Chinese 12th Century jar a rare find - auctioneers

The jar is 900 years old and hails from the Northern Song Dynasty

An ancient Chinese jar is expected to sell for between £15,000 and £20,000 when it goes up for auction.

The rare stoneware had been housed on the Northumbrian coast as part of a private family collection for more than 75 years.

The decorative piece, which was used to measure out grain, has survived 900 years and hails from the Northern Song Dynasty.

Nigel Smith, from Newcastle auctioneers Anderson and Garland, said finding the jar was a "rare and exciting moment".

"Its tortoiseshell glaze and remarkable condition are a testament to the craftsmanship of the era and the care it has received over centuries," he said.

"Pieces like this, especially with such an intriguing provenance and exhibition history, rarely come to market."

Nigel Smith said it was "an exciting moment" when the stoneware was discovered as part of a collection in Northumberland

The 11cm-high jar (4.3in) has been exhibited in London in the 1930s and 1950s, and comes with a copy of the original Oriental Society of London exhibition catalogue from 1952.

It was displayed in the exhibition after it was loaned from the collection of Dr and Mrs OE Manasse.

The jar will be part of a collection of items up for auction later this month.