A 17th CENTURY bracket clock and a rare Georgian library chair will be up for sale alongside a host of Clarice Cliff ceramics and highly collectable Troika pottery at an antiques sale this weekend.

Almost 2,000 items will be going under the auctioneer's hammer at the sale, at Brancepeth Castle, near Durham, which will be held on Saturday and Sunday.

With viewing going on yesterday, today and tomorrow, auctioneer Jim Railton believes the Robert Halsted bracket clock will sell for about £5,000.

The library chair, which once belonged to the Duke of Northumberland is expected to realise between £20,000 and £30,000.

And while the auction is expected to attract interest from all over the country, Mr Railton said there would be something for everyone at this sale, which features the part contents of scores of homes.

He said another of the highlights would be the sale of the studio collection of artist Antoni Sulek.

In the preface to the auction catalogue, Mr Railton assured those attending that Sulek's paintings and drawings would provide "a chance to buy a piece of his work, which from an investment point of view must be very sound.

"Like many artists, it is only after their death that they are fully recognised,'' he said.

Other items which are expected to attract a lot of interest include a large 19th Century partners desk, a four-poster bed, prints of Newcastle buildings and large collections of jewellery.

Viewing today and tomorrow will be from 10am to 7pm and the auctions will start at 9am on Saturday and Sunday.