A rare Irish silver lemon strainer by the Limerick maker Joseph Johns made £14,000 over an estimate of £600-800 at Lawrences Auctioneers, Crewkerne, Somerset today. It was the sleeper lot in an auction of fine art, silver and vertu.
What makes it so special is that there are only two other such strainers by this maker known.
It was described by the auctioneers as a rare George II/III Irish Provincial lemon strainer with twin shaped handles. Each of the handles is pierced with a heart shaped motif and a chased border of flowers and scrolls. The maker’s mark, struck twice, is that of Joseph Johns of Limerick. The strainer is eleven inches long and weighs 5.25 ozs.