A pair of cased 12 bore back action Holland and Holland shotguns, a pair of 19th Sevres guinea fowl which it would be downright foolish to shoot, a late 17th century Aubusson tapestry, a pair of Regency Cork side tables by tradition from the dispersal sale at Kilkenny Castle and a Duleek Irish carpet are among the appetising offerings at Sheppards three day sale in Durrow, Co. Laois on March 5, 6 and 7. There is an array of fine library furniture, lighting, Irish and European art, early tapestries, sculpture, silver and even a Killarney games table.
The auction is led by an extensive landscape with travellers and cattle painted in 1828 by James Arthur O’Connor (€15,000-€25,000). The Holland and Holland shotguns are estimated at €14,000-€18,000, the Sevres guinea fowl at €3,000-€5,000. The impressive pair of Cork Regency side tables with rectangular gadrooned tops, rounded corners, spiral turned legs and paw feet – by family tradition purchased at the dispersal sale of Kilkenny Castle in 1935 – are estimated at €4,000-€6,000. A late 17th century Aubusson tapestry with exotic birds, landscape and castle enclosed by an elaborate border is estimated at €3,000-€5,000 and the Duleek Carpet after a design by CFA Voysey and manufactured in Donegal by Alexander Morto and Co. is estimated at €4,500-€6,500. The Duleek range was retailed at Liberty’s in London and was included in their Irish Carpet Exhibition at the Grafton Gallery on Bond St. in 1903.
If hunting and shooting is not your thing and if impressive Regency tables from Kilkenny Castle might not fit cosily into your favourite room there is still much to catch the eye at all price points in the selection available. With more than 1,300 lots the sale offers rare and unusual pieces which might be hard to come by across. A designer fabric upholstered chest with seven drawers is estimated at just €300-€500 and among the other lots in this price range you could opt for is a Regency work table, a designer upholstered wing back armchair, an Art Deco style rosewood cabinet, an 18th century circular tea table or a Neo-Classical Edwardian log urn. There is across the board variety from African masks and Chinese porcelain and furniture to jewellery and musical instruments including a Bechstein baby grand piano. Collectibles include a Los Angeles Lakers jersey signed by Kobe Bryant, an 18th century painted fan, a Galway longcase clock, a 19th century French clock garniture and an Egyptian brass hubbly bubbly. Viewing for this sale, which includes the contents of historic Moyaliffe House, at Ballycahill, Co. Tipperary, gets underway in Durrow today and the catalogue is online.
