Irish history, craft and domestic life
The birth of the Irish Republic by Michael Rogers showing James Connolly on a stretcher inside the GPO at Victor Mee's sale.
An historic Edwardian bookcase salvaged from the RMS Celtic, a rare oil painting from inside the GPO in 1916 during the Easter Rising and a collection of Killarney furniture are among a series of fascinating lots at Victor Mee's Irish Heritage sale in Cavan next Tuesday (September 15).
The auction of 508 lots - more than a year in the making - brings together a selection of Irish history, craft and domestic life.
In December 1928 just short of a century ago the White Star liner Celtic foundered on rocks off Co. Cork near Roches Point. Passengers were rescued, the ship was scrapped and there was a salvage operation. This imposing four door bookcase was taken from the wreck a year later. Complete with decorative glazing, marquetry panels and a brass letter box for post at sea it is estimated at €20,000-€30,000.
The Birth of the Irish Republic is an oil on board by Michael Rogers, an Irish Volunteer who fought inside the GPO in 1916. At 54 he was one of the older Republicans. His painting shows James Connolly on a stretcher with Padraig Pearse, Thomas Clarke and Joseph Plunkett looking on. Rogers was released due to his age and subsequently reassigned to protect Pearse's mother. The estimate is €8,000-€12,000.
Around 50 pieces of Killarney wood with estimates ranging from €40-€60 (for two page markers) to €10,000-€15,000 (for a davenport) are on offer. There are sewing tables, a games table, a mirror, a rare nest of three tables and a big selection of Killarney boxes for various purposes.
The Irish heritage auction offers a selection including Irish vernacular furniture including an early 20th century pine hedge chair made by a Lough Neagh boat builder. There is bog oak, Coalisland pottery, a ticket for the infamous Bloody Sunday game at Croke Park in 1920 and a prison art harp made in Long Kesh in the 1970's. The sale is on view this weekend and the catalogue is online.
Viewing is already underway at Woodwards in Cork for the online sale next Saturday (September 19) with various lots from Ballinacurra House in Kinsale and Cork city houses. Choice furniture pieces include a William IV inlaid games/work table, an Edwardian bonheur du jour and an Eileen Gray chrome table all estimated at €400-€600. There is a similar estimate on a cast iron honeycomb garden bench. Two cast iron garden vases are estimated at €1,000-€1,600.
The auction features a selection of chests of drawers, a large Victorian oak hunt table, an Irish mahogany linen press, a Victorian inlaid walnut card table, a Georgian bureau, a ten foot long dome backed settee, a pair of walnut open bookcases, a Kashan rug and an Art Deco conservatory table.
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