Oldcastle auction to see rare eight-and-a-half inch carved ivory penis go under the hammer

AN eight and a half inch carved ivory penis will be up for grabs this weekend in Oldcastle with pricing expected to rise from a stiff €500. A unique and eye-catching piece of pleasure is expected to stir stiff competition amongst collectors with seasoned-auction goers expecting a thrilling climax before a successful bidder comes forward.

This rare lot, “a Victorian carved ivory life-size realistically depicted penis” will be available at Matthews Auctioneers and the auction will be hammered out at Matthews.

The vintage piece of Irish erotica, enjoyed by Victorian women while their men were away at war, is decribed by the auctioneer as “a forget-me-not in from an Old Anglo-Irish Military family. It’s very Fifty Shades of Grey and the genuine article.”

A spokesperson from Matthews Auctioneers said: “We expect a significant amount of interest in this, it’s a piece of erotica and it’s very rare.

“We’ve never seen anything like this really, it’s an extremely rare piece from the 19th century.”

And the ivory piece won't be the only piece tickling bidders' fancy. Over 1,000 lots have been entered from the four corners of Ireland, including some very good house clearances, so its certainly an interesting and wide-ranging sale. With lots from 300 years old to the present day, and auction estimates from €20 to €3,000, there's appeal to all tastes and budgets, including a good selection of garden statuary. More information, and a fully illustrated catalogue, can be viewed on the auctioneer's website www.matthewsauctionrooms.com