The Lawlers took the vase to be valued at Lockdales Auction House (pictured). Auctioneers believed the vase was one of a pair that had been split up and purchased from different charity shops, both for under $13 (£10), and gave it an estimate of $3,900 to $5,200 (£3k-£4k).
When the item went under the hammer on 13 July, it sold for $4,500 (£3.4k) – a staggering 400 times the price Mary Lawler originally paid. The family revealed the money would be used to renovate Mary's old car, with Amanda describing the sale as "one of those 'I'm just going to sit down for a little bit' moments".
The Lawlers aren't the only people who got lucky with an amazing find. From masterpiece paintings to the US Declaration of Independence, read on to see some of the most incredible bargain buys of all time...