Co. told CNBC. “I’m very skeptical of that piece. If you asked me I would say don’t bid on it.” […]

“There are a number of people who do not find that piece convincing. And I think people who were bidding on it, some of them on the telephone, were taking an enormous risk,” Lally said.

“What is the correct attribution for that piece? Was it made in the 18th century or was it made later in the style of the 18th century? All of those are issues that you really need to grapple with before you write that check for $85 million.”

Chinese Art Expert ‘Skeptical’ of Record-Setting Vase (CNBC)