WITH a total of almost £1 million, Mealy's can feel very satisfied with the two-day auction conducted on their premises in Co Kilkenny this week. Results were helped by the distinguished provenance of many lots - vendors included the Marquis of Donegall, Lord Lloyd-Webber and the late Josephine Edwards - and the high quality of certain pieces.

Among the best was a pair of Queen Anne walnut side tables, each with green veined marble tops; the pair made the sale's best price of £56,000. Another piece of furniture that fetched a good price was an 18th century French boulle bureau plat, which was expected to fetch £12,000-£16,000 but sold for £20,000. A mid-Georgian period mahogany bureau cabinet in the manner of William Kent fetched £16,500; a George IV mahogany dining table made £14,000; a Georgian statuary marble fireplace sold for £13,090; another marble fireplace, this time dating from the early 19th century, fetched £12,750; a large George III dining table sold for £12,000; and a pair of French ormolu, six-branch, seven-light candelabra made £10,000.

Among the pictures, a mid-19th century panoramic landscape, depicting numerous figures on the Roman campagna, sold for £26,000.