Art, collectables and furniture to tempt imaginative collectors

Des O’Sullivan says everything from All-Ireland programmes to African art are on offer in two auctions.

Sales in Durrow and Castlecomer next week offer much to tempt collectors with fine furniture, art and collectable rarities.

Clashing sales by Sheppard’s and Fonsie Mealy take place over two days next Tuesday and Wednesday.

In Co Laois part of the contents of Milltown Park, Co Offaly and the former contents of the Dower House at Emo Court, will come up at Sheppard’s.

A Regency gilt bronze surtout de table at Sheppard’s in Durrow next week (€20,000-€40,000)

In Co Kilkenny, Fonsie Mealy has a number of lots which were once in the collection of Ballynahinch Castle in Co Galway.

Certain to cause considerable interest at Sheppard’s is a selection of GAA All- Ireland hurling and football programmes from the 1940s, 50s and early 60s.

Among them is the official programme for the 1946 All-Ireland senior hurling final at Croke Park at which Cork defeated Kilkenny on a score of 7-5 to 3-8. Estimates are in the €50-€300 range.

One of six silhouettes by Stephen O’Driscoll at Fonsie Mealy’s sale in Castlecomer next week (€1,200- €1,800).

Something that doesn’t crop up too often is a Regency surtout de table, or long mirrored table centrepiece.

Sheppard’s estimate theirs at €20,000-€40,000. A large Irish side table by Mack Williams and Gibton and a rolltop desk by Francois Linke are each estimated at €15,000-€25,000. A c1710 Irish gilt wood console table with grey marble top is estimated at €10,000-€15,000.

The desirable collectables at Fonsie Mealy include a set of six Cork silhouettes by Stephen O’Driscoll (€1,200-€1,800) who produced portraits and caricatures of the inhabitants of Cork in Victorian times.

A fertility figure from Zaire at Fonsie Mealy (€600-€800).

Some of his work is in the Franks Collection in the British Museum. A silver table spoon with trifid terminal probably made in Galway is estimated at €3,000-€4,000 and there is some tribal art from Africa.

Both sales offer a selection of art and quality antique furniture at a time when the market for furniture in particular, remains depressed.

Viewing in Durrow is from 10am to 5pm from today until Monday. There is viewing at Fonsie Mealy from 12pm to 5 pm tomorrow and from 10am to 5.30pm on Monday.

Cork sales highlight art and furniture 

Des O’Sullivan on what to expect at Hegarty’s and O’Driscoll’s online

Art and antique furniture feature strongly in two Cork sales tomorrow and Monday.

A pair of French cabinets up for sale at Hegarty’s tomorrow and Monday (€2,000-€4,000).

Viewing is under way for Hegarty’s sale in Bandon at 4pm tomorrow. Contents from Summercove House in Fountainstown will feature.

There is art by Mark O’Neill, Arthur Maderson, John Skelton, and Desmond Carrick, while antique furniture on offer includes an Irish fold-over tea table, a pair of French cabinets, an Irish bureau bookcase, and a Killarney-wood box.

Morgan O’Driscoll’s online sale of Irish art, which runs to 6.30pm next Monday, will be on view in Skibbereen from 11am and 3pm next Monday.

‘Cushendun, Co Antrim’ by James Humbert Craig at Morgan O’Driscoll’s online Irish art sale (€2,500-€3,500).

Meantime, it can be viewed on www.morganodriscoll.com

Among 193 lots is work by artists Basil Blackshaw, Pauline Bewick, Frank McKelvey, James Humbert Craig, Gladys MacCabe, John Kingerlee, John Behan, Evie Hone, and Brian Maguire.