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A RARE 500-year-old plate sold for almost £400,000 yesterday.

It is the most expensive piece of ceramic ever sold in Scotland.

The previously unrecorded Renaissance masterpiece from Italian artist Francesco Xanto Avelli dates from 1537.

It's thought the seller's family bought it in Italy sometime between 1894 and 1916. Xanto Avelli worked in maiolica, earthenware made on a wheel. The piece is then covered with tin glaze and painted.

The plate features a scene from the Life of Cyrus, with the ancient ruler rallying the people of the Persian city Persepolis.

Bidders from around the world were in Edinburgh for Lyon & Turnbull's auction.

The plate was finally sold to an anonymous bidder in the packed auction room for £391,250 - almost four times its estimate. The overseas collector had flown in especially and fended off tough competition.

The seller - from Europe - admitted he only had "an inkling" that the plate may even be valuable. He added: "We are thrilled with the result."

Celia Curnow, of Lyon & Turnbull - who made £66,250 from the sale - said: "I have waited more than 30 years to see a piece of this quality outside a museum."