Early in the last century a Scottish doctor was working in Shanghai.

He acquired a taste for Chinese ceramics and furniture, and amassed a collection of nearly 60 items.

These, along with a large collection of ceramics from a house in Dumfriesshire which languished out of view in the former servants’ quarters for many years, form the bulk of a major antiques sale being held tomorrow in Dumfries.

The sale, at the Thomson Roddick saleroom in Irongray Road, will open at 10.30am and items can be viewed there until 5pm today and from 9am tomorrow. Online bidding is also available.

Included in the sale is a Chinese eight-fold hardwood screen from the 1800s which could sell for £1,500 to £2,000.

Prices for Chinese items from the 17th and 18th centuries have risen in recent years, and this trend is now beginning to filter through to those from the 19th and early 20th centuries.

So a blue and white dish from the 1700s, decorated with a ho-ho bird (the mythical Japanese phoenix) in flowering branches, could fetch £800 to £1,200 while a famille rose vase from 100 years later, decorated with birds among branches, could sell for £900 to £1,100.

And there is a silver three-piece tea set from 1920s Shanghai which could sell for £450 to £500 – around three times the price of an English tea set.

A white and blue baluster jar from the 19th century is expected to go for £600 to £800.

A gold hinged bangle embossed with Chinese characters should reach a similar price.

Jewellery in the auction includes a diamond solitaire ring in an octagonal setting, with an estimate of £500 to £600.

Gents’ watches are a buoyant part of the antiques market at the moment and a silver early Rolex Oyster from 1928 could sell for £300 to £400.

An estimate of £300 to £500 has been attached to a Danish silver bowl dating from around 1915 and a pair of Meissen porcelain figures of children playing soldiers.

“The ceramic market may have slowed up in recent years,” says senior auctioneer and valuer Gavin Lindsay.

“However Meissen still holds its own, with real quality in comparison to many other continental factories.”

And he warns: “Meissen figure groups such as these should not be mistaken with mass-produced 20th century figures. Even with slight damage I would not be surprised if they exceed their estimate.”

A pair of Chelsea raised anchor period beakers from 1750 to 1752, each of fluted form and decorated with an exotic bird among flowers and foliage, one with raised anchor, could also fetch £300 to £500.

A set of six Liberty silver dessert forks, in their original inscribed fitted box, are expected to sell for £150 to £250.

They were designed by Archibald Knox, who created more than 400 designs for Liberty in a style that was a distinctive mixture of Celtic and Art Nouveau.

Gavin says: “I suggest this will be a very popular lot in the sale.”

Two old-fashioned enamel advertising signs are expected to fetch anywhere between £200 and £500.

One is an Essolube sign, while the other advises: “Shop at Binns for everything.”

“The years have not been kind to this lot,” he admits. “However many people have fond memories of Binns departments stores so I feel this will be a popular lot with our local bidders.”

n Thomson Roddick in Carlisle will also be holding a major auction on Tuesday.

It is dedicated to homes and interiors, and will feature many items from house clearances such as furniture, ceramics, jewellery and collectables.

Included is a 2005 Volkswagen Polo Twist has been estimated at £300 to £400.

Previous sales have included cars, such as a BMW 520D which went for £7,800 and Honda Jazz S. which fetched £2,800.

Auction manager Steven Parkinson explains: “We sell the cars at 11am promptly. Then we resume where we left off.

“This way the car buyers know when to come.”

The auction begins at 10am on Tuesday and the premises are open for viewing between 10am and 5pm on Monday. It isn’t on the internet

Steven adds: “It’s a good old fashioned ‘bid, pay and take away’ auction.”