If you’ve ever bid at an antique auction then you know the excitement of bagging a bargain. However, it’s a different feeling if you’ve let the bidding get out of control and you realise you’ve paid way too much for some useless knick-knack.

Tom O’Connell who runs Cork Auction Rooms along with Michael Watson sees it happen all the time. People of all ages and every size of pocket attend their auctions, which take place on the last Sunday of every month.

So what’s selling well?

“All sorts of collectibles and small items that won’t take up a lot of space are popular,” says Tom. A lot of the furniture you see in auction rooms is very large and unsuitable for modern houses. However, Tom says there’s a good turnover of Georgian and Victorian houses around Cork and they always require good pieces of age-appropriate furniture.

Cork Auction Rooms was established in 2012 and operates out of the South Link Business Park in Cork. It has about 1,000 lots at each auction and you can see them online or call in to view on the Friday and Saturday before the auction.

They also run a fully online auction from their Kerry office. Here lots are displayed every Thursday and Friday and you can leave a bid online or call in. There are two dates in each month where the winning bidder is notified and they have a couple of days to collect their items.

“We started this in March and so far we are delighted with the response,” says Tom.

Still, for my money there’s nothing to beat the excitement of a real live auction.

Cork Auction Rooms at 021-4847689 or email www.corkauctionrooms.ie

1. Lot 393, the 40cm high Dresden porcelain urn failed to make its estimate and sold for €170.

2. Kitchenalia is always popular and has a good private market as well as being sought after by restaurants. Lot 392 was a large 19th Century copper fish kettle with an iron handle and made €100.

3. Decorative pieces always have a market and Lot 75 of a Victorian Parian ware bust of a lady sold for €150, well above estimate.

4. According to Tom, people are always willing to spend money on jewellery.

It suits all ages and pockets, can be an investment and doesn’t take up space. Just remember that when buying jewellery, even if it comes with a value certificate, the price will be what the owner is happy to sell it for.

Lot 88 is an 18 carat white gold diamond and sapphire ring with a valuation of certificate of €3,200 and an estimate of €1,600 to €2,000. It did not sell.

5. Cork Auction Rooms sell an awful lot of china, similar to what’s in Lot 109, according to Tom: “China is desirable thanks to all the tea rooms now using it. It sells very well around Christmas but needs to be in good condition. This set sold for €160.

6. Old Irish bank notes are making good money. Lot 105 is a scarce Lady Lavery £100 note dating from 1977 and it sold for €520. Ploughman’s notes from the 1930s are making up to €600 for a £1 note, and up to several thousand euro for a £10 note. Condition and the bank that issued it adds to the value.

7. A few years ago, Lot 418 would have made over €1,000 but prices for brown furniture, even if it’s a three-door Victorian bookcase in good condition, have declined substantially and this one only made €100.

8. Lot 188 was a large William IV library bookcase and it was great value at €500. “This was a lovely thing, in very good condition,” says Tom O’Connell. “I fully expect it to appreciate in value.”

9. Lot 493 is a set of folding chair steps. This is a good example of country furniture that’s selling well. It had an estimate of €20-30 and made €180 on the day.

10. Art Deco was in its heyday in the years after Ireland received its independence, so it wasn’t readily available here. According to Tom, it’s very desirable and has been for years. Lot 84 had an estimate of €80-€120 and sold under the hammer for €110.

11. Anything to do with dairying finds a ready home and these little milk canisters made their estimate of €38.

12. Lot 255 is another example of the type of country furniture that’s selling well. It’s a pitch pine Victorian pedestal desk that sold for €220. Compare that to the two-door library bookcase and you can see where the value is.

13. Lot 433 is a handy sized carved oak Victorian hall table with a single drawer. In another example of value in brown furniture it had an estimate of €200 – 250 and made €150.