FROM 1,000 lots, John Ross & Co of Belfast cleared some 92 per cent of them at the company's most recent monthly sale on its premises. By far the highest price, £18,500, was paid for an oil still life by the 19th century artist Edward Ladell, while an Irish Georgian side table with a carved apron sold for £4,200.

A Victorian dining table on three turned legs fetched £3,600, a late Georgian break-front wardrobe made £2,600, as did a Victorian mahogany extending table with three leaves, and a Victorian four-door bookcase went for £2,400.

Other prices included: £2,100 for a gold bangle set with opals; £1,600 for a Georgian long case clock with Drogheda movement; £1,500 for both an Edwardian four-piece in-laid bedroom suite and a pair of Victorian ruby glass oil lamps on brass corinthian pillar bases; and £1,400 for a Georgian chest on chest.