SOME impressive pieces of furniture often with equally distinguished provenance - come up for sale next week at the two-day auction being conducted by Mealy's on the company's premises in Castlecomer, Co Kilkenny. Many of the items originate from Dunbrody Park, Co Wexford, which was sold earlier this year by the Marquis of Donegall; coincidentally, Mealy's was responsible for disposing of the contents from the east wing of this house some 15 years ago.
Also in next Tuesday and Wednesday's auction are lots from Kiltinan Castle, Co Tipperary, now owned by composer Andrew Lloyd-Webber and his wife, Madeleine, as well as items formerly in Dysertmore, Co Kilkenny, now being disposed of by Mrs O. Lambert In addition, the sale includes the entire contents of Rathduff House, Co Tipperary, for many years home to the late Miss Josephine Edwards.
A couple of lots originally came from Mount Juliet, owned by the McCalmont family until it became a hotel in the last decade. One piece is a very large George III dining table, which can be extended up to 27 feet; it carries a pre-sale estimate of £10,000-£15,000. Also formerly in Mount Juliet was a Regency, gilt bronze ceiling light (£3,000-£5,000).
From Kiltinan Castle comes a pair of Regency gilt console tables (£4,000-£5,000). Another pair of gilt console tables from the same period carries the higher estimate of £12,000-£15,000, while a pair of Queen Anne period walnut side tables, each with green veined marble top, is expected to sell for £20,000-£30,000.
Kiltinan also yields up an early 19th century white Carrara marble fireplace (£4,000-£6,000). The following lot in the sale is another fireplace, somewhat earlier in date and with classical figures in raised relief (£7,000-£9,090). Other important items include a mid Georgian period mahogany bureau cabinet in the manner of William Kent (£15,000-£20,000) and a George IV mahogany dining table, raised on three quadruple pods (£8,000-£12,000).
There are a number of very handsome desks on offer, such as an early Georgian kneehole example in walnut (£3,000-£4,000) and a late George III desk, its long frieze drawer modelled as three drawers (£4,000-£6,000). A Gothic-style William IV mahogany library bookcase is expected to make £5,000-8,000, a George IV mahogany library table, with brass inlay on its rectangular top, has an estimate of £4,000-£6,000 and a Georgian mahogany secretaire cabinet also has a price of £4,000 £6,000. Finally, among the pieces of ormolu is a pair of French six-branch, seven-light candelabra (£6,000 £7,000) and a pair of ormolu and porcelain urns (£2,800-£3,500).
