A Qing dynasty plate discovered in a kitchen cupboard just sold for £230,000 ($306,250) at Hanson's Auctioneers.

The lot dates to 1723-1735, during the reign of the Yongzheng emperor.

The plate is a rare design produced during the Qing dynasty  

Few examples of this design are known to exist. It originally belonged to a Scottish-American banker and was returned to Edinburgh after his death.  

The piece attracted huge international attention, as auctioneer Charles Hanson explained: "This has been astonishing - one of the most exciting auctions I have ever had the honour of being involved in.

"Having 19 phone bidders was a record for us and I suspect it may be a record for any auction house outside London.”

The plate passed to the consigners, a set of three siblings, from their late grandmother.

The consigners (who wish to remain anonymous) said in a statement: "We’re stunned, totally stunned, and ecstatic.  

"We knew it was valuable, possibly worth a couple of thousand pounds. It had a metal mount on it because granny had it hanging on the wall in her lounge where it took pride of place.

“Her lounge was like a Chinese palace. "We had no idea there was a replica plate in the National Museum of China.

“We just thought it was an ordinary plate given to our granny and passed down to us.

“We never expected this at all. This has really come out of the blue. We might have a large fish and chips tonight!"

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