Next week sees the sale of Gerrardstown House in Co Meath, with the contents going to auction a week later. The house and its adjacent stud farm belonged to Mrs Patricia Hanson, who died last May; sister-in-law of Lord Hanson, she was well-known in equestrian circles here as a successful breeder of racehorses. Some items of furniture in this sale came from the home of Mrs Hanson's parents, Marlay Grange in Rathfarnham. These include a walnut, crossbanded and herringbone line, inlaid bureau cabinet, which basically dates from circa 1740 but with some later adaptions to make it a showcase. This is expected to fetch £5,000-£10,000, while a pair of 19th century carved, giltwood wall mirrors in the Chinese chinoiserie style carry an estimate of £8,000-£12,000. An early 19th century mahogany, serpentine-fronted sideboard, which once stood in the dining room at Marlay Grange, has an estimate of £2,000-£3,000.

One of the very finest lots in this sale is a pair of D-shaped hardwood and rosewood inlaid commodes dating from circa 1780 and in the manner of William Moore of Dublin; they carry an estimate of £30,000-£50,000. A mid-18th century mahogany bureau cabinet, with broken triangular pediment, is expected to make £10,000-£15,000 and a 19th century German kingwood and parquetry bonheur de jour in rococo style has a price of £3,000-£5,000, the same estimate as a late 18th century mahogany and satinwood banded oval drop-leaf Pembroke table.

Also certain to draw considerable attention is a set of four carved mahogany squareback single chairs from the mid-18th century (£10,000-£15,000), a 19th century Italian carved giltwood centre table, with circular black marble and pietra dura inlay top (£5,000-£8,000) and a rosewood centre table with figured fan veneer top from around 1830 (£4,000-£6,000).

A pair of early 19th century sandstone sphinxes in the Empire manner is expected to make £12,000-£15,000 and an 18th century white marble bust of a woman of the French court has an estimate of £1,500-£2,000.

Among pictures is a canvas attributed to Carl Van Loo showing actress Mlle Clairon playing the part of Medea (£3,000-£5,000) and a 19th century Chinese mirror painting of women playing a board game on a terrace (£1,000-£1,500). There are also works by William Conor, Frank Egginton and Eva Hamilton.

Silver includes a pair of oval meat dishes made by John Harvey of London in 1779 (£4,000-£6,000) and a five-piece English mid-19th century tea and coffee set (£1,500-£2,000).

The auction takes place on Monday, September 22nd, starting at 10.30 a.m.