These Great Irish Elk antlers and skull sold for 23,000 at hammer.
A set of prehistoric Irish Elk antlers and skull was the top lot at Fonsie Mealy’s sale of contents of Milford House, Carlow on November 20. They made a hammer price of 23,000. Irish Elk is the common name for a giant extinct deer Megalocerus Giganteus characterised by enormous antlers. It is the largest deer known to have lived.
A pair of still life paintings by Aniello Ascione of the 17th century Italian School made 20,000 and another pair attributed to the same artist made 16,000. A 19th century carved Chinese wooden buddha made 13,000, a Georgian Irish bachelor’s chest made 7,400 and an Irish Victorian dining table and a set of 18 dining chairs each made 7,000. A half length portrait of John Alexander, High Sheriff of Carlow by Stephen Catterson Smith sold for 6,500 at hammer.
The auction realised more than 500,000 and was 95% sold.
(See post on antiquesandartireland.com for November 14, 2018)