The Phoenix rises again at Fonsie Mealy’s.
A Phoenix with strong Dublin connections comes up at Fonsie Mealy’s Chatsworth summer fine art sale in Castlecomer on July 25 and 26. The Phoenix Rises Again is described in the catalogue as an extremely rare and important 19th Century Irish cast iron model of The Phoenix rising from the flames. It is from the Royal Phoenix Iron Works, Parkgate St., Dublin and purchased by the father of the present owner more than 80 years ago. It was mounted on the wall of the company’s premises at 42b Parkage Street, (later Lucan Dairy) and was removed in 1963 when the wall was demolished to make way for a filling station which was built on the site.
The present example bears a striking resemblance to the ‘Phoenix’ mounted on the column on the main road in the Phoenix Park. Two others similar were located at the side gate of The Phoenix Lodge, which are illustrated in Thomas Milton’s “Views of Seats and Demesnes of the Nobility and Gentry of Ireland,” printed in 1783. The Phoenix Lodge became known later as The Viceregal Lodge, and later Aras an Uachtarain, the residence of the President of Ireland.
This one is in two parts, the flames approx. 41cms (16″) high, 72cms (28″) diameter, with the eagle, 52cms (20 1/2″) high, and wing spread 98cms (38 1/2″) wide, painted in silver and rust red. Lot 366 in an auction of over 1,000 lots is estimated at 2,000-3,000.