An early 20th century Birmingham 15 carat gold and silver gilt chalice and paten sold for a hammer price of 5,300 at the opening day of Fonsie Mealy’s two day auction in Castlecomer today. It had been estimated at 3,500-5,000. The engraved and chased body is decorated with vines, wheat sheaves and studded with small diamonds, pearls and other semi-precious stones. It was made circa 1901, by Hayes & Finch Ltd. A large suite of three Victorian glazed bookcases made 3,800 at hammer and a modern Irish silver model of the dome of the Four Courts in Dublin sold for 2,300.
All 19 lots Tribal Art sold at hammer prices of from 40 to 1,800. The top lot at 1,800 was a large 20th century fertility of fetish figure, possibly Nigerian. Standing 58″ high it was from a private Irish collection and had been estimated at 700-1,000.
A 20th century Birmingham chalice and paten sold for 5,300 at hammer.
This large 20th century African fetish or fertility figure sold for 1,800.