The mug celebrates Bonnie Prince Charlie

Mr Jeremy Lamond, fine art director of Halls auctioneers in Shrewsbury, Shropshire, said the sale price was not unexpected.

"This is a very rare object. It could've gone for any price because it's not going to come up again in a lifetime," he said.

The mug was made six years after the Battle of Culloden where the English army heavily defeated the Highland Jacobites led by Bonnie Prince Charlie.

The rout forced the Prince to flee to France and the English Government banned Scotsmen from carrying arms or wearing tartan.

Breaking the ban was punishable by death.

The salt-glazed stoneware mug depicts Scotsmen, wearing kilts and tam-o-shanters, who are brandishing daggers and shields.

Culloden battlefield where the Jacobites were routed

"If this had been on public display at the time somebody would've been for the high jump," said Mr Lamond.

The Prince is thought to have made a secret visit to Britain in 1753 and the mug may well have been made to celebrate the occasion.

The item was found by chance by the previous owner, Eileen Croft.

'Real find'

The mug had been sitting unnoticed on a dresser at her home in Dartmouth, Devon, for decades.

"She actually wanted to put the mug into a sale in place of a piece of silverware," said Mr Lamond.

"The silverware was worth �150 and we quickly told her the mug may be worth �10,000 so advised her not to sell it until we could do more research.

"It is one of those real finds."