Next month at an auction in Los Angeles over 300 items will be going under the hammer. They will be from all over the world, though especially Western Europe.

The range should have something for everyone. Aside from all the furniture, there is a spectacular series of silver ornaments and clocks.

The jewel in the crown will be a beautifully preserved commode, gilded in bronze with different coloured woods inlaid from the era of Louis XV and XVI. It is stamped F BAYER and estimated at $30,000-40,000.

Other pieces worth a look are: a rouge marble mantel clock French with gilt and silvered bronze, a Regency parcel gilt and rosewood cabinet (both estimated around the $8,000 mark) and an elegant lady's writing desk of the same era as the commode ($15,000).

Some of the pieces are rare and beautiful enough that they are almost guaranteed to become ever more valuable -provided they're kept in decent condition.