THERE was a lively atmosphere in the James Adam's auction room on Wednesday for their first sale of the year. The room was full, buyers clustered outside the door and the number of people rushing in and out, mobile phones to ears, added to the sense of urgency.

The top selling lot of the day was the Victorian mahogany elliptical extending dining table - a handsome round table that opens to stake four additional leaves. It sold for £5,700, £700 above its top estimate. A set of eight dining chairs from the same owner sold for £2,000.

A rather unusual William IV double drop leaf extending dining table that comes apart in a concertina action made £3,400 under the hammer, well above its top estimate of £2,000. A set of eight George III mahogany dining chairs, lot 368 sold for £3,000, just making their lower estimate.

A Victorian inlaid walnut bowfront credenza, the central cupboard door inset with an oval sevres porcelain panel, sold for £1,500, a little below its lower estimate.

A Victorian mahogany breakfront bookcase with triple glazed arched doors sold for £2,100; a pair of Regency gilt painted and carved wood pier mirrors sold for £1,500; and a Victorian parian study of a mother and child after John Foley made £1,600.

A nice William IV mahogany folding top tea table sold for £1,200.

There seemed to be bids all over the room for a Spode part breakfast service - a lovely collection of lavender blue and white cups saucers, plates and egg cups. It made £700, almost twice its top estimate.