Sheppard's Irish Auction House

About Sheppard's Irish Auction House

Sheppard's Irish Auction House is a family-run firm in Durrow, Co. Laois. It is known for period furniture of high quality, especially Irish pieces, and for art ranging from early eighteenth-century portraits to contemporary paintings. It also specialises in Chinese ceramics and works of art, and in historical documents.

Its buyers include Irish, American, British and Chinese collectors, as well as national institutions such as the National Library of Ireland and the National Museum of Ireland. It is registered with the Property Services Regulatory Authority under PSRA number 003183.

History

Christopher "Christy" Sheppard started the business in Durrow in 1948, first selling second-hand furniture. Over the following decades the firm became known for period Irish furniture, which brought collectors and dealers from across Ireland and the UK. Christy Sheppard died in 2015 at the age of 92. His sons Michael, David and Declan continue the business.

In 2008 a Chinese vase valued at €100 sold at Sheppard's for €110,000. The Irish Times saw this sale as the moment Chinese collectors arrived in the Irish market. In 2014 the firm received an archive of previously unknown letters written by Jacqueline Kennedy, and it opened a Dublin office the same year.

• 1948: Christy Sheppard starts the business in Durrow
• 2008: A Chinese vase sells for €110,000
• 2014: A Dublin office opens

What Sheppard's sells

Sheppard's sells a broad mix of fine and decorative property, including estate collections. It is especially keen to receive Irish paintings, sculpture and works on paper by established Irish artists.

• Period furniture, especially Irish
• Irish and European paintings, sculpture and works on paper
• Chinese ceramics and works of art
• Silver, porcelain and decorative objects
• Historical documents
• Estate collections

Selling at Sheppard's

Sheppard's welcomes consignments and gives confidential appraisals of single works and whole estates. It asks especially for Irish paintings, sculpture and works on paper. The terms of sale say the vendor's commission and expenses are taken from the hammer price at the stated rates. The rates are not published online, so ask for them when you consign.

Buying and bidding

Buyers pay the hammer price plus a buyer's premium of 25% including VAT. Sheppard's holds sales throughout the year, including its Dublin and Provincial auctions. Its next Dublin and Provincial sale is set for 24 to 25 November 2026. You can bid in several ways:

• In the saleroom in Durrow
• Online through The Saleroom, Invaluable, EasyLive Auction and LiveAuctioneers
• By telephone
• With a commission bid left with the auctioneer

The printed terms ask for payment on the evening of the sale by cash or guaranteed cheque, and third-party cheques are not accepted. The buyer takes on the risk for a lot as soon as the hammer falls. Digital catalogues and virtual tours are on the Sheppard's website.

The auctioneer can divide or combine lots, withdraw items and refuse bids without notice. The catalogue notes damage and restoration where it can. If no condition is noted, that does not mean a lot is free from damage, so check lots in person or ask before you bid.

Location and viewing

The saleroom is on The Square in Durrow, Co. Laois, Eircode R32 FN88. Sheppard's also has a Dublin office, opened in 2014. You can contact the firm on +353 (0)57 874 0000.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the buyer's premium at Sheppard's?

Sheppard's charges a buyer's premium of 25% including VAT, added to the hammer price. All buyers pay it.

Can I bid online at Sheppard's?

Yes. Sheppard's sales can be followed and bid on through The Saleroom, Invaluable, EasyLive Auction and LiveAuctioneers. You can also bid by telephone or leave a commission bid.

When was Sheppard's founded?

Christy Sheppard started the business in Durrow, Co. Laois in 1948, first selling second-hand furniture. The firm is still run by his family.