Martin Roberts, of Stanningley, found the miniature alabaster torso figure after buying a drawer of discarded silver in a house clearance sale.

Experts confirmed the four-inch high artefact is a royal shabti dating back to 1386BC and found in the tomb of the Egyptian king Amenophis III in 1799.

Mr Roberts, 48, said it was the latest in a list of bargains picked up at clearance sales.

Mental

He said: "I bought the tray for £50. I sold the rest of the bits in there for about £300 but with this little item, I knew it was worth more."

He added: "I went to Christie's in London and they've gone mental about it."

Mr Roberts, who owns Woodnook Antiques in Otley, said: "It's the most glorious little thing but when I saw it sat in the drawer, it just looked like a piece of marble."

The former professional golfer started selling antiques online in 2003 while he cared for his wife Maria, who died of cancer the following year.

Maria suggested selling them on eBay and he soon reaped the rewards when a 1968 Kingfisher Blue vase bought for £2.99 was sold for £249.

He once sold cast iron windows from Armley jail to a buyer who put them on his factory in Tokyo.

The Egyptian shabti will be auctioned at Christie's in London on April 25.

A spokesman said: "It's certainly unusual and interesting, considering where it was found."