19th-century ormolu-mounted marquetry Boulle cabinet. UPDATE: THIS WAS UNSOLD
This historically important Irish cabinet is one of a pair that will highlight Sheppards three day sale of contents from Grange Manor, Kilkenny and other clients on November 26, 27 and 28. Research indicates that the ebony, pewter, brass and tortoiseshell marquetry cabinets were sold as separate lots at the Kilkenny Castle dispersal sale in 1935 as lots 311 and 312. One of the cabinets was sold for 37 pounds and ten shillings then. Almost 90 years later the estimate for the pair of €100,000-€150,000. There is a photograph by Robert French showing them in the Long Gallery at the castle in 1865.
Each sports a rectangular shaped top above two glazed leaf scroll inlaid doors flanking a bacchic mask and ram’s head. There is a decorated central panelled door between fluted brass inset columns. These magnificent cabinets stand on gadroon moulded bases fronted by lion masks terminating on turned toupie feet. The auction will be on view at Grange Manor from November 23-25 and the sale will be in Durrow and online.