A tiny jar bought from a London antique shop for £9.10 shortly after the Second World War has been sold for £1million at auction.

The 4in porcelain Chinese imperial doucai jar was estimated to sell for between £100,000 and £200,000.

But the final figure comfortably exceeded that amount at the auction at Woolley and Wallis's Salisbury Saleroom.

When purchased in 1946, the buyer, and the dealer, were unaware of its phenomenal value and importance.

It was only spotted after an expert, who had been brought in to value other items in the jar's home spotted the unknown treasure sitting peacefully among other hoards.

The jar is said to be more grand than a sister porcelain currently held by the Victoria and Albert Museum in London.

They were originally made for the fifth Emperor of the Qing dynasty, Yongzheng, who reigned from December 1722 to October 1735.

It is believed that there are only for pieces of the same specification ever to have been made, with the sister jars housed in museums in China.

On Tuesday it sold for a hammer price of £820,000. With auction fees the total price paid by the winning bidder was £1million.