Almost £600,000 raised at Upper Court Manor

Although key items had to be withdrawn shortly before the event, the auction at Upper Court Manor, Co Kilkenny, last Tuesday still realised a total of almost £600,000. This should go some way towards refurbishing the building. Mealy's secured £14,000 - the day's best price - for two lots, a Georgian mahogany library bookcase with gothic glazed panel doors and a large bronze garden fountain, its top surmounted by a winged figure. A 19thcentury white statuary marble mantelpiece, reputed to have come from Johnstown Castle, fetched £11,500 and an Irish Georgian mahogany longcase clock, which is signed John Sanderson, Dublin, went under the hammer for £8,750.

Other prices achieved include: £8,250 for an Irish Georgian mahogany sideboard, probably made in Cork; £7,250 for a large carved Victorian mirror-back sideboard or serving table; £7,000 each for two William IV mahogany library bookcases; £5,700 for both a Victorian burr-maple, satinwood and walnut credenza, stamped Gillow & Co, and a large mahogany boardroom or diningroom table; £5,600 for a George III mahogany secretaire bookcase; and £5,400 for a Georgian mahogany bureau bookcase.

Traditional Irish table has the last word

Best-seller at the most recent auction held in the James Adam salerooms was an Irish Victorian yew wood centre table, made by Arthur Jones and Co of Dublin. A piece heavily decorated with traditional Irish symbols, such as shamrocks and harps, and bearing the words "Cead Mile Failte", it fetched £7,800. Almost as good a price - although lower than its £10,000-£12,000 pre-sale estimate - was made by an 18th-century Italian oil showing the goddess Diana in procession; it went for £7,500. A sum of £5,000 was paid for a pair of 19th-century statues of seated hounds in terracotta, £4,800 for a Victorian mahogany rectangular sofa table and a Victorian mahogany D-end extending dining table and £4,200 for a set of eight 19th-century George III-style mahogany dining chairs in the Hepplewhite manner.

Finally, a Victorian mahogany D-end extending dining table sold for £4,000.

Nelson dining table is sold for £9,500

An Irish George IV Nelson dining table was sold for £9,500 and a set of 12 Irish Victorian mahogany dining chairs fetched £4,500 at last Sunday's contents auction conducted by Town & Country at Durhamstown Castle in Co Meath. A William IV mahogany sofa was sold for £5,000 and a 19thcentury continental four-poster bed made £4,200.