Bidders from China, Russia, the USA and Europe battled it out to get their hands on precious pieces being auctioned at an arts centre in Barnes last month.

Nearly 500 lots from people in the area went under the hammer at a record-breaking Barnes auction at the OSO Arts Centre.

A jade-handled paper knife fetched £5,290 including buyer premium, one of four jade lots that soared way above estimate to achieve four-figure prices.

Jewellery and silver also proved popular, with a pearl and diamond ring selling for £4,248 and a Lalique vase for the same price.

A private collection of 1960s art attracted worldwide interest, with a Georges Mathieu work on paper provoking fierce competition, the winning bidder paying £4,600.

Auctioneer Simon Danciger put the success of the sale down to the quality of the entries, which attracted more than 500 serious bidders.

He said: “What is really lovely about it is that all the pieces come from local families.

“On the day bidding went mad and we had bidders from all over the world.

“As a result of which, things that the owners thought might fetch £100 to £200 were fetching thousands of pounds.”

The next sale is on Saturday, May 31, at the OSO.

For details of how to enter items, visit barnesauctions.com or call Mr Danciger on 020 8878 9223.