Commemorative ware celebrating Irish historical or political events or personalities usually in pottery, ceramics or glass can be valuable and sought after outside the Republic as a forthcoming London auction shows.
A large section of the auction of commemorative ceramics set to take place at Bonhams auction house in London on February 9th is devoted to Irish historic and political memorabilia from the 1790s.
Ms Jo Marshall, European glass and ceramics specialist at Bonhams, explains why there are so many commemorative items with an Irish association: "Staffordshire is not too far away from Holyhead. And there was a great deal of traffic that went over to Ireland from the Staffordshire potteries in the 19th century. And so they would have copied prints and popular things of the time that would have had Irish interest to export it."
If a lot of items were exported to Ireland and could currently be found in Irish homes today, how might readers tell if commemorative ware that they might have on their mantelpiece or boxed in the attic is valuable?
Establishing if the item is genuine is the first consideration, she says. "They would really need to have someone who's a specialist in the field to have a look at it. Secondly, is it in good condition? And thirdly, the importance of the scene or the person who's depicted on the thing - some things are much rarer than others."
Commemorative ware from the late 19th or even the beginning of the 20th century could have been produced in vast quantities. "Consequently, there will still be a lot of them around and as a result they don't make very much money."
This is true even of interesting items in perfect condition where there were a lot of them made and "if they're damaged they become practically worthless", she says.
Nevertheless, a biscuit tin in the forthcoming auction celebrating Queen Victoria's 1900 trip to Dublin is estimated at £200-£300 sterling (€254-€381).
Earlier material is more valuable. For instance, a creamware (cream glazed pottery) teapot from about 1780, with the inscription "Success to the independent volunteer societies of the kingdom of Ireland. For my country" is estimated at £1,500£2,000 sterling.
The independent volunteer societies were formed to protect Ireland from the threat of invasion from France or Spain at the end of the 18th century. The same teapot has a Canadian interest too in that its other side commemorates the death of Wolfe, the leader of the British army in Canada who beat the French, she says.
"So that's a very unusual teapot in that you have both Canadian and Irish interest on one item. . . And that does have some damage. So, if it had been perfect it would probably make £3,000."
Lot 12 is a St Patrick creamware jug. "That is really quite rare. That dates from about 1800, printed in black with a figure of Saint Patrick." (Estimate: £800£1,200).
A Daniel O'Connell creamware jug from about 1828 with the inscription "Daniel O'Connell, MP for the county of Clare. The man of the people" is expected to fetch £500£700, while other O'Connell commemorative ware includes a lustre jug (£400-£600) and a pearlware jug (£600£1,000).
John Magee was the proprietor and printer in Dublin of Magee's Weekly Packet (1777) and the Dublin Evening Post. A large "John Magee" creamware jug made in Liverpool about 1789 shows a printed full-length portrait of Magee with the words "John Magee and the Liberty of the Press".
Meanwhile, a freedom creamware bowl which says "May Irish Societies/Freedom Maintain/ And humble the glory/ of France and Spain" has been estimated to fetch £700£1,000 - the Irish societies being Orange societies, she explains.
jmarms@irish-times.ie
