These days you can hardly turn on the television without encountering a programme devoted to finding, buying or selling antiques. The Antiques Roadshow, Bargain Hunt, Flog It, and Cash in the Attic are just some of the programmes where experts are asked to value granny’s heirlooms.

Most of the items being valued aren’t worth much. The surprises come when items such as a plain old mug that’s been holding pencils turns out to be a rare piece of pottery dating from the 16th century. Now that really grabs the attention.

What also appears to have grabbed attention for the past few years is anything with a Chinese provenance, where eye-watering prices have been achieved at auction. But this is misleading according to George Stacpoole, president of the Irish Antique Dealers Association (IADA), whose annual fair takes place in the RDS from Friday 26-28 September.

“Yes, the Chinese market is strong, but most of the stuff that crosses our desks is worth very little. The really special stuff is very rare and you certainly need to know what you are doing when buying it,” he says.

This year, George celebrates 50 years in the antique business and his charming shop in Adare, Co Limerick, stocks a wide range of reasonably priced collectables.

“This will be our 49th fair and I’ve been to all of them. Over the years I’ve seen a lot change. For instance, in the early days everything had to have a pre-1850 dateline. Now as long as the item is of excellent quality it will be accepted.”

The bad news is that “brown furniture”, the sort beloved of everyone’s mammy, is still out of favour.

“You can pick up the loveliest of mahogany furniture for a quarter of what it would have made five years ago. I recently sold a nice mahogany bow-fronted chest of drawers for €400 – it would easily have made €1,000 a few years ago.”

Sets of six Victorian dining room chairs with two carvers and by a good maker can be picked up for €1,200, whereas they often fetched as much as €4,000 at auction in the past. It’s the same with dining room tables, sideboards and dumb waiters.

“Of course there will be exceptions, but most people no longer have a formal dining room and they want a more contemporary look to tie in with their kitchen.”

However, it’s not all bad news as slope front bureaus are back in fashion, especially for bedrooms. Revolving bookcases are also popular as they double up as a side table and bookcase in smaller spaces.

“When I was a small boy, I used to love whizzing them around until the books flew in every direction. Not to be recommended,” says George.

On a positive note, George believes that the market for brown furniture will return.

“It’s real quality, well made and with a pedigree attached. Prices will improve.”

What’s also back in fashion are tea sets, no doubt driven by the Downton effect and the number of hotels that now offer afternoon tea on their menus. Silver whizzed up to values in the high €20s but has now settled back to €13 an ounce. Again, many homes have a silver tea service – usually EPNS – sitting on the sideboard and George’s advice is to use it.

“Don’t treat it like an ornament – it’s never going to provide you with a pension.”

Linens are also a specialist market and there is plenty of interest in all types of Irish lace. Pre-used linen is very reasonably priced in comparison to new linen. What’s also worth looking at are good water colours and prints. For a few hundred euros you could pick up something very nice.

You could also pick up something nice from one of the 60 exhibitors at the annual IADA Antiques Fair, which expects over 10,000 visitors to pass through its doors over three days.

“We cater for those with shallow as well as deep pockets. What you get is quality with a provenance and you know exactly what you are buying.”

There will also be displays on furniture restoration and conservation as well as guest lectures. For a full programme of events and opening times, visit info@iada.ie