Souvenir mug sells for 'astonishing' £13,500

A mug that auctioneers believe is unique sparked a bidding war between a buyer in the room and someone online

A rare mug packed away in a Leicestershire attic for 25 years has sold at auction for £13,500.

The ceramic cup, commemorating the coronation of King George VI, had been sat undisturbed in a box in the owner’s loft since the 1990s.

It was dusted off and listed with a pre-sale estimate of £800 by Gildings Auction House in Market Harborough.

After a bidding war on Wednesday, the Eric Ravilious-designed Wedgwood mug went for more than 16 times the expected price to a seller in the room.

Auctioneer director Will Gilding said it was a “remarkable” sale.

He said: “We’re thrilled to achieve this astonishing result for this very special mug which although highly collectable, is still intrinsically just a mundane household item.”

A collection of mugs was found in an attic in Leicestershire and listed for sale at auction

The souvenir mug was one of a number in the sale by the prominent British artist, who died in action when his plane went missing during a World War II search and rescue mission.

The rare yellow mug marked the coronation of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth in 1937, with fireworks and the royal coat of arms integrated in the design.

Four further 1937 coronation mugs were also sold alongside it, a pink design for £2,700, a blue design for £360 and a turquoise mug for £270.

A blue Wedgwood mug made for the abandoned coronation of Edward VIII the year before fetched £480.