Mealy’s Spring Fine and Decorative Art Sale, a three-day auction, begins on Tuesday at 11am and continues on Wednesday and Thursday in the Castlecomer, Co Kilkenny saleroom. Some 1,600 lots include the contents of Stranocum Hall in Co Antrim on the instructions of William O’Neill, a regular buyer at all major Irish auctions during the past three decades including the Murnaghan Collection; Luggala; Lissadell House, and Kilshane House.

Over half the lots are offered with no reserve. Prices start at €10-€20 and range all the way to €10,000-€20,000. There’s a huge range of lots from taxidermy to 19th-century law books, furniture to pictures and some very unusual collectibles including lot 684, “a very rare 18th-century Georgian gentleman’s silk net purse” estimated at €250-€350, and with the kind of provenance (Lissadell House, Co Sligo) that’s certain to attract interest. Auctioneer George Gerard Mealy said “these purses were used to store sovereigns, guineas, and other small valuables and were tied around the belt, concealed under clothing. It is very rare to see one in an Irish sale”.

Viewing in the Mealy’s Castlecomer saleroom from noon March 22nd, see mealys.ie