AS reported in The Irish Times earlier this week, a number of items from Headfort House, Co Meath, that were to be auctioned by Christie's in London last Thursday did not go into the sale, thereby ensuring that they remain in Ireland.

However, two other pieces with Irish associations were sold at the auction, both selling at prices well above their original estimates. An Irish Regency brass mounted mahogany dumb waiter by Gillingtons of Dublin, expected to sell for £2,000-£3,000, went for £6,325. Much more spectacularly, a pair of Regency mahogany terrestrial and celestial globes by Cary's of London, formerly from Strokestown House, Co Roscommon, soared well past their estimate of £15,000-£25,000 to fetch £78,500.