Adams auction at slane this weekend

As Downton Abbey returns to our television screens, so Adam’s makes it’s return to historic Slane Castle for another ‘Country House Collections’ auction on Sunday 12th and Monday 13th October.
This is the sixth year of this eclectic and fascinating sale which brings together the finest furniture, silver, paintings and collectables drawn from fine old Irish houses. The 2014 sale is an embarrassment of riches with a particular emphasis on Irish and English Georgian period furniture. Provenance continues to be of the utmost importance to collectors and in this sale there are pieces from fine country houses including Beaulieu, Carriglass Manor, Edgeworthstown House, Carton and Headfort.
One of the sale’s highlights is the Maria Edgeworth Table, an early 19th century scagliola topped table gifted to the renowned Irish writer by Livorno merchant, William Macbean, whose name along with Maria’s is inscribed on a trompe l’oeil envelope on the table-top. Other references to the writer incorporated into the decoration include an extract from Sir Walter Scott’s preface to The Waverly Novels where he commends her literary accomplishments. The scagliola work is believed to have been done by Livorno craftsman, Pietro Della Valle. This table which is of major national importance is estimated at €40,000/€50,000.
Another piece of national importance is the Irish Bog-Yew Teapoy made especially for the 1851 Great Exhibition in London by Dublin firm Arthur Jones and Co. It is a magnificent example of ‘High-Victorian’ cabinet-making coming from one of Dublin’s finest furniture manufacturing firms. The naturalistic carving is of the highest quality with stag and hounds within trees and on top is a figure of the seated Queen Victoria, who in this instance has had her head lopped off, quite accidentally of course. The estimate on this piece is €15,000/€25,000.
A tranche of items from the extended family of Lady Ardilaun of St Anne’s in Dublin and Ashford Castle in Co Mayo are being offered and include her personal bureau bookcase and a white marble bust of Sir Benjamin Lee Guinness by John Henry Foley from 1868. The third son of Arthur Guinness, he joined his family brewing business at the age of sixteen and by 60 was in complete control of the business. By creating a system of commission agents, his porter, the famous ‘Dublin black stuff’ became a household word world-wide and the Guinness family became immensely wealthy. Also from this source are a number of fascinating lots associated with the Guinness’s social life and in particular there is an album of photographs including a shooting party at Ashford Castle in October 1878 showing a young Oscar Wilde in tweed plus-fours amongst a mixed group on the front steps. This album with red leather cover is estimated at €5,000/€8,000.
Of certain interest to any self respecting gentleman or indeed nobleman is the superb pair of Newton’s Terrestrial and Celestial 15” Library Globes with the most up to date observations by the most esteemed navigators and travellers. The pair are dated 1840/41 and are estimated at €15,000/€25,000. 
Amongst the paintings is an exquisite and hugely rare 18th century portrait of a young girl, sitting in parkland holding a basket of flowers by Thomas Hudson (1701-1779). This large oil on canvas, once in the collection of Sir Brian Mountain, is estimated at €20,000/€30,000. A most interesting mid 19th century marine scene by Samuel Walters depicts racing yachts passing the Irish Light vessel in Dublin Bay. Dated to 1848 and a good size, it is expected to sell for somewhere between €25,000 and €35,000.
Irish Georgian silver is also in good supply and prices are continuing to remain strong particularly for high quality rare pieces by good makers. If they emanate from the Irish provinces then so much the better hence there is expected to be a lot of interest in a delightful George III Cork coffee pot dating to about 1780 and from the hand of silversmith, Michael McDermott. It is estimated at €10,000/€15,000.
A mid 18th century Limerick silver cream jug by Joseph Johns is also likely to get collectors excited particularly with the extremely rare provenance of the Unthanks of Limerick - a Quaker family long associated with the medical profession in the city. It is estimated at €3,000/€5,000.
Finally an enormous Japanese Fukagawa porcelain circular charger, dating to the Meji Period, (1868-1912), can only be described as spectacular, measuring 92cm in diameter and exquisitely decorated with two vibrant four-claw dragons in opposing positions, on a turquoise ground of heaped waves is estimated at €20,000/€30,000.
Over 800 lots make up this sale, perhaps the most genuine and highest quality collection to be offered here in Ireland in a year. Viewing at Slane Castle takes place over three days, from Thursday 9th October and admission is by catalogue only, priced at €20. The catalogue is now online at www.adams.ie