A country house auctions are infrequent events and now often as disappointing as they are rare. Therefore, there should be keen interest in the sale organised by James Adam of Dublin next Wednesday, when a selection of items taken from Kilsharvan House in Co Meath will be offered.
Recently sold to broadcaster Gavin Duffy, the property has been home to the McDonnell family for the past five generations and accordingly some of the furniture has the patina of use and age. If estimates in many cases seem on the low side, this is due to relevant lots needing some restorative care and attention to bring them back to their original condition. Still, there is plenty here to excite bidders, such as an Irish George III mahogany longcase clock with engraved brass dial by Alexander Gordon of Dublin. This piece has a swan-neck pediment above a carved lion mask and it is expected to sell for £4,000-£6,000.
Also Irish, from the early Victorian period, are a mahogany rectangular teapoy (£1,000-£1,500), a William IV circular mahogany breakfast table (£3,000-£5,000), a George III dark mahogany rectangular hall table with centre carved scallop shell (£5,000-£7,000) and a George III inlaid mahogany serpentine front side table (£4,000-£5,000). Two particularly interesting Irish lots are a George III carved giltwood triple compartment overmantel mirror in the Chinese Chippendale style (£3,000-£5,000) and an exceptionally large George III yew wood and mahogany bookcase - more than 11 feet high and 10 feet wide - with three glazed slopefront curio sections and 15 graduated drawers (15,000-£25,000).
Other pieces to catch the eye include a rather unusual Victorian kidney-shaped desk in walnut by Holland & Sons of London (£6,000-£8,000), a George IV inlaid mahogany serpentine-front sideboard in the manner of George Bullock with raised brass back rail (£8,000-£12,000) and a pair of Victorian mahogany bookcases (£5,000-£7,000). Finally, two non-furniture lots worthy of mention are a pair of early 19th-century Irish cut glass jugs of robust style (£400-£500) and a very extensive 125-piece 19th-century Chinese porcelain famille rose tea service, which is decorated with hand-painted figural scenes (£8,000-£10,000).
