Forthcoming Auctions

Mahogany furniture and silver, too at Blackrock

The first days of next week are heavy with auctions, not least of which is the sale being conducted on Tuesday afternoon by Hamilton Osborne King in Blackrock, Co Dublin. There are some 350 lots here, the first 50 of which comprise silver and plate, including two 18th century Cork freedom boxes (estimate £800-£1,200 each) and a pair of two-handled salts made in London in 1819 (£300-£500). However, by far the greatest part of the sale is given over to furniture, including a mid-18th century Irish mahogany long-case clock, signed Alex Gordon, Dublin (£1,500-£2,000), and an early 19th century Irish giltwood convex mirror (£1,000-£1,500).

A mid-19th century mahogany side cabinet carries a pre-sale estimate of £1,200-£1,600, another longcase clock, this time dating from the mid-19th century and signed Edward Smith of Dublin, is expected to fetch £500-£800 and from the same period is a mahogany serpentine serving table (£800-£1,200). Finally, the auctioneers expect a mid-19th century walnut side cabinet to go for £800-£1,000 and a mid-19th century carved giltwood overmantle mirror to fetch £1,500-£2,000.

Estates contribute lots to Sixmilebridge sale

Auctioneer John Dunphy expects to fetch in the region of £2,500-£3,500 for a set of six Regency simulated rosewood dining chairs with brass mounts at a sale on his premises at Sixmilebridge, Co Clare, next Tuesday morning. Various estates in the area, together with the contents of an old shop in Limerick city, have contributed lots to this auction, where a 19th century Dutch satinwood cabinet on stand carries an estimate of £1,200-£1,600, an Edwardian inlaid display cabinet has a price of £1,000-£1,400 and a George III halfmoon mahogany tea table is expected to make £1,000-£1,500. Mr Dunphy is also selling two pairs of entrance gates, one 10 foot wide in cast-iron, dating from the 19th century (estimate £1,000-£1,500), the other a foot wider in wrought-iron (£500-£700).

A revolutionary way to shave

A late 18th century barber's shaving bowl, which carries masonic emblems and the words Liberte, Fraternite and Egalite, will form part of next Tuesday evening's sale at Mullen Bros of Oldcastle, Co Meath. It is expected to sell for around £1,000.

As usual with a Mullen's auction, there are to be a wide variety of curious lots, such as 19th century indentures, shares certificates, second and third century AD Roman coins, gun money and enamel advertisements. The sale begins at 6.30 p.m.

William IV library table for £2,000-plus

Estimates seem to come in pairs at next Wednesday's auction being conducted on the premises of Herman & Wilkinson of Rathmines, Dublin. So, both a Victorian extending dining table and a William IV library table are expected to sell for £2,000-£3,000, while an Edwardian mahogany and satinwood display case and a Victorian grandfather clock have the same pre-sale estimate of £700-£1,000.

A Victorian carved hall-stand and a William IV fold-top supper table again share the same estimate of £400-£700, although an Edwardian mahogany and satinwood breakfront display case is expected to make £1,750-£2,500.

Victorian pieces from closed business for sale

The March furniture and fine art auction at Drums of Malahide takes place next Thursday, starting at 7 p.m. A number of Victorian pieces come from a recently-closed north Dublin business, among them several four-door and pedestal sideboards with estimates of £600-£1,000 each.

A restored Victorian oystershell, walnut breakfront bookcase, measuring seven feet by seven feet, is expected to sell for £2,000-£3,000 and a Victorian tradition brush-end mahogany dining room table on brass castors has an estimate of £800-£1,200.

Contents from houses in Cork auction

Contents from a number of recent house sales feature in next Wednesday's auction at Joseph Woodward & Sons of Cork. A Sheraton inlaid, bow-fronted corner cabinet, a Georgian side table, a large, oval Regency gilt mirror, as well as Victorian bookcases and breakfront sideboards, breakfast and library tables, sets of chairs and Irish and English silver are all included.

Marquetry walnut table expected to be top lot

A Victorian marquetry walnut circular table is expected to make the highest price of £3,000-£3,500 at tomorrow's Town & Country auction on the company's premises in Dublin. A Victorian mahogany extension table comes with an estimate of £1,200-£1,400, as does a mahogany bookcase from the same period.

A large pair of carved American armchairs is expected to sell for £800-£1,000.