More rare antiques coming to market at Adams in Dublin

Des O’Sullivan says Adam’s sale includes highly collectible chess sets.

A George I carved gilt wood side table is the top lot at the Sunday interiors auction at James Adam in Dublin tomorrow.

Adams say that this is a strong example of fine and rare pieces of period furniture on offer during the second half of this year.

The table is carved with a mask of Diana and satyr masks and is estimated at €10,000-€15,000.

This is a sale of period furniture, paintings, silver, and decorative arts.

A satinwood and marquetry inlaid commode by James Hicks of Dublin is estimated at €3,000-€5,000.

There is a similar estimate on three Scottish silver George III tea caddies by Alexander Gardiner of Edinburgh from 1772.

The sale offers no less than four chess sets including a highly collectible club size, Jaques Staunton ivory set c1855-1860.

The London maker John Jaques re-designed chess pieces making a stable base, adding the name of Howard Stauton, unofficial world chess champion of 1843.

The Staunton Pattern has been the official standard for tournament play since 1924 and this set is estimated at €8,000-€10,000.

The sale of just under 500 lots starts at noon.

It is on view from 11am to 5pm today.

Sword may fetch up to £5,000

This Ceylonese silver mounted sword was presented to William Henry Gregory (1818-1892), governor of Ceylon from 1872 to 1877, by a Mrs Alwis.

Gregory was son of Robert Gregory of Coole Park and Elizabeth O’Hara of Raheen, and was a lifelong friend of the author, Anthony Trollope.In Galway, he was regarded as a humane and improving landlord. Lady Gregory, whom he married in 1880, was his second wife.

The sword comes up at Thomas de Mar’s auction of arms and militaria on December 2. It is estimated at £3,000 to £5,000.