Helen Thornton, Town & Country Auctioneers, Dublin:

"Fine Irish and English Georgian, Regency and William IV, especially signed pieces of furniture, are going to dominate the market next year. Cabinet makers, for example Mack Williams & Gibton, Gillows, Gillington, Jones, and Strahan are becoming highly sought-after, especially as furniture from these cabinet makers are becoming rare on the market.

The old reliables, like dining tables, chairs, bookcases and chests, will be strong. The designer market will become stronger, with architectural furniture, lights, mirrors increasing as interior designers are now a big presence in Ireland due to the new immigration of continentals and others from further afield.

"One thing is guaranteed next year: prices for important quality furniture and antiques with good provenance will definitely increase to a level never seen before in this country, if the economy remains as buoyant as in 1996."

Daniel Clarke, John Ross & Co, Belfast:

"The Belfast picture market continues to focus on works by Northern artists. We put around 1,000 paintings under the hammer in 1996. It is evident that interest will continue to accelerate in 1997 in works by Gerard Dillon, Daniel O'Neill, Percy French and Paul Henry. On the contemporary front, works by Basil Blackshaw - particularly after the highly-acclaimed restrospective exhibition in the Ormeau Baths Gallery - will continue to climb; Blackshaws have been making respectable five-figure sums. Markey Robinson works are always in demand at auction and a top Markey can be expected to make £5,000-£6,000.

Furniture will continue to be keenly contested at auction. In Belfast, the preference is always for brown furniture. As good examples appear less frequently in the rooms, there is a shift in emphasis towards merely good examples.

The market for silver will continue to be stable, with well-stamped Irish silver providing the high points."

George Mealy, George Mealy & Sons, Castlecomer, Co Kilkenny:

"I feel Victorian paintings are always a good bet as they have a steady gradual increase and are always pleasing to the eye. I suggest a potential buyer pick good signed authentic pieces with a provenance.

Antiquarian books have always shown good investment returns - often double or triple the original price in a short period of time.

People should look out for good examples of early Beleek, as I feel it will increase in price considerably in the near future. It is very important with Beleek, as indeed with any other ceramics, to buy them perfect and unrestored.

The premier investment, in my opinion, is mid-18th century furniture. If a good piece is purchased in original condition - unrestored with original polish and patina, original drawer linings, etc - it is an investment for life."

James O'Halloran, James Adam Salesrooms, Dublin:

"We, have noticed increased interest in decorative pieces. In many cases, purchasers are prepared to forego on age provided that the piece has quality and style. Most popular are what-nots, which seem to be the new sideboards. Canterburys, music cabinets, butlers trays, wall brackets, military secretaires and Wellington chests are all a must and can make well over estimate. Irish cabinet makers of the late 18th and 19th centuries add a significant premium to the value of standard items, such as dining tables, sideboards, chairs and stools. Large is out, compact is beautiful.

The 20th century Irish school of art is most popular with informed collectors. Exceptions are made for James Arthur O'Connor, William Sadleir and Edwin Hayes. The period between 1940 and 1965 is hot, with Gerard Dillon continuing to perform well. Nano Reid, Camille Souter and Barrie Cooke will continue to do well and James Le Jeune shows no sign of waning. The increased interest in "serious" art has pushed pretty pictures off the stage and this is likely to continue in 1997. We just cannot get enough Irish topographical prints by Malton, HaveIl, T.S. Roberts, etc.

The trend, which began a couple of years ago, of buyers investing in "useful" silver continues. Flatware, card trays, vases, table ornaments are all popular sellers, while tea services, trays and trophies can be difficult. With china we find that large decorative items, such as vases, bowls, plaques and good dinner services, are sellers, whereas small ornaments, tea services and mass-produced ware, however old, are slow to find new homes."

Sarah Kenny, Hamilton Osborne King, Blackrock, Co Dublin:

"There is no doubt that the demand now for quality, well-provenanced items is at an all-time high, with prices in the 1996 season rising at all levels. This trend will continue, in particular for period Irish furniture of good, original condition and historical note. A strong demand for Edwardian furniture will continue, especially for the smaller, neater pieces, which are suitable for modern houses. Art deco and art nouveau is more in vogue in Ireland, and items that would have been dismissed a few years ago are now making considerable sums at auction.

An interesting area to consider investing in is Irish glass; although good examples are comparatively rare, they do pass through the various sales and never make much more than a few hundred pounds. Of course, the market has taken a severe blow due to the discovery that most engraved pieces purporting to be from the Volunteer and Williamite period were faked in the early 20th century. Still, it seems a pity to let pieces slip by which show all the skill and artistry of the Irish Georgian period, when their equivalent in silver fetch such large prices.

It is certainly now a sellers' market, so it could be wise for potential vendors to avail of the present market as conditions are favourable.

John Dunphy, John Dunphy Antique and Fine Art Auctioneer, Henry Street, Limerick:

"In the second half of the 19th century, a style - or styles - of Victorian furniture and, decorative objects was born out of what is known as the Aesthetic Movement. Famous names such as William Morris, E.W. Godwin and Christopher Dresser, had their designs manufactured by equally famous cabinet makers, such as William Watt and Gillows. A study of these designers will shatter many peoples' ideas of Victorian furniture design and open up a new area of interest and collecting which has not yet been fully appreciated in this country.

Extremely high quality unique pieces, sometimes attributable to a designer, can be had at very modest prices in most cases. Important pieces will naturally command high prices where identified."

David Britton, The Frederick Gallery, Dublin:

"My advice would be only to buy what you like. Too many people buy names but don't love the pictures. They do this solely as an investment; they are generally the people who come a cropper. Buy the best you can afford. You are much better buying a cracking good James Humbert Craig than a mediocre Frank McKelvey, the best Grace Henry than a poor Paul Henry. The best will always appreciate in value and will be easier to sell, even in a bad market.

It is a myth that you need a lot of money to start investing in Irish art by the well-known names. Good drawings would be good for a start; signed drawings by Patrick Collins can be bought for under £100, Dermod O'Brien - who was the longest-serving president of the RHA - produced wonderful period drawings which can be had for £200-£400 and Elizabeth Rivers's drawings of life on Aran from the 1930s can be bought for £150-£400.

Pictures by Anne Yeats, Father Jack P. Hanlon, Patrick Collins, Margaret Stokes and Norah McGuinness immediately spring to mind as artists whose work is way undervalued. Of contemporary artists, I choose three from Northern Ireland: Hector McDonnell is one of Ireland's finest living artists with his atmospheric interiors; Ian McAllister, who specialises in still lives, looks very promising; and P.J. Lynch, who won this year's Kate Greenaway Medal for childrens' book illustration, whose work sells for under £500."

John de Vere White, de Veres Art Auctions, Kildare Street, Dublin:

"The growing financial confidence in the country certainly spilled over into the sales-rooms in 1996 with the first indications of a forward move in prices for some years. I believe this will continue in 1997. The better Irish pictures have been undervalued in recent years and this is directly as a result of the fall-out that occurred after the phenomenal price rise that took place in 1989-91. Artists who suffered most in the resulting collapse were people such Mildred Anne Butler, Letitia Hamilton, Frank McKelvey and Maurice Wilks. We have detected renewed interest in good examples of these artists' work, with prices moving accordingly, and this will continue in 1997.

We are dealing with a discerning market. The better pictures will now be keenly contested; the poorer ones will find their own level. The confidence in the economy will tempt sellers to come to the market. We certainly will be moving estimates upwards on the better-quality works. Hopefully, the Leech exhibition at the National Gallery will bring good examples of this fine painter's work to the market. Dillon's popularity will continue. On the more contemporary front, Le Brocquy, Brady and O'Malley are gaining an ever-increasing following, with collectors keenly competing for good examples of their work."

Larry Dougherty, Horologium Antiques, Lavitts Quay, Cork:

"Sundials, clepsydrae (water clocks), hour glasses, as well as very early mechanical time-pieces such as 17th century clocks. Also any original clock signed by an Irish maker. Irish clocks are far cheaper than their English or American equivalents at the moment but the supply is rapidly dwindling.

Any early metalwork, such as candlesticks, steel fire-irons, bedwarmers, chandeliers, jardinieres, trivets, etc. Brass, bronze or steel - the earlier the better.

Metal-mounted or metal-inlaid furniture Boulle, Biedermeier with mounts, Directoire which often has brass in the flutes of columns, Regency furniture which often uses brass stringing. Pieces which are gilded or have partially gilded wood, such as mirrors as well as furniture. An important point to keep in mind is condition of the gilding. Mellow, old gilding is easy on the eye and highly-prized by collectors. Early furniture and decorative items in general (17th century)."

Denis Drum, Drums Auctioneers, Malahide, Co Dublin:

"1997 should see a further steady demand for plain Irish or English Georgian furniture, with its overall air of solidity. It must be said that smaller inlaid pieces of furniture will continue to rise in value at a faster rate than the large items. This is due mainly to the limited size of the majority of modern apartments and houses. We have seen a steady increase in the demand for bordered English, Turkish and Persian rugs, where the public have come to realise the value of a sanded or polished floor. You can take these carpets with you when moving, whereas fitted carpets are almost valueless in the space of a few years. Gilt mirrors and overmantles will also see an upward trend in 1997. Anything with an Irish connection, whether it be pictures, furniture or glass can be assured of a further steady rise."

Therese Gorry, Gorry Gallery, Molesworth Street, Dublin:

"Noel Murphy, a 26-year-old Belfast painter with a romantic realist style featuring figurative subjects inspired by his love of literature. His recent exhibition in this gallery entitled The Poet's Progress - Thoughts towards Completeness was a virtual sell-out, with buyers from both North and South. Like Paul Kelly from Rush, Co Dublin, who is two years his senior, Noel Murphy has also attracted buyers from America. Kelly is at present living in the United States but will be returning to paint in north Co Dublin in a new studio and prepare for a major exhibition. Both of these young painters have a large enthusiastic following which belies their years and their future work is eagerly awaited."

David Allen, Mullen's of Laurel Park, Woodbrook, Co Dublin:

"In line with the steadily increasing auction room price of all items last year, I see 1997 as a year when competition will again increase dramatically. A sellers' market as opposed to a buyers' market, which has existed since the recession hit in the late 1980s.

In 1997 I think the areas that will see the greatest interest are English furniture - good quality unrestored Georgian and Edwardian - in particular sets of chairs, bureaux and desks and art deco furniture and fittings.

With regard to china, Doulton will continue to rise, as well as any 18th century porcelain, a scarce commodity in Ireland. I would like to see Georgian silver really come back to mid-1980s levels, but for security reasons many people are frightened away.

Antique and modern quality rugs will continue to climb, especially with the vogue for polished floors.

Irish art, especially impressionist artists, will keep gaining,