A rare set of 19th century mahogany side chairs at Fonsie Mealy’s sale in Castlecomer at 10.30 am on October 10 is billed by the auctioneer as the most important seated furniture to come to market in recent times. The 10 chairs bear the crest of the O’Brien family of Dromoland Castle and are estimated at 10,000-15,000.
Fonsie Mealy’s 800 lot sale includes a number of items from Dromoland but the highlight from that collection – a 430 year old table made from wood from the Spanish Armada – will come up as lot 101 at the James Adam Country House Collections sale at Townley Hall, Drogheda on October 16 with an estimate of 100,000-200,000.
At Fonsie Mealy’s an over sized Killarney wood davenport from the Great Exhibition of Manufacturers, Machinery and Fine Arts at the RDS in 1864 from the Corcoran family is estimated at 7,000-9,000. Among the artists whose work will feature are Louis le Brocquy, Gerard Dillon, William Crozier, Mildred Anne Butler, Kenneth Webb, George Campbell and Hughie O’Donoghue.
A full length portrait of James Butler, 1st Duke of Ormonde (1610-1688) from Peter Lely and the studio of Peter Lely is estimated at 25,000-35,000. It was formerly in the collection of the Earls of Shrewsbury. A full length oortrait of Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington by John Jackson (1778-1831) is estimated at 15,000-20,000. Among the pieces from Dromoland are an 18th century sundial (4,000-6,000) complete with its original receipt from T. Crowther and Son, London issued to Lady Inchiquin.
(See posts on antiquesandartireland.com for September 15 and October 5, 2018)
UPDATE: The auction totalled more than 350,000 on the hammer and was 80% sold.
19th century chairs with the crest of the O’Brien family of Dromoland Castle UPDATE: THESE MADE 19,000 AT HAMMER
An oversized exhibition Killarney davenport UPDATE: THIS MADE 14,000 AT HAMMER
18th century sundial UPDATE: THIS MADE 11,000 AT HAMMER
