WITH summer on the horizon and attention turning to outdoor games, a croquet set dating from around 1900 could attract plenty of bids at Hamilton Osborne King's furniture and fine art auction next Tuesday afternoon. Comprising four mallets, three balls, six hoops and a marker in a pitch pine stand, and estimated to sell for £200-£300, the croquet set comes in the midst of large amounts of brown furniture.

There are, for example, at least three sets of mahogany dining chairs, two of them expected to make £1,000-£1,500, while the other carries an estimate of £800-£1,200. A mahogany dining table, its rectangular top with rounded corners and reeded rims, has a higher pre sale estimate of £2,500-£3,500. A mahogany breakfront bookcase dating from circa 1830 should fetch £3,500-£5,000 and a mid-19th century mahogany, framed sofa is expected to sell for £1,000-£1,500.

Walnut features in a suite of 19th century carved furniture, probably American, and in a mid 19th century fold over top card table (both £800-£1,200). An ebony, bone inlaid and brass mounted oval centre table from circa 1870 should fetch £1,000-£1,500 and a walnut and burr walnut oval centre table is estimated at £600-£1,000.

There are also a large number of pictures in this sale, as well as some examples of Belleek, including a first period triform shell dish and a large armorial soup tureen and cover, each estimated to make £200-£300.