"AN ACCUMULATION of good furniture, bird pictures, maps of Ireland, ornamental and curious things" is how Hamilton Osborne King describes the collection of the late John Westby, which it will sell by auction on February 6th at Jury's Hotel in Cork.
On sale will be the contents of John Westby's home, The Old Glebe, Timoleague, Co Cork, which can be viewed at Jurys from Monday, February 5th.
The name Westby can traced back to the late 1600s in Co Clare, when Nicholas Westby was collector of customs at Ennis. The family went on to accumulate over 25,000 acres in Clare, and in the mid 19th century one Edward Perceval Westby used the extensive family funds to re build Roebuck Castle in Dundrum, Dublin, in high Victorian Gothic style.
John Westby occupied a more modest home, a Georgian glebe house that he filled with handsome 18th and 19th century pieces good brown furniture and plenty of it.
The most important items of the auction are not furniture, however, but marble busts: a pair of busts by the important Irish neo classical sculptor John Hogan. Dating from 1834, these are of Bishop Murphy, and that of his brother, scions of the Cork brewing and distilling family - which rose to prominence in the early 19th century.
Lots worth noting include a mahogany architect's table, dating from the 1790s, with an inlaid top rising on a double rachet, the tapering legs on brass socks and castors. It is expected to make Pounds 3,000-Pounds 5,000.
A good early 19th mahogany pedestal desk is expected to make Pounds 2,000-Pounds 3,000. The same estimate applies to an unusual walnut, crossbanded and stained mulberry chest, made around 1700.
A late 18th century mahogany "D" shaped side cabinet, in the style of Gillows, is also expected to make up to Pounds 3,000.
A late 18th century chest, of concave design, carries a top estimate of Pounds 2,000, while a fine mahogany chest, with fielded panel doors, is estimated at Pounds 2,000-Pounds 3,000.
Not all the lots have estimates in the thousands. An 18th century mahogany, framed day bed, unusually plain and elegant with solid square legs joined by stretchers, has a lower estimate of Pounds 600, and three 18th century mahogany fold over tea tables are estimated at Pounds 400- Pounds 600 and Pounds 600-Pounds 800.
There are books and almanacs galore, including travel and childrens' books, books on birds and books on fishing. A "large quantity" of fishing tackle may be had for as little as Pounds 10 and fishing and shooting equipment is thrown together in a lot for Pounds 50-Pounds 100.
