Rare Dun Emer rug and Ernest Shackleton’s sledge for sale at auction

FORTHCOMING AUCTIONS

Saturday, January 26th: Whyte's, Freemason Hall, 17 Molesworth Street, Dublin 2. Séamus Kearns' postcard collection of over 100,000 cards, in 496 lots of Irish and international interest. See whytes.ie

Saturday, January 26th: Sotheby's, New Bond Street, London. The contents of The Fine Arts Society London to include three lots by William Orpen and a stained glass by Harry Clarke, lot 87: A Musician (€4,528,791). See sothebys.com

Sunday, January 27th: Hegarty Auction Rooms, Bandon, Co Cork, 3pm. Auction to include furniture, fine art, silver and jewellery. Lot 14, 18ct white gold sapphire and diamond Art Deco-style ring (€2,200-€2,300) and also in 18ct white gold, lot 19, a sapphire and diamond cluster ring – sapphire 2.5cts and diamonds 1.25cts (€6,800-€6,900). See hegartyantiques.com

Monday, January 28th: Mullen's of Laurel Park, Woodbrook, Bray, Co Wicklow, 10am. A highlight of this auction will be lot 170, a Dun Emer rug measuring 483cm by 243cm (€500-€1,000). "It is slightly faded – which represents the realistic estimate," says Joe Mullen. These Irish handmade rugs have sold well over the years – the highest price was €21,000 in 2008 at Mealy's, and in 2016 Adam's sold a similar rug for €10,000. These rugs are found in Leinster House, Áras an Uachtaráin and Pope Pius XI had a Dun Emer rug in his study. Also included is a fine selection of Georgian furniture and lot 134, a Chinese Fencai Qing dynasty vase (€500-€700). See mullenslaurelpark.com

You might not be a TV star, but your home could be

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Upside down Sandymount two-bed with courtyard for €595,000

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Two-bed not to be sniffed at in Ranelagh village for €575k

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Houseworks: quick fixes for draughty windows

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Monday, January 28th: Usher Auction Rooms, John Street, Kells, Co Meath, 5pm. With 600 lots from four period residences, including the Magnier estate in Athboy, to include lot 405, Georgian Cork serving table (€2,000-€3,000) and lot 493, a Buhl cabinet with brass figureheads (€1,200-€1,500). Selection of silverware and paintings includes lot 494, a scene by CJ McAuley (€1,000-€1,200) and lot 396, a still life by Padraig Lynch (€500-€600). See usherauctions.com

Tuesday, January 29th: John Weldon, 2 Cows Lane, Temple Bar, Dublin 2, 2pm. Jewellery auction of 384 lots to include a selection of solitaire diamond rings. Lot 25, solitaire with 3.03ct VS1 clarity (€28,000-€32,000) and lot 93, 2.46ct (€15,000-€18,000). A selection of vintage Rolex and Cartier watches and pocket and fob watches. Lot 171 is an 18ct pocket watch (1854), in excellent condition, which Weldon describes being "as rare as hen's teeth", (€400-€800). Lot 227, is a collection of first World War memorabilia including a death plaque awarded to Albert Wheeler, a pseudonym used by Joseph Redmond Diver as the lad was underage when he enlisted (€200-€300). See jwa.ie

Tuesday, January 29th: Sheppard's Auction House, Durrow, Co Laois, 10.30am. "Décor Decoded" auction of 817 lots, including period furniture, Persian rugs and oriental ceramics. See sheppards.ie

Saturday, February 2nd: Woodward Auctions, 26 Cook Street, Cork, 11am. Auction of contents of houses from Bishopstown and Kinsale, to include a copy of the signed front page of the Good Friday Agreement (€500-€600). See woodward.ie

Wednesday, February 6th: Bonhams, London. "Travel and Exploration Sale" to include a sledge from Ernest Shackleton's Antarctic expedition (£60,000-£100,000) and 20 rare photographs by the official photographer (£5,000-£7,000). See bonhams.com

Sunday, February 10th: DeVeres, Conrad Hotel, Earlsfort Terrace, Dublin 2, 2pm. Clearance of 20th-century and antique furniture with artworks by Michael Farrell, Patrick O'Reilly, John Noel Smith and Stephen McKenna. See deveres.ie

FORTHCOMING FAIRS

Sunday, February 3rd: Hibernian Antique Fair, Clayton Silver Springs Hotel Cork, 11am. With over 45 stands this is one of the largest fairs to be held in the city. Highlights include a rare George I silver Waterford tazza (1726), engraved with the Alcott family arms (estimate €15,000) on the Jimmy Weldon IADA stand.

Sunday, February 3rd: Antique Fair and Vintage Ireland, Ardboyne Hotel, Navan, Co Meath, noon-6pm.