Clock and pewter collections to shine at Castlecomer sale

Des O’Sullivan reports on significant collections amassed by two Munster collectors at Mealy’s latest auction.

A skeleton clock, pewter, an early depiction of Waterford city and a set of 17 mahogany dining chairs from Cork Chamber of Commerce will all feature at Mealy’s Spring Fine Art sale in Castlecomer, Co Kilkenny next Tuesday and Wednesday.

The Mealy’s auction includes one of Ireland’s largest private collections of clocks and timepieces and the pewter collection of the late Geoffrey O’Connor of Co Kerry.

The catalogue front cover is a 19th century brass skeleton mantel clock (pictured below) in the form of the Sir Walter Scott’s monument in Edinburgh from the collection of Michael Guerin, who died in 2015. It is estimated at €700-€1,000.

There are unique Irish clocks including both long case and a double fusee wall clock with an intricate case carving by Chancellor and Son of Dublin as well as English, French and German clocks.

An early watercolour View of Reginald’s Tower (pictured below) in Waterford by John George Mulvany (1766-1838) is certain to arouse local interest (€1,200-€1,800).

The pewter collection includes work by the highly collectible Austen and Son of North Main St, Cork.

Other lots of interest include a full length bronze of Daniel O’Connell (€2,000-€3,000), a Killarney wood davenport (pictured below) (€5,000-€6,000), a pair of twelve branch crystal chandeliers, a large Indian tiger skin rug and a c1800 Limerick silver soup ladle by William Fitzgerald.

Lots of Irish equestrian interest include a portrait study of The Tetrarch by Henry Frederick Lucas Lucas (1848-1943) (€1,200-€1,500).

Viewing is from noon to 5pm tomorrow and from 10am to pm on Monday and the sale is at 10.30 am on Tuesday and Wednesday.