Rare Chinese Imperial Gilt Metal Box achieves £475,000

A Qing Dynasty, late 18th/early 19th century, gilt metal box from the Yuanmingyuan, or Old Summer Palace, in Beijing, yesterday sold for £475,000 (including premium) at Woolley and Wallis's Asian Art sale. The box, lot 745, was made for the Imperial family and brought to Europe by Capt. James Gunter of the King's Dragoon Guards in 1860. The lot was bought in the room after a lively battle with two telephone bidders from the Far East.