A masterpiece from famous duke's home

A number of pieces of Irish furniture come up for sale at Christie's in London next Thursday morning. The lot carrying the highest pre-sale estimate is a 19th-century white marble and brocatelle chimneypiece; this is said to have come from Dangan Castle in Co Meath, family home of the first Duke of Wellington. Relatively unadorned except for some bands of moulding, it carries an estimate of £15,000-£25,000. Two other Irish lots are said to have come from Abbeville, Co Dublin: a George II mahogany and oak drop-leaf dining table and a George II mahogany side chair, the latter with customary rich carving. These carry estimates of £3,000-£5,000 and £6,000-£9,000 respectively.

A set of four George III mahogany dining chairs has been divided into two pairs for the sale, each with an estimate of £7,000-£10,000, while a mahogany sidetable with central lion mask, probably supplied to Drumbanagher, Co Armagh, is expected to fetch £8,000-£12,000. Also in this sale is an Irish simulated-rosewood and parcel-gilt centre table, probably from Cork (£2,500-£4,000), a George IV mahogany serving table (£5,000-£8,000), a George IV mahogany drum table (described as "possibly Irish" and estimated at £7,000-£10,000) and a rococo George III giltwood mirror (£5,000-£7,000). Other Irish lots include: a Regency mahogany estate cabinet, originally from Morristown Lattin, Co Kildare (£4,000-£6,000); a George II mahogany side table (£6,000-£10,000); and a George II mahogany library open armchair (£15,000-£20,000).