The chair was missed by raiders

The piece went under the hammer in a Bonhams auction at the Glasgow School of Art, where the famous designer began his career.

According to the seller, the wooden armchair was lucky to have made it to the sale.

It was overlooked by thieves who raided a Glasgow-based business consultant in the 1980s.

The item was surrounded by cigarette ends, leading police to believe the robbers had sat on it after the exertion of their toils and oblivious to the value of the greatest prize of all.

In another episode in the lot's unusual history, the piece of furniture was used by painters during office renovations to prop up scaffolding.

As well as being a designer, Mackintosh was also an outstanding international artist and architect.

He learned his trade as a student at Glasgow School of Art in the late 19th century.