Lotabeg sale lived up to expectations

Top lot was a portrait of the 1st Duke of Ormonde, reports Des O’Sullivan.

That was the auction that was. Lotabeg lived up to expectations as thousands viewed and then came to bid in person, as well as online and by phone for more than 700 lots at Mealy’s spectacular house contents sale in Cork on Tuesday.

Headline-grabbers included Sir Peter Lely’s portrait of James Butler, 1st Duke of Ormonde which made €120,000, three Meissen ewers sold for €53,000 in total, a rare William IV circular dining table 7’ in diameter was knocked down to Carrigtwohill auctioneers Denis Lynes for €26,000 and a Republican Cork silver strawberry dish made 6,000.

Even though bidding throughout was competitive, the auction offered opportunities for buyers at all levels.

Cork silver is of enduring interest. Twelve c1800 Cork silver table forks by Carden Terry and Jane Williams made €5,000, a wine coaster by the same makers made €2,000 and other Cork silver pieces sold for sums of €1,500 up. A c1720 Irish silver coffee pot by John Hamilton made €14,000.

The Robert Lowe Stopford watercolor of the interior of Queen’s Old Castle shop in Cork in 1848 made €2,600 and two local watercolours attributed to JE Bosanquet, active in the middle of the 19th century, made €850 each.

A c1864 album of photographs of Hindustan, Kashmir and Tartary by Bourne Sheppard and Robertson made €12,000 and a set of photographs of China in 1912 made €1,700.

In latter day auctions in Ireland bedroom furniture and wardrobes have proved almost impossible to sell. Not at Lotabeg where a Victorian walnut bedroom suite made €2,200, a Victorian mahogany wardrobe made €2,000 and a large Victorian walnut wardrobe made €1,200.

A pair of heavy cast iron garden benches in Gothic style made €2,600.