The Francis Johnston Speaker Clock – The Irish Houses of Parliament Speaker’s Clock sold for 115,000 at hammer.
The Irish Houses of Parliament Speakers clock sold for a hammer price of 115,000 over a top estimate of 90,000 at Fonsie Mealy’s sale of Furness – home to Patrick Guinness – in Co. Kildare. It was purchased by an undisclosed private buyer but the auctioneers did say that it is likely to go on public display at some stage. Negotiations are underway today for some of the unsold lots, including Daniel Maclise’s Spirit of Justice estimated at 50,000-70,000. (Update – this changed hands after the sale for 50,000 and it will stay in Ireland).
It was a hugely successful auction where buyers vied for a wide variety of historic lots. A magnificent carved over mantle mirror purchased at the Carton House sale in 1943 made a within estimate hammer price of 40,000. A c1620 Paris tapestry sold for 28,000 at hammer and a rare early 19th century full size road coach made an above estimate 32,000. This is the vehicle thought to have conveyed George IV to a tryst with Lady Conyngham at Slane Castle. A rare pair of large coopered metal bound stout barrels inscribed Guinness sold for 2,300.
Kildare is horse country and horses rocked at this sale. An Edwardian carved and painted rocking horse made 6,600 and a Victorian rocking horse made 3,000. The earliest printed plan of Dublin by Charles Brooking in 1728 made 14,000 and an 1818 leather bound inventory of Carton House and offices with 153 rooms made a hammer price of 10,000. A c1760 Irish mahogany architect’s table from Castletown House sold for 6,500.
The sale realised 860,000 at hammer.
(See posts on antiquesandartireland.com for October 4 and October 2, 2015).
