What has been described as the "humblest Christmas tree in the world" has sold for a whopping amount of money in a bidding war fuelled by nostalgia and a heartwarming backstory.
The small tree, not even a metre tall, went to auction in Oxfordshire, UK, with an estimate of £60-£80 (NZ$120-$160), but sold for an eye-watering £3411 (NZ$7000).
"The magic of Christmas lives on! The humblest Christmas tree in the world has a new home and we're delighted for both buyer and seller," Charles Hanson, owner of Hansons Auctioneers said.
Hanson said the bidding war was sparked by the heartwarming backstory of the tree and its longtime owner.
Dorothy Grant was just eight years old when the tree arrived at her Leicestershire home in 1920. She treasured it until she passed away at the age of 101 in 2014.
"As simple as it was Dorothy loved that tree," Hanson said.
"It became a staple part of family celebrations for decades. The fact that it brought her such joy is humbling in itself. It reminds us that extravagance and excess are not required to capture the spirit of Christmas."
It is believed the tree was among the first mass-produced artificial trees of the era, and perhaps produced for an expensive London department store.
The tree was bought by a private buyer in the UK.
A similar tree, purchased in Scotland for 6p in 1937, sold for £150 (NZ$300) in 2019, Hanson said.
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