A small bronze statue dating back to 16th century China has sold at auction in Dorchester for almost £95,000.

The Ming dynasty figure depicts Shakyamuni (Buddha) sat meditating with his legs crossed and hands on his lap.

He is wearing a long robe, which is open at the chest, revealing a swastika motif on his front.

Despite being associated with the Nazis, the symbol was originally a peace sign used in Buddhism to symbolise the 'auspicious footprints of Buddha'.

The statue sold at Dukes Auctioneers of Dorchester, which saw its pre-sale estimate of £50,000 smashed.

The lot was bought by an anonymous collector who paid a total of £93,750 for the 15ins figure.

Lee Young, head of Asian art at Dukes, said: "Fantastic results for the lots like this one clearly demonstrates a strong appetite for the rare and exotic.

"In general, the sale was solid throughout, making it a real pleasure to be an auctioneer on the day."