AN Irish private buyer based in the UK paid £32,000 for a painting by Stephen Catterson Smith, The Four Daughters of Thomas Johnston Barton, at Hamilton Osborne King's Blackrock sale last Wednesday. The picture had a catalogue estimate of £3,000-£5,000 but according to auctioneer Sara Kenny there was tremendous pre sale interest from both Irish and overseas buyers. Telephone bidders competed with numerous bids in the room to make the painting the most expensive lot of the day.

Other strong prices were: lot 351, a satin wood painted Georgian revival commode, £13,000; a mid 18th century Irish carved giltwood mirror, £4,800; a set of eight mahogany scroll back dining chairs, £3,800 a 19th century walnut stool with a tapestry upholstered top, £3,200, against a higher estimate of £1,500; an early 19th rosewood and brass inlaid fold over card table, £2,400; a pretty walnut and marquetry writing table, £1,600; a set of mahogany inlaid quartetto tables, £1,600; a mahogany and satinwood cellaret, £1,500.

Lower down the price scale, a set of elk antlers sold for £350; a small 18th century framed sampler made £420 and an Edwardian dolls house fetched £220.