An Irish George II secretaire cabinet c1740-50
The early October sale for all seasons by Sheppards next Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday (October 6, 7, and 8) is from remarkable collections assembled over various lifetimes. It brings together 18th century Irish furniture, paintings, silver, porcelain, tapestries, clocks, scientific instruments and sculpture.
Irish and European art, furniture and decorative objects are at the heart of Sheppards Coolattin House auction with a super selection of almost 1,600 lots.
Fine Irish antique furniture features strongly throughout. Highlights include an Irish George II mahogany secretaire-cabinet; a Killarney yew wood and arbutus davenport finely inlaid with a view of Muckross Abbey; a sideboard attributed to the distinguished Dublin firm of Mack, Williams & Gibton; Irish silver tables; peat buckets; carved giltwood mirrors; and furniture by Strahan and Hicks of Dublin.
An early 19th century Worcester dinner service
An early 19th century Worcester dinner service with 110 pieces should draw some attention and not just because it was once in the collection of the internationally celebrated singer Roger Whittaker. He lived in Ireland for a number of years before retiring to France in 2012 where he said his last farewell in 2023.
The dinner service – redolent of the traditions of fine country house dining – would admirably suit the leading furniture lot in the auction. The George III dining table extending to more than seven metres featured here on September 27 was formerly at Easton Neston in Northhamptonshire and is illustrated in Great Houses of Britain. It is estimated at €30,000-€50,000.
Or how about a 17th century verdure tapestry with birds among luxuriant foliage and trees with a distant castle? Tapestries like this were both highly decorative and functional as they helped to keep a house or castle warm. This one is enclosed by an elaborate border of flowers, fruit, birds and classical ornament.
A 17rth century verdure tapestry
Decorative highlights include a French Empire-period cut crystal and gilt bronze mantel clock,
a Vienna one-year-duration wall clock, monumental chandeliers and richly mounted French
furniture. There are early maps of Ireland by Gerard Mercator and John Speed, a terrestrial
globe dated 1859, marine chronometers, sextants, barometers and early phonographs.
Leading art lots include an 1828 portrait of Mrs. Issy Redmond by Sir Martin Cregan, founding member and later president of the Royal Hibernian Academy where this portrait was exhibited in 1829. There are portraits by Hugh Douglas Hamilton, William Etty and the studio of John Hoppner, animal art and bronzes.
A substantial London 1860 silver flatware service of 123 pieces, an Irish Nugent family flatware service dating to around 1840 and a four piece Rococo Revival silver tea and coffee service are all on offer. A19th century 96 piece Ashworth ironstone dinner service is stamped for the Dublin retailer Thomas Higginbothan of Wellington Quay.
The auction is drawn from distinguished houses and collections including Temple House, County Sligo; Luggala, County Wicklow; Emo Court and Ballyfin House, County Laois and Dromoland Castle, County Clare.
Three days of viewing get underway today (October 3) at Coolattin House, Shillelagh, Co. Wicklow. The auction will be held at Sheppards headquarters in Durrow, Co. Laois and it will be a live and online sale.
A 19th century Killarney library table