Antiques: Collectors eye everything from a scarecrow to a hat tree

Sales in Dublin and in Durrow promise sought-after lots, writes Des O'Sullivan

'The Scarecrow' by Fergus O'Ryan (1911-1989) at James Adam.

A pair of George III Waterford oval mirrors of a type prized by collectors with alternating blue and clear crystal faceted cabochons will feature up at Sheppard's in Durrow later this month. True collectors' items like this don't come cheap and the estimate is €15,000-€25,000.

Viewing for the Paradigms and the Unexpected sale on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, March 18-20, gets underway in Durrow from March 15-17. The most expensively estimated of over 1700 lots is a south Dublin collection of luxury watches headed by a recently serviced Rolex day-date "presidents'" model with square-cut diamonds representing the hour marks (€25,000-€35,000). There is a similar estimate on a Franck Muller conquistador watch.