London's Fortnum and Mason store is 300 years old next month

Paintings, window displays and shop furnishings - some fetching 10 times their value - were among items under the hammer at Bonhams on Wednesday.

A dolls' house modelled on the three-storey store was estimated to fetch up to �1,000 but sold for �7,200.

The money raised will go towards re-decorating the Piccadilly outlet, which is 300 years old next month.

Originally founded in 1707 by William Fortnum and Hugh Mason, to sell world goods to the wealthy residents in the area, the store is now best known for its exclusive food products.

Handmade displays

Bonhams spokeswoman Michelle Gonsalves said: "The room was just packed and the prices were absolutely soaring. Some items were going for ten times their estimated value."

Highlights from the sale included a series of handmade window displays, featured last Christmas, based on the children's book The Adventures of Alice in Wonderland.

Estimated to fetch around �2,000, they sold for �7,800.

A marine painting entitled Gallant Speedy In A Close Encounter, by Montague Dawson, and bought by former Fortnum & Mason chairman Garfield Weston, sold for �180,000.

Auctioneer George Plumptree said "We are delighted with the success of the sale, which gives an indication of the esteem with which Fortnum and Mason is held and its many happy memories."