Booker Brothers’ mirror reflects strong Irish showing at sale

Des O’Sullivan previews the seventh annual James Adam Country House Collections’ sale at Slane Castle.

IRISH furniture features particularly strongly at the seventh annual James Adam Country House Collections sale at Slane Castle next Tuesday at 11.30 am.

There is an architectural, neo-classical mirror made by the Booker Brothers of Dublin (€40,000-€60,000,) whose work is always sought by collectors.

Renowned Dublin cabinet makers Mack, Williams and Gibton; Strahan and Company and Anthony Morgan of Henry St, are all represented with library and dining tables, rent tables and cellarettes.

A small collection of highly-inlaid Killarney work includes an oversized davenport desk (€7,000-€10,000) and a large circular breakfast table (€15,000-€20,000).

There is a Queen Anne long-case clock by Francis Mansfield of Cork (€6,000-€10,000), a George II ebonised bracket clock by Henderson (€2,000-€4,000) and ancient oak furniture from the Duke of Abercorn and Belle Isle, Co Fermanagh.

The catalogue cover lot is a neo-classical portrait of a lady attributed to Matthew William Peters (€10,000-€15,000). Other artists featured include Nathanial Hone the Elder, Robert Hunter, James Arthur O’Connor, William Sadler, Jacob Roos and Stephen Catterson Smith. Martin Cregan’s Portrait of Arthur Guinness II is estimated at €10,000-€15,000.

Collectibles include a finely engraved pale jade Chinese seal, a Grand Master’s chair from Orange Lodge number 579 (€2,000-€3,000) and an Italian carved marble group, Putti Musicanti, from the studio of Florence sculptor Ferdinando Vichi (€15,000-€25,000). More than 600 lots will be offered for sale.

Viewing at Slane Castle is from 11am to 5pm today and tomorrow, and from 10am to 5pm on Monday.