Feast for collectors at RDS fair

While the week ahead offers relatively few auctions, the next few days do offer an opportunity for collectors and other interested parties to see an abundance of antiques and fine art in Dublin.

This is thanks to the second international fair running from today until Monday evening at the RDS; with more than 70 exhibitors expected to participate, it seems likely the event will be the largest yet. Naturally, the greatest attention will be attracted by items of Irish origin, such as those on the stand of Kevin Jones from Dublin's Francis Street. He will be showing, for example, an unusual Killarney work nest of tables dating from circa 185060, as well as a relatively early Irish mirror (dating from the 1770s) and a George IV sofa table.

Limerick antiques dealer Noel O'Toole will also be carrying Irish antique furniture, not least a George II mahogany side or serving table, a set of 10 Regency rosewood dining chairs with brass inlays and a pair of Regency rosewood tea tables.

On the stand taken by Upper Court Manor Antiques will be found an Irish Regency economy dining table, as well as a number of 18th and 19th century clocks made in this country and being offered by Timepiece Antiques. Other Irish clocks will be carried at the fair by Jonathan Beech of Westport, Co Mayo and another regional dealer, Carol O'Connor from Adare, Co Limerick will also be offering antiques from this country, such as a cork work table and a mahogany tea table by Strahan.

Of course, there will as usual on such occasions be plenty of Irish silver also on show. J W Weldon's stand will feature a pair of George II beer jugs by William Townsend dating from circa 1755 and a George I small bullet teapot made in 1717 by John Hamilton of Dublin.

Weldon's will also be carrying a triangular blade and wood-handled fish server by Carden Terry of Cork, circa 1770 and a George III Dublin dish ring made by John Craig around 1775. Similarly, the Silver Shop of Dublin will be showing a rare set of six dog-nose pattern Irish silver dinner forks made in Dublin during the very first decade of the 18th century.

The same dealer will, as ever, carry examples of Irish miniatures, such as a portrait of Lady Warren of Warren's Court, Co Cork painted by Frederick Buck, brother of the better-known Adam. L & W Duvallier's stand will feature such items as a teapot by Cork silversmith John Nicholson made between 1790 and 1800 and what is reckoned to be the oldest Irish provincial spoon in existence, made by Hercules Beare in Clonmel, Co Tipperary sometime around 1670.

Among the Irish porcelain on show, the stand of Belleek specialist Marion Langham of Tempo, Co Fermanagh is liable to be particularly worth noting. Other familiar names participating in the weekend's fair include Roxane Moorhead, George Stacpoole, John Farrington, Esther Sexton, Anthony Antiques and Courtville Antiques.