The High Court has reserved judgment in a case in which a leading firm of London antique dealers is seeking £111,000 arising from its claim that it purchased an allegedly stolen 18th-century bureau/bookcase from a Dublin firm.
The proceedings concern a bookcase bought by Mallets from defendant Rory Rogers, Ballsbridge Gardens, Dublin.
Mallets claims the bookcase was stolen from Lord Roden in Northern Ireland, and the action is for the recovery of the purchase price of £80,000 and the cost of restoration by Mallets of £31,553.
In evidence yesterday Mr Rogers said he had contacted Mallets when he heard about the bookcase.
He and his brother had made several offers for it ranging from IR£30,000 to IR£40,000. They were not sure if it was worth any more.
Mr Rogers rang Mallets in London and told them about this "fantastic bookcase".
He subsequently met the company's chief executive, Lanto Synge, on January 28th, 2000.
They went to the premises of Daly and Eacrett Antiques where they had a discussion about where the bookcase had come from.
They were told it came from a house in the west of Ireland and that Mr Daly had collected it.
After some negotiation they were told that it would be sold for no less than IR£55,000.
The following day Mr Rogers got the money from the bank.
He subsequently asked for and received a receipt.
He picked up the bookcase and delivered it to Mallets in London, where he received payment of £80,000.
Mr Rogers said he had checked the provenance of the piece and had an established relationship with Mr Synge.
He described it as an extremely unusual transaction because the bookcase did not belong to him.
Sean Eacrett told the court that the bookcase was left in to his firm in September 1999 by a man who had asked them to restore it.
They asked if it was for sale and then went on to buy it.
Before they did so, they brought the bookcase to Sothebys and asked them to sell it for them.
In doing this, he believed that they had shown "due diligence" over the provenance of the bookcase.
He said they had never previously bought anything from the man who had left in the bookcase. He was a restorer, and they had known him over a period of years.
Mr Justice Quirke said he would reserve judgment in the case.