Forgotten vase is sold for £2.6m

Valuer John Axford traced the vase back 650 years

A rare Chinese vase discovered in a Wiltshire family's display cabinet has sold for £2.6m - more that 10 times its estimate - at a Wiltshire auction.

The 650-year-old blue and white vase had been overlooked by the owners for the past century, until it was spotted in an insurance valuation.

The previous owner had paid 10 guineas for the item in 1900.

When the item came up for sale on Friday, collectors were willing to pay far more than the £300,000 guide price.

The double gourd shaped vase dates back to around 1350, the time of the Yuan Dynasty and Kublai Khan in Asia.

Woolley and Wallis spokeswoman Donna Joint said: "The hammer price was £2.6million, so including the premium the total cost is £3,058,250.

William Alexander bought the vase for 10 guineas in 1900

"The previous record for an item sold in a provincial saleroom was £500,000, so this has shattered that."

Valuers from the auctioneer house said the family, who wish to remain anonymous, had not realised how important the piece was.

They were present at the auction, but managed to keep such straight faces that no-one but the staff recognised them.

Charlotte Heneage said: "They were wonderful - they were in the audience and nobody knew who they were.

"They were very 'English' about it, very dignified and restrained but they were over the moon."