Value the key for furniture collectors

There is a good selection of styles and period furniture at Woodwards sale, writes Des O’Sullivan.

This Rosewood wine cooler/cellarette in Woodwards auction next Wednesday bears the paper stamp of Mack Williams and Gibton and is estimated at €1,000-€2,000.

LONG before this recession began antique furniture faced challenges posed by fashion. Demand in those vanished profligate days of conspicuous consumption focused on pared down expensive contemporary furniture. Value is the focus of that same demand nowadays; antiques can provide it and it is fashionable to mix various styles and periods.

There is a good selection of Georgian, Regency, William IV, Victorian and Edwardian furniture at Woodwards in Cork next Wednesday at 6pm. Georgian furniture includes a wine cooler by the Irish firm of Mack Williams and Gibton (€1,000-€2,000), a centre table (€800-€1,200), a longcase clock from Newcastle (€800-€1,200), a hunting table (€500-€1,000), a serving table (€300-€500), a demi-lune triple top table (€1,000-€1,500) and a three tier circular dumb waiter (€400-€800). A Regency card table (€500-€1,000), and a William IV rosewood sewing table (€500-€1,000) feature alongside Victorian dining chairs and chests of drawers. Garden statuary, Waterford and other crystal, a Dresden figured mirror, collectibles including a cased model of the Titanic (€200-€300), porcelain, silver and art is also on offer.

Viewing is from 2pm to 5pm today and tomorrow and from 10am to 5pm on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.