A rare imperial Chinese wine ewer – boxed up in a Church Gresley garage for years and destined for a charity shop - has been described as the 'ultimate lockdown find'.

The rare Beijing-enamelled object, which resembles a teapot and dates back to the Qianlong period (1735-99), stunned experts at Hansons Auctioneers when it was taken for free valuation at its Etwall Auction Centre, near Derby.

The tiny 15cm ewer is due to be sold on 24 September with an estimate of £20,000-£40,000, but such is the demand for imperial works of art from wealthy Chinese buyers, it could make £100,000 when it goes under the hammer.

Had it not been for lockdown, the object could have ended up being donated to a charity shop along with other items accumulated over the years.

Its 51-year-old owner, a semi-retired manual worker who does not want to be named, said: "The teapot has been in my family as long as I can remember.

"My mum used to display it in a cabinet.

"We believe it was brought back to England from China by my grandfather who was stationed in the Far East during the Second World War and was awarded a Burma Star medal.

"Mum passed away nearly 20 years ago, then dad nine years ago and the teapot ended up in a loft in Newhall.

"Later it was boxed up and moved to a relative's garage in Church Gresley.

"I admit, we'd been thinking of sending everything to a charity shop.

"But then lockdown came along and I finally had time to go through the boxes in the garage.

"I'd always thought the teapot, which is what I've always called it, was special.

"I spent time looking for information about it on the internet.

"One day I came across a similar item on a famous auction firm's website and the Chinese writing looked identical.

"Even so, when I took it to Hansons I was still unsure so dug out a few other bits and pieces for them to value in case they laughed at me when I pulled out the teapot."

Charles Hanson, owner of Hansons Auctioneers, said: "This has to be the best lockdown find ever.

"It is such an exciting discovery, an imperial 18th century wine ewer which would have graced a palace in China and was, perhaps, handled by Emperor Qianlong, considered by some to be the greatest Chinese Emperor.

"Two almost identical teapots, both with Qianlong reign marks, exist in the National Palace Museum in Taipei, Taiwan, and the Palace Museum in Beijing, China.

"It's truly astonishing to find an Emperor's wine ewer in a Derbyshire home, an object used to serve warm wine during important ceremonies."

Hansons' valuer Edward Rycroft spotted the wine ewer's potential as soon as he saw the object.

"I knew it was special and persuaded the vendor to leave it with us so we could carry out some research.

"We were delighted to tell him later that it could be worth tens of thousands of pounds," he said.

The rare Qianlong period wine ewer is due to be sold at Hansons' online fine art auction on 24 September.