Durrow sale delivers lots of variety

The variety contained in 2,000 lots at four days of auctions at Sheppards in Durrow, Co Laois next week is enormous.

There is everything from 1790 hall chairs (€1,200-€1,600), to an Irish George III chimney piece in the manner of Pietro Bossi (€30,000-€50,000); to a Chinese blue and white bowl, Yongzheng period €(3,000-€5,000), and a pair of 19th century Sevres urns and covers (€2,000-€3,000).

The series kicks off on Tuesday with silver, jewellery, furniture and art, followed on Wednesday by militaria, furniture and ceramics, with Oriental art and wine on Thursday, followed by art that evening at 7 pm and rare books on Friday at 10.30 am.

There are first editions from WH Auden to Graham Greene to Agatha Christie, a satinwood secretaire attributed to William Moore (€6,000-€9,000), a George III oval library table (€1,500-€2,500), a bronze discobulus by Robert Catterson Smith (€3,000-€5,000), a 19th century gilt bronze hall lantern (€1,500-€2,500), a painting entitled Breton Reapers by Augustus Burke (€15,000-€25,000) and an 18th century gilt bronze standing buddha (€5,000-€8,000).

With the exception of the Thursday art sale all auctions get underway at 10.30. Viewing is from 10 am to 5 pm today, tomorrow and Monday.