Rare furniture sale at Victor Mee Auction rooms
Great excitement has filled the air at Victor Mee Auctions, as a highly-anticipated Irish Vernacular and Collectibles Sale is due to be hosted online later this month in Cloverhill.
Almost a whole year in the making, the upcoming Irish Vernacular and Collectibles Sale will take place online at 2pm on Wednesday and Thursday, October 20-21, and will showcase rare furniture pieces consigned to Victor Mee Auctions from several private Irish collections.
For many years Victor Mee Auctions has been trusted by antique collectors throughout Ireland to showcase many unique Irish vernacular pieces at their auction block.
Originating in Ireland in the 18th and 19th centuries, Irish vernacular furniture was built using inexpensive materials by the everyday Irish person. Often carved by homeowners themselves from whatever wood and materials were available, the pieces tended to be characteristically rugged, but oozed old Irish charm. It is the plainness and ‘unkempt’ finish that forms the draw for buyers of antique Irish vernacular furniture from across the world.
Commenting on the impending Irish Vernacular and Collectibles Sale, auctioneer Victor Mee said: “Irish Vernacular is a real passion of mine and I am delighted with the high quality pieces that have been consigned to us specially for this sale. The auction will showcase a diverse array of Irish vernacular pieces including kitchen furniture, collectible items and spongeware, as well as some other furniture and collectible pieces from a local pub and Victorian apothecary. All of which are sure to make fascinating and eye-catching additions to any interior space within the home.”
Versatile kitchen furniture and vessels
Taking prominence in the sale is the great range of settle tables of chairs that will cross the auction block. Both settle tables and chairs are very rare Irish vernacular furniture items as they were examples of the ingenious combinations of furniture to fit in small Irish kitchens with a dual purpose - to use as a table and then converted to a bench or chair when needed. A particular lot of interest has come to the auction house form Kilkenny, a fantastically preserved 19th century Kilkenny settle table and Kilkenny settle chair.
More unique delights dating back to the early 19th century include a range of Irish hedge chairs, also known as ‘famine chairs’, and stools. These chairs are extremely simple in their design and tend to lack modern day binding agents like nails and screws. Expected to be of particular interest to bidders is lot 271, an unusual three-legged famine chair.
In addition to settle tables and chairs, the Irish Vernacular and Collectibles Sale will also exhibit a host of pine kitchen tables, cupboards and dressers. The dresser was a rare feature in many Irish homes, so was a ‘prized possession’ for those who did possess one.
Moving away from furniture and focusing on vessels within the home, one particular lot of interest within the Irish Vernacular and Collectibles Sale is Lot 310 an extremely rare late 15th century, early County Fermanagh Mether. This vessel’s primary function would have been the storage of butter or curds. Methers were very rare vessels for a typical Irish family to own, so having access to one was highly desired.
Spongeware & Collectibles
The Irish Vernacular and Collectibles Sale will also offer bidders the chance to take home a wide range of spongeware and collectible items. Spongeware is the craft of using paint to decorate plain mugs bowls and plates with a sponge or potato cut to shapes of flowers, leaves hearts and animals. The handmade element of spongeware meant that no two items were ever designed exactly the same. Victor Mee Actions will showcase a selection of spongeware mugs, plates, platters, porridge and mixing bowls in the upcoming sale on October 21.
Another lot of particular interest is sure to be a rare Belleek butter stamper, impressed with a round tower and wolfhound originally from Castle Caldwell in County Fermanagh. Established in 1857, Belleek Pottery holds a very special place in Ireland's cultural and commercial heritage, is renowned throughout the world and is distinctively ‘Irish’ in its Celtic design.
Contents of a Victorian Apothecary & Irish Pub
Expanding on the range of furniture and collectible items available in the Irish Vernacular and Collectibles Sale, Victor Mee Auctions has also included the entire contents of a County Monaghan Victorian apothecary & grocery shop and a traditional Irish pub among the lots on offer.
Contents to hit the auction block from this collection of furniture and collectibles include a mahogany shop counter, banks of drawers, tea bins, flour bins and various advertising boxes from well-known Irish brands including Players Please, Morton & Co, Irish Free State Butter Box, Kirker Armagh & The Erne Clones, Colman's Mustard & Ellman's.
The Irish pub clearance will include a range of original ‘Rare DWD Pot Still Whisky’ and ‘Will’s Westward Ho’ advertising mirrors, Tam O’Shanter Tobacco and traditional optic stands among many other interesting publican collectible pieces.
The Irish Vernacular and Collectibles Sale will take place online, live from Victor Mee Auctions in Cloverhill on Wednesday and Thursday, October 20 and 21, from 2pm. Viewing will take place on online.