The jar dates from the 9th or 10th Century

A rare Chinese jar worth more than £100,000 has been found in a cardboard box filled with bric-a-brac.

The Tang dynasty jar, which is at least 1,000 years old, was discovered at an undisclosed location in Scotland.

The man who found the silver jar, who does not want to be identified, did not realise its significance but has now described it as a "dream discovery".

He came upon it when looking through a box of bric-a-brac and has sent it for auction in Oxfordshire next month.

It is expected to fetch as much as £120,000 at the sale by Edinburgh-based Lyon and Turnbull at Blenheim Palace on 8 April.

The seller said: "When I first saw the vase I thought that it was something remarkable and I am thrilled that it has been valued so highly.

"It is everyone's dream to find something like this."

'Very scarce'

The jar, which is decorated with scrolling leaves, flowers, birds and animals, dates from the 9th or 10th Century and would have been used for storing medicines or valuable items.

Anna Westin, Asian specialist at Lyon and Turnbull, said: "The Tang dynasty is often referred to as China's Golden Age, a period of peace, great creativity and prosperity due to extensive trade.

"These treasures were used often at court and were also given as gifts to important dignitaries.

"Silver of the Tang dynasty is rare, and most pieces of this type can be found in museum collections around the world.

"In particular, decorated lidded vessels of this type are very scarce."