THIS small Chinese sugar bowl is tipped to sell for £1million – despite once being broken by a Bournemouth auctioneers.

The six-inch-wide unassuming porcelain jar was brought back from the Far East by customs officer John Richardson, from Barton-on-Sea, in the early 1900s.

After his death it was meant to have been sold along with other antiques he owned but it was damaged by auctioneers Riddett and Adams Smith on Richmond Hill and withdrawn from sale.

It was bought privately in 1964 by the present owner for a modest sum and repaired.

The jar, which colourfully depicts a lotus pond, was made in the 15th century and was officially approved by the Chinese Emperor Chenghua during the Ming dynasty and carries his ‘quality control’ stamp.

Experts consider this period of ceramics as the finest ever created in China.

There are less than 600 Chenghua porcelain pieces in existence and any examples that come on the open market are highly-sought after, especially among the newly-rich Chinese, who are buying back their lost heritage.

The elegantly-decorated jar has previously featured in two encyclopaedias of antiques.

It is now being sold by auctioneers Bonhams in London and has been given a pre-sale estimate of £600,000 – but is likely to go for much more.

Earlier this year, a small bowl made from the same period sold for an astonishing £20 million at auction.

Asaph Hyman, of Bonhams, explained the jar was made in ‘doucai’ style, a Chinese term for contrasting colours.

He said: “These items were made to the highest standard for the Imperial Court between 1465 and 1488.

“Pieces of this quality are extremely rare and we know of no others like this one.”

John Richardson was an officer in the Chinese customs department in Beijing and was awarded the Peking Siege Commemoration Medal 1900 for his efforts in defending European diplomatic offices during the Boxer Rebellion.

He returned to his home at Becton House at Barton-on-Sea with a number of Chinese ceramics which turned up for sale at an auction house in Bournemouth in 1964.

Mr Hyman added: “The jar was damaged while it was with the auctioneers and withdrawn from the sale. The current vendor bought it afterwards, he doesn’t really remember how much for but it was very little money at the time.

“He had the jar repaired and restored. He knew what it was and how rare it was and has taken good care of it.”

The jar is being sold on November 6.