An exhibition Killarney davenport by James Egan
A Killarney davenport exhibited at the RDS in the 19th century, a Cork silver coffee pot, a micromosaic panel of the Doves of Pliny, the Farnese bull and a French Empire eagle standard are among the collective delights at Sheppards Stradbally Hall sale in Co. Laois next on May 19-20.
The emphasis is on Irish country house provenance in an auction of great variety and more than 1,200 lots. It is on view at Stradbally Hall from today.
The most expensively estimated lots are a bronze of The Farnese Bull from the workshop of Antonio Susini (1543-1632) in Florence (€50,000-€80,000), a landscape dated 1792 by Claude Louis Chatelet (€45,000-€65,000), a pair of George III satinwood and marquetry cabinets on stands attributed to Ince and Mayhew (€40,000-€60,000), a Killarney davenport by James Egan purchased at the RDS exhibition in 1864 by the Corcoran family of Wexford (€40,000-€60,000) and a c1780 Adam breakfront bookcase from Temple House, Co. Sligo (€40,000-€60,000).
A George III Adam breakfront bookcase from Temple House
Much more affordable, and highly collectible, is a 19th century grand tour micromosaic panel of doves after the celebrated Roman model of the Doves of Pliny in a gilt frame (€500-€800), a William IV rosewood and mother of pearl tea caddy (€150-€250) and a Napoleonic gilt bronze eagle standard from Dirk House in Co. Limerick (€500-€800) with provenance to Jean-Baptiste Lynch, Count of the first French Empire, Mayor of Bordeaux and peer of France who inherited the Chateau Lynch estate in 1779.
The 18th century Cork silver coffee pot is of baluster form. Made by Carden Terry it is estimated at €8,000-€12,000. Lot 242 is an 18th century portrait miniature of Lady Dunraven (€800-€1,200). A portrait of Norah Hill (1835-1920), Jane Austen’s Irish born grand niece, by John Joseph Slattery is estimated at €3,000-€5,000. A 19th century neo-classical statuary and white marble chimneypiece from Seafield House, Donabate is estimated at €5,000-€8,000 and an Adam chimneypiece is estimated at €8,000-€12,000.
John Joseph Slattery – Portrait of Norah Hill, Jane Austen’s Irish born grand niece
A limited edition pair of lifesize Kingsale Hounds with bronze mounts on bases (€10,000-€15,000) heads up 67 lots of garden and outdoor pieces.
There is an estimate of €30,000-€50,000 on an 18th century Irish mahogany side table complete with lion mask. A pair of Irish William IV rosewood and gilt side tables (€20,000-€30,000), a Georgian two pillar dining table (€8,000-€12,000) and a William IV inverted breakfront serving table (€10,000-€15,000) hark back to the country house elegance of former times.
There is much to choose from in furniture from a Chinese Chippendale style four poster bed (€3,000-€5,000) and an 18th century Hepplewhite breakfront secretaire (€7,000-€9,000) to a Georgian brass bound plate bucket (€800-€1,200) and a pair of French Empire mahogany and parcel gilt torchéres (€800-€1,200). There are four classic cars, a Porsche 944 turbo, a 1997 Bentley Brooklands, a Lotus Elan and an Alfa Romeo sprinter. With estimates from €20 up the catalogue will reward a long slow perusal. The auction will take place at Stradbally Hall and online. It is divided into four segments for the convenience of buyers.
A baluster form dragon vase