Wexford period house St Austin's contents sale

Treasures aplenty among the Irish, European and oriental art and furniture under the hammer 

Left, a neoclassical urn, top right, a large gilt overmantel, and bottom right, a pair of 18th-century console tables at Sheppard's.

A house contents auction is always a draw so it would be wise to anticipate plenty of bidders and buyers to see treasures aplenty at elegant 18th-century St Austin's, Coolgreaney, Co Wexford.

More than 1,350 lots from this beautifully restored and modernised two-storey over-basement period home dating to 1763 will come under the hammer at Sheppards in Durrow on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday (July 16, 17, 18). There will be viewings at the house, located between Gorey and Arklow, today, tomorrow and Monday from 10am to 5pm each day.

Art and furniture highlights include Achill Island by Grace Henry last sold at Sotheby's in 2007 (€8,000-€14,000), On the Liffey and The Monastery Wall by Letitia M Hamilton and Gathering Turf by James Humbert Craig (all €5,000-€8,000).

There is a pair of 18th-century parcel gilt console tables (€5,000-€8,000), a 19th-century large carved giltwood overmantel mirror and an 18th-century Dublin longcase clock by William Edwards (both €3,000-€5,000), a c1820 French Restoration ormolu and bronze mantle clock (€1,500-€2,500) and a large Cork Regency brass fender (€1,400-€1,800).

The property, which has been sold, was home for over 30 years to Alan and Aine Deacon, who had lived in Hong Kong for some time. This is reflected in an eclectic collection of Irish, European and oriental art and furniture as well as early Irish cartography and collectibles. Much of the furniture, of which there is lots, was acquired from the sale of the original contents when St Austin's was home to Major and Mrs. H M E Grogan.

Included is a collection of Bordeaux wines, rare whiskeys, kitchenalia, contents of the stables, out offices, garden furniture and statuary. 

There are some rare edition Snaffles prints (€6,000-€8,000) and the most expensively estimated lot is a white gold art deco target ring with sapphires and a three carat diamond (€25,000-€35,000). 

A Dun Emer Donegal Phoenix carpet, a Mughal hand woven carpet, a Sarouk Tree of Life Carpet and a Persian Kirman carpet are all estimated at €5,000-€8,000.

One of a pair of large neoclassical garden urns at Sheppard's.

The garden selection includes urns, furniture, planters, lighting and ornaments. Irish vernacular lots include a settle bed, chairs, stools and some pewter and metal tankards.

There are two Japanese silk embroidered wedding kimonos (€100-€150 each), a good selection of various sorts of lighting, 33 lots of wines and spirits, two vintage telephones, 37 lots of arms and armour and a selection of antique boxes. Sales, broken into five sessions for the convenience of bidders, get underway in Durrow and online at 10am on Tuesday.