A still life by Scottish Colourist Samuel Peploe could fetch a record price for a Scottish painting when it goes under the hammer later this year.

Auction house Christie’s estimates that the 1905 canvas, entitled The Coffee Pot, could sell for up to £1.2 million.

If the painting hits that price, it would smash the Scottish record currently held by Jack Vettriano’s The Singing Butler, which sold at auction in 2004 for £744,800.

The painting, described by Christie’s as the most important work by Peploe ever to come to auction, will be sold at its 20th Century British Art sale in London on May 26.

The artwork, which has come from a private collection, was recently on public display at a National Gallery of Scotland exhibition.

Christie’s estimates it will fetch between £800,000 and £1.2 million.

Experts said the classic early work illustrates the impact of fellow artist Edouard Manet on Peploe during his time in Paris.

Andre Zlattinger, the auction house’s senior director for 20th century British and Irish art, said: “Christie’s is thrilled to be offering The Coffee Pot, an incredibly large, evocative and sensual painting by Peploe, which is his most important work to come to auction.

“Illustrating the influence of Edouard Manet during his time in Paris, it marks a significant point of mastery and accomplishment in Peploe’s early career, revealing a wonderful new painting technique and sophisticated handling of colour, light, form and texture.

“Having recently been exhibited in the National Gallery of Scotland’s exhibition Impressionists In Scotland, it is offered from a private collection and is a key Scottish work for any true connoisseur.”

Peploe is arguably the most well-known of the Scottish Colourists. His works, and those of the other three in the group – Leslie Hunter, John Fergusson and Francis Cadell – have soared in popularity among buyers in recent years.

Several other Scottish Colourist paintings will also be sold at the forthcoming auction.

A further early Peploe – A Wine Decanter, Glasses And Fruit - is estimated to fetch up to £300,000 at the sale, as is his work Roses In A Vase With Oranges And White Tablecloth.

Still Life With Oranges And Roses, by the same artist, could go for £500,000, according to auctioneers.

Cadell’s Roses, thought to date back to the 1920s, is estimated at £80,000 to £120,000.

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