An early Fang reliquary. UPDATE: THIS MADE 34,000 AT HAMMER
An early Fang reliquary figure from early 19th century Gabon is, at €30,000-€50,000, the most expensively estimated lot at Sheppards two day sale in Durrow on November 25 and 26. More than 1,200 lots of fine and decorative art, silver, antique furniture and sculpture from Irish and international collections will come under the hammer.
Among them are a 15th century carved oak altarpiece, a landscape by James Arthur O’Connor, exceptional 18th century Dublin and London silver, a pair of Roman marble urns, a French clock garniture and a 19th century French ormolu perpetual calendar. Viewing is underway in Durrow and the catalogue is online.
A Georgian breakfront four door bookcase is among the leading lots at Marshs sale in Cork on November 29. A Regency Cork card table, a set of ten brass inlaid Regency Cork dining chairs, a Georgian sideboard, a French ebonised and gilt drawing room suite and a Regency card table are feature furniture lots. There is a large private collection of Irish and English silver along with dinner and tea services. The sale will be on view from November 26 and the catalogue is online.
19th century ormolu mounted marquetry and porcelain inlaid credenza at Sheppards. UPDATE: THIS MADE €3,800 AT HAMMER
The catalogue cover shot for Adams At Home sale showing antique furniture in a Georgian townhouse in Dublin. UPDATE: THE TWO SEATER MADE 1,150 AT HAMMER, THE MIRROR MADE 650
Serious collectors of fine antique furniture will have much to choose from at auctions in Ireland in the coming week. The At Home sale at James Adam in Dublin on February 22 and Marshs auction of contents from the Ursuline Convent, Blackrock, Cork on February 26 offer opportunities to bag something rare and functional that might also serve as a conversation piece.
It can be difficult to display furniture to full advantage in an auction room so Adams imaginatively chose to photograph and depict some pieces in the authentic setting of a decayed but graceful Georgian townhouse on Henrietta St. in Dublin. This they felt would serve to show the timeless quality of antique furnishings and demonstrate how they can be incorporated into our modern homes.The arresting catalogue cover image is of a George III style two seater mahogany framed settee in cream damask against an unrestored rendered wall on an uncarpeted wooden floor in an alcove beside a white marble fireplace. It is estimated at just €600-€800. Above it hangs a William and Mary cushion framed mirror with an oxidised glass plate reflecting an unusual and muted view of the room. It is estimated at just €300-€400.
Lot 261 is a Georgian mahogany chest on chest depicted in an alcove in a more pared back image which highlights the quality of the craftsmanship and demonstrates how a single piece can command a space. It is estimated at €800-€1,200. With arresting images and a good selection of fine antique furniture such as a set of 12 Regency dining chairs, a Georgian chest on stand, a George IV armchair, an oak framed settee with Art Nouveau upholstery and two overmantle mirrors there is more than enough here to give the imagination a major workout.A gem set diamond bracelet of tutti frutti design is, at €7,000-€8,000, the most expensively estimated lot in this sale of nearly 500 lots. As well as jewellery the auction offers silver, porcelain, Asian decorative arts, contemporary pieces, art, sculpture and collectibles.
Gothic oak carved bench at Marsh. UPDATE: THIS MADE 2,800 AT HAMMER
There are antique pieces that you would not come across everyday like a pair of Gothic reliquary cabinets at Marshs sale. Creating a suitable domestic setting for fine French Empire, Gothic and Regency furniture from the Ursuline Convent in Blackrock, Cork is another real challenge that many imaginative home designers will yearn to take on. There are five early 19th century Gothic oak carved bench seats of various sizes (€800-€1,000), a pair of Gothic carved high back chairs (€300-€500) and an antique Victorian bergere invalid chair that looks like it still functions perfectly (€300-€400).
A French Empire ebonized mahogany inlaid breakfront side cabinet is estimated at just €800-€1,000 and a William IV brass inlaid rent table is estimated at €2,000-€2,500.It is unusual to come across a pair of Victorian circular flame mahogany breakfast tables. These ones come with foliate centre decoration and are estimated at €2,000-€4,000. A Regency library table stamped Gillingtons is estimated at €1,500-€2,000.There will be viewing at the Ursulines in Blackrock from next Wednesday. The catalogue is online and the auction will be too.
(See posts on antiquesandartireland.com for February 13 and February 16, 2022)
A pair of Victorian circular flame mahogany breakfast tables. UPDATE: THESE MADE 2,500 AT HAMMER
French Empire and Gothic furniture will feature alongside Regency and Victorian pieces at Marshs online sale of contents from the Ursuline Convent, Blackrock, Cork on February 26. Prime pieces will include a Victorian D-end dining table extending to 18 feet (€3,000-€5,000), a pair of Victorian flame mahogany circular breakfast tables with inlaid foliate centre decoration (€2,000-€4,000) and a French Empire ebonised mahogany breakfront side cabinet with two mirror door centre presses (€800-€1,000). Among other lots of note are a set of 17 Regency upholstered dining chairs (€3,000-€4,000), a pair of early 19th century carved gilt pine Gothic reliquary cabinets (€1,000-€2,000), five early 19th century oak carved bench seats of various sizes (€800-€1,000), a pair of early 19th century Gothic carved oak high back chairs (€300-€500) and an antique Victorian bergere invalid chair (€300-€500).
The Ursulines came to Cork in 1771 at the invitation of Nano Nagle, who later founded the Presentation Sisters. The sisters came from the convent in Rue St. Jacques in Paris, one of the most influential convents in an Order begun in Northern Italy in 1535 when Angela Merici established the Company of St. Ursula. Between 1767 and 1770 four girls from Cork entered the convent in Paris. In Cork the sisters have now left their Blackrock house and will remain in the city in new settings.The auction will be online only.
A pair of Gothic reliquary cabinets. UPDATE: THESE MADE 1,000 AT HAMMER
a wedding present from Michael Collins to his sister is among the lots at Marshs sale in Cork on November 11. The set of is estimated at just 300-500. Georgian and Victorian furniture, porcelain, rugs and books will all come under the hammer. Top lots of furniture include an early Irish Georgian kneehole desk, an Irish Georgian walnut upholstered chair and a Queen Anne walnut chest on stand. The catalogue is online. Here is a small selection:
THIS SET OF SIX WALNUT ARTS AND CRAFTS CHAIRS WERE A WEDDING PRESENT FROM MICHAEL COLLINS TO HIS SISTER
