Lord Iveagh sells his Chopper at Suffolk family auction

Here are some of the top items, as highlighted by Edward Guinness, the current Earl of Iveagh, and top auctioneer Luke Macdonald, who will be leading the sale.

1 Lord Iveagh's childhood Chopper bike was actually his sister Emma's before coming into his possession. A 1970s classic which had a full life.

2 A taxidermied six-year-old Botswanan male lion stood sentry at the Elveden Estate's office waiting room in the village until Lord Iveagh had it removed. "It wasn't necessarily the most friendly welcome," he explains.

3 For those who enjoy dressing up, ermine-lined velvet robes worn by the then Earl of Iveagh at the coronation of King George in 1937 might be just the thing. However, they are surplus to requirements for the current earl's duties - he was among the majority of the hereditary members who were removed from the Lords by the House of Lords Act 1999. "Now only sitting peers are invited to wear robes at the coronation," explains auctioneer Luke Macdonald. "They are also incredibly fragile."

4 A Guinness family sale wouldn't be complete without reference to the family's famous beverage. A series of artworks - including one with the slogan 'Guinness is good for you' - is featured in the sale.

5  Depending on your lawn-keeping skills, the Guinness family croquet set could be for you. It has the worn and battered feel of a treasured set which has seen plenty of action.

6 One of the sale items attracting a lot of interest is a 1700 Kangxi ginger jar, according to Sworders director of art and estates Luke Macdonald. Kangxi was the second Qing emperor to rule over China proper, reigning from 1661 to 1722

7 A beautifully muted Ziegler Sultanabad patterned carpet dated 1894 and bought from Harvey Nicholls is also one of the top sale items.

8 Another much-prized item is an Irish carved gilt wood pier glass mirror from 1760. It's estimated to be worth around £20k to £30k and is described by Mr Macdonald as "fabulous". "It's very much of the era," he says. "Just a lovely example - lovely curving." To his mind, it's a far more going for it than later examples.

9 Items which bring back fond memories for Lord Iveagh include a collection of Irish fireplace peat buckets. He admires the good Irish craftsmanship involved in their construction.

10 Long after the print faded from the page, Lord Iveagh recalls how the family's first fax machine sat on this small Regency Pembroke table during his childhood - it was just the right size, he recalls.

11 Another favourite of Lord Iveagh is a milk cart which once plied the lanes of Elveden on its daily milk round. The late Pam Roper, who lived in the village into very old age, recalled how she would lead the cart around the village during the war. "I think she had a ball of a time," says Lord Iveagh.