A pair of Chinese bowls, consigned by a Hexham-based seller, sold for £325,000 at auction.

The Qing bowls, decorated with dragons and marked with the Yongzheng stamp, were thought to be worth between £200 and £400 due to their poor condition.

However, after being put up for sale by Anderson and Garland Auctioneers, fierce bidding from international telephone and internet bidders saw the bowls sell for £250,000.

Fierce telephone and internet bidding saw the bowls sell for £325,000 including fees (Image: Supplied) This increased to £325,000 with the addition of fees.

The bowls were sold at the Christmas Country House and Fine Interiors auction on November 28.

Nigel Smith, head of Asian art and ceramics at Anderson and Garland, said: "What a staggering result.

"Due to their extensive damage, we very, very conservatively estimated their value so it was phenomenal seeing the amount of interest and the price just climb and climb.

The bowls were sold at the Christmas Country House and Fine Interiors auction in late November (Image: Supplied) "I am delighted to have been able to obtain the fourth highest sale price in Anderson and Garland’s history."

The bowls were amongst other highlights on day one of the Christmas Country House and Fine Interiors Auction, including an important Song Dynasty tortoiseshell glazed stoneware jar, selling for £46,800; a Sino-Tibetan gilt bronze figure of the Buddha Shakyamuni selling for £10,400; and a Chinese carved jade dagger and sheath and a carved jade medallion for £4,940.

No information could be provided about the winning bidder.