A retired Isle of Wight solicitor has been named as the man who found an ancient Chinese vase during a house clearance which then sold at auction.

Tony Johnson and his mum Gene watched in amazement as their Chinese artefact soared to 40 times its guide price in a West London auction two weeks ago.

The elaborate 18th century masterpiece was found in a house clearance in Pinner, North West London, after the death of Mrs Johnson’s sister, Patricia Newman, whose husband Bill had been the owner. It had sat on a bookshelf for years propping up books.

Patricia died earlier this year and her estate was passed to her widowed sister Gene, 85, of Watford, who is sharing the legacy with retired solicitor Tony.

Tony, 54, who lives in a £375,000 home with his partner on the Island, is reported to have said: “We hadn’t come forward because we’re quite a private family and I don’t think my mother would want any publicity.

“I don’t think we would either, we’d rather keep things quiet. We’ve not told anyone here on the Island.”

Tony added that he thought the vase was worth £100,000 and would have been pleased to get £80,000.

It is a mystery how Bill came to be in possession of the vase, which was identified as having been made in the Imperial kilns during the reign of the Qianlong Emperor.

It was bought at the Bainbridges auction by a Chinese dealer.