Pistol-handled cutlery in this family's silver

An impressive collection of Irish silver, much of it from the same family, comes up for sale at Mealy's in Castlecomer, Co Kilkenny next week. The family in question, the Goold-Verschoyles, came into being in the 1870s when the Rev Hamilton Stuart Verschoyle married Frederika Dorothea Goold.

They and their children lived at Dunkineely, Co Donegal until the 1930s and shortly before this time, the family silver was placed in bank storage where it has remained until now.

The Verschoyles were of Dutch Huguenot origin and one of their descendants, Barbara, acted as agent for the Fitzwilliam estate in Dublin during the early 19th century, when she was responsible for the developing southern parts of the capital as well as bringing the Sisters of Charity to Sandymount in 1831.

The Goolds came from Athea, Co Limerick and one member of the family, Thomas, was an MP at the time of the Act of Union, of which he was a strong opponent. Much of the silver being offered appears to come from the Goolds, such as a set of six Irish crested silver teaspoons probably made by John Purcell in Limerick around 1800; these carry a pre-sale estimate of £750-£1,000.

Perhaps the most spectacular lot among the Irish silverware is a set of 10 George I pistol-handled knives and forks from the workshops of John Hamilton of Dublin in 1720. It is rare that such a complete set of early silver comes to the market and this lot is therefore expected to go for £2,500-£3,200, but could easily make even more.

There is an abundance of lots of Irish silver cutlery on offer, but also a number of more substantial pieces, such as an early George III helmet-shaped and crested sauceboat with particularly attractive scroll handle. Probably by William Homer of Dublin and dating from around 1770, its estimate is £1,000-£1,500.

Just as appealing is an early George II coffee pot with later ornate chasing of flowers and scrolls (£2,500-£3,500) and a five-piece Victorian tea and coffee service in the chinoiserie style by J Maloney of Dublin (£3,500-£4,500).

Naturally, despite a strong presence, silver is by no means the only thing for sale at this two-day event. Again, to look at Irish items, there are two almost identical mid-18th century Irish side chairs with tapestry-covered seats (£2,500-£3,500), a very handsome mahogany hunt table on six square legs (£3,000-£5,000) and a most unusual 19th century partners' pedestal desk in chinoiserie-style green lacquer, bearing the trade label of Robert Strahan & Co of Dublin (£4,000-£6,000).

There is also a very striking Georgian mahogany estate cabinet, probably Irish, its upper section enclosing an arrangement of innumerable pigeonholes above a drop-down writing flap; the estimate here is £2,000-£3,000.

There is also fine furniture from other countries, notables among these lots being a Scottish George III serpentine-fronted inlaid and crossbanded mahogany sideboard (£3,000-£5,000) and a set of five 19th century Dutch floral marquetry dining chairs (£1,000-£1,500).

There are also many pictures but limitations of space mean only two can be mentioned, both Irish 18th century portraits showing members of the Quinn family of Borleigh Manor, Co Wexford; they each carry the same estimate of £800-£1,200. At Mealy's, this sale takes place on Tuesday and Wednesday, beginning at 10.30 a.m. on each occasion.