House-clearance vase raises £43m, pretty serviceable pool table find overshadowed

The British media are enthusiastically reporting the £43m sale of a an 18th-century Chinese vase found in a house clearing in Pinner, but the antique's former owners feel the rest of the day's discoveries have been skirted over.

The brother and sister who inherited the vase today issued a statement in which they described their shock at the vast value of the vase and disappointment at the poor performance of other items in yesterday's auction at Bainbridges.

"We were obviously over the moon that the vase went for over £40m. I think it's fair to say we had expected much less than that. We'd had the vase up on Gumtree for a few weeks at significantly less than that and had no calls," the statement begins.

"But on the other hand we found a really decent old pool table that only needs a little work and that only raised £60. We thought it deserved much more, if you sand down the back legs a little it'll play fine. I've seen worse tables go for £150 even £200,

"We were pretty excited when we found a sandwich toaster that had hardly been used and a bag of pogs, but they've barely sold for anything, so obviously that's taken the shine off things a little."

The bid of £43m for the vase was nearly 100 times the estimated value pre-auction prompting concerns that it may be fraudulent. However, the buyer has reassured Bainbridges that he is 'good for the money' and will pay 'in a bit once the old cash flow situation eases off.'