Antiques and Fine Art: all set for iconic sales

There's plenty to interest auctiongoers in Ireland right now, says Des O'Sullivan.

OFFERING everything from longcase clocks, a Russian icon and a Killarney wood bookstand the “Making Room” sale by Fonsie Mealy has much of interest next week. In fact, there is no shortage of auctions around the country in coming days, leaving buyers with plenty of choice.

Fonsie Mealy’s sale at Avalon House Hotel in Castlecomer, Co Kilkenny, is by way of being a clearout to make way for a number of upcoming sales.

This no-reserve auction will be of interest to bargain hunters, collectors, interior decorators and homeowners.

Lot 323 is a 19th-century Killarney furniture bookstand typically decorated and inlaid with shamrocks, harp and ruins and estimated at €100-€150.

There are Crown Derby urns, Victorian button-back sofas, barometers, clocks and all sorts of collectibles including a 19th-century Russian school icon on panel with an estimate of €700-€1,000.

The sale is at 1pm on Wednesday with viewing from 10am on Monday.

A total of 144 lots of Asian art from a private collection in Wicklow will come under the hammer at Sheppard’s in Durrow on Thursday.

The selection is broad and encompasses everything from tiny foo dogs to brush washers, monochrome and polychrome porcelain, cloisonne vases, jade pendants, bowls, censers, jardinieres and a couple of lots of Chinese lacquered furrniture.

Oriental art and porcelain has become a growing sustainer of auction houses in Ireland and it is probably not unfair to remark that in this context Sheppard’s leads the field.

Aidan Foley’s sale at Sixmilebridge in Co Clare gets underway at 10am on Tuesday. Viewing gets underway today.

He will offer contents of a Co Tipperary equestrian property and a period house in Lismore along with other lots.

There are bookcases, occasional furniture, Persian rugs, Waterford Crystal, jewellery, militaria and fishing rods among a selection of around 1,000 lots.

The auction will include art by Charles Lamb, Markey Robinson, John Kingerlee and Sean Keating and more.

Following the closure of The Frank McCourt Museum in Limerick, its contents have been consigned to auction and will be sold on Tuesday also.