Country House ColleCtions Live Auction

346 Pages·2017·50.32 MB·English

Li v e Auc t i o n
Coun t r y House Coll eC t i o ns
At Townley Hall , Drogheda, Co.Louth
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Est 1887
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COUNTRY HOUSE COLLECTIONS AT TOWNLEY HALL
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tuesday 10 oCtober 2017 at 11:00am
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COUNTRY HOUSE COLLECTIONS AT TOWNLEY HALL
AUCTION
Tuesday 10th October 2017 at 11:00am
Live auction lots 1 - 718
VENUE
Townley Hall, Slane Road, Drogheda, Co Louth, Ireland A92 R6WE
CONTACT
During Viewing, Auction and Collection Days.
Phone: [phone] Fax: [phone]
SALE CODE
This sale may be referred to as 9052 in all correspondence
CATALOGUE
€20.00 (Plus postage & packaging)
Admission strictly by catalogue only - One catalogue admits two.
VIEWING
Saturday 7th October 11:00am - 5:00pm
Sunday 8th October 11:00am - 5:00pm
Monday 9th October 10:00am - 5:00pm
COLLECTIONS
All lots must be paid for and collected before 12.00 noon on Thursday 12th at the purchaser’s risk
and expense, after which time items will be removed to commercial storage also at the purchaser’s
risk and expense and additional carriage and storage fees will apply.
ADAM’S
26 St. Stephen’s Green
Dublin 2 D02 X665
Tel [phone]
CONTACTS AT ADAM’S FOR THIS AUCTION
Brian Coyle FSCSI FRICS James O’Halloran BA FSCSI FRICS Stuart Cole MSCSI MRICS
CHAIRMAN MANAGING DIRECTOR DIRECTOR
COUNTRY HOUSE COLLECTIONS AT TOWNLEY HALL 2017
As the year swings around again to this annual event thoughts turn to barrels, or more precisely the scraping of the
bottoms of same. Surely there is no more left down there to put together a credible sale of the works of art and ar-
tefacts that were in Irish country houses? However the immutability of matter and the transience of life give a fuidity
to the process. Collections form, are dispersed and houses are sold, collectors pursue objects that have lost their
context and reinstate them. The Madden armorial side table has been brought home (maybe to shoot of again?), the
long case clock from Ross House - that distillation of atmosphere of a rollicking, happy, sporting Ireland bottled by
Somerville & Ross, has been discovered. There is gleaming 18th century silver mostly Irish, that recalls companionable
dining rooms with Regency tables and brass bound buckets. The salver presented by the Corporation of Drogheda
to Montgomery Lyons. Was he a pleasant or pompous man? Likely the former as he turns up as a member of Lord
Mornington’s Glee Club and who is to say that the uisce beatha or the French wine did not make the meetings merrier
or the singing lustier. Did they play on a Southwell instrument, one of the most sophisticated in Europe?
The Preston ladies, deprived of their noble positions in Palladian Bellinter House, are available for re-housing, suitably,
in preference. Then the enigmatic architect from Rathescar, the hunting lodge of the Fosters; it became the fashion-
able Regency ‘seat’ for the speaker’s younger son but he overspent and it was taken on by a cadet branch of the Henry
family. Records were not kept and identities have been lost but these pictures and portraits were there for a reason;
probably diligent research will resolve some of this. In the interim, bloodstock and hunting had been the raison d’ être
as it had been for Eileen Mount Charles in her beautiful house designed by Francis Johnson and which reproduces in
miniature much of the architecture of Townley Hall and Slane Castle. Here are horses and dogs and the comfortable
furnishings of a hospitable house.
The landscape school of the 18th century is considered the high point of Irish Art of the period. The George Barret is a
tour de force of the genre. Why, looking out their windows and inevitably at the most wonderful views, did the gentry
have such a hankering for idealised southern landscapes? Classicism, the memories of formative trips to Italy, per-
haps not accepting the reality of their own intrusion into an older prospect? Escapism into a distant vista, as described
by Nicola Figgis in her piece on the wonderful Solomon Delane Roman landscape ‘silhouetted sensitively against the
cloud-flled sky’, could make the rain, trouble with the tenantry, demands of mortgagors, snubs from the Vice-Regal
tofs more bearable. This landscape tradition lingered on with John Henry Campbell until romanticism descended into
kitsch.
There is much of interest herein, mostly ephemeral; old warts-and-all who fastened these islands together in a sinister
embrace that has been a long time undoing, maybe Brexit will conclude the business? The treasonable vellum bestow-
ing a ‘union’ title, the faces of generations recorded in miniature of a once powerful family, the pretty Langham daugh-
ters who couldn’t fnd husbands (perhaps they had not wanted them)but if they had been brought to Ireland sooner,
chances are they would have (if, needless to say, that’s what they wanted) lots of mirrors to check the beauty spots,
lots of card tables to lose the demesne (it was going anyway,) books, maps and prints to study in front of the roaring
library fre. Nostalgia need not intervene here – where these items are classic in the true sense of the word, they are
timeless and as such, judiciously mixed with contemporary design, they will continue as worthy witnesses to whatever
you’re having and beyond.
N.N
Register for a My Adam’s Account
DIRECTIONS TO TOWNLEY HALL
From Dublin: Follow the M1 going North. After the toll
station, continue on the M1 until you cross the Boyne
suspension bridge. Immediately North of the bridge, take
exit 10 signposted N51 - Navan - Drogheda North. At the
roundabout over the motorway take the Slane exit. After
about 1.5 miles, look for railings and gates on the right
hand side then follow the avenue through the woods.
Travelling time from Dublin airport: about 35mins.
From the North: Follow the M1 as far as the exit 10
turn-of just before the suspension bridge, signpost-
ed as N51 - Navan - Drogheda North. Cross over the
motorway and take the Slane exit. After about 1.5
miles, look for railings and gates on the right hand
side then follow the avenue through the woods. Trav-
elling time from Dundalk: about 30mins.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR PURCHASERS
ESTIMATES AND RESERVES ABSENTEE BIDS
These are shown below each lot in this sale. All amounts shown are in We are happy to execute absentee or written bids for bidders who are
Euro. The fgures shown are provided merely as a guide to prospective unable to attend and can arrange for bidding to be conducted by tele-
purchasers. They are approximate prices which are expected, are not de- phone. However, these services are subject to special conditions (see
fnitive and are subject to revision. Reserves, if any, will not be any higher conditions of sale in this catalogue). All arrangements for absentee and
than the lower estimate. telephone bidding must be made before 5pm on the day prior to sale.
Cancellation of bids must be confrmed before this time and cannot be
guaranteed after the auction as commenced.
PADDLE BIDDING
Bidding by telephone may be booked on lots with a minimum estimate
All intending purchasers must register for a paddle number before the
of €500. Early booking is advisable as availability of lines cannot be
auction. Please allow time for registration. Potential purchasers are
guaranteed.
recommended to register on viewing days.
All lots are being sold under the Conditions of Sale as printed in this
PAYMENT, DELIVERY AND PURCHASER’S PREMIUM catalogue and on display in the salerooms
Wednesday 11th October 2017, 10.00am - 5pm. Under no circumstances
will delivery of purchases be given whilst the auction is in progress. All
LOTS MADE OF / CONTAINING IVORY
purchases must be paid for and removed from the premises not later
Bidders should be advised that the importation regulations of several
than 12 noon on Thursday 12th October 2017 at the purchaser’s risk and
countries, including the US, prohibits the importation of ivory, or any
expense. After this time all uncollected lots will be removed to commercial
goods containing ivory. Therefore Adam’s advises prospective purchas-
storage and additional charges will apply.
ers who intend to ship such lots to another country to familiarise them-
selves with the relevant importation regulations prior to bidding. Adam’s
Auctioneer’s commission on purchases is charged at the rate of 20%
will not be responsible for shipping items herein and the onus will be
(exclusive of VAT). Terms: Strictly cash, bankers draft or cheque drawn
on the buyer to organise shipping at their own behest. Items containing
on an Irish bank. Cheques will take a minimum of fve workings days to
ivory are marked with the following symbol: (*) E&OE
clear the bank, unless they have been vouched to our satisfaction prior
to the sale, or you have a previous cheque payment history with Adam’s.
Purchasers wishing to pay by credit card (Visa & MasterCard) may do so, LOTS MADE OF / CONTAINING CORAL
however, it should be noted that such payments will be subject to an Bidders should be advised that any lots containing or made of coral are
administrative fee of 2% on the invoice total. American Express is subject subject to USA Fish and Wildlife regulations if they are to be imported
to a charge of 3.65% on the invoice total. Debit cards including laser card into the USA. Therefore Adam’s advises prospective purchasers who
payments are not subject to a surcharge, there are however daily limits intend to ship such lots to another country to familiarise themselves with
on Laser card payments. Bank Transfer details on request. Please ensure the relevant importation regulations prior to bidding. Adam’s will not be
all bank charges are paid in addition to the invoice total, in order to avoid responsible for shipping items herein and the onus will be on the buyer
delays in the release of items. to organise shipping at their own behest. Items containing coral are
Goods will only be released upon clearance through the bank of all marked with the following symbol: (**) E&OE
monies
due. Artists Resale Rights (Droit de Suite) is NOT payable by purchasers. ALL LOTS ARE BEING SOLD UNDER THE
CONDITIONS OF SALE AS PRINTED IN THIS
VAT REGULATIONS
CATALOGUE AND ON DISPLAY IN OUR SALEROOMS.
All lots are sold within the auctioneers VAT margin scheme. Revenue

Regulations require that the buyers premium must be invoiced at a rate
which is inclusive of VAT. This is not recoverable by any VAT registered
buyer.
CONDITION REPORTS
Please ensure that condition report requests are submitted before 12
noon on Monday 9th October as we cannot guarantee that they will be
dealt with after this time.
It is up to the bidder to satisfy themselves prior to buying as to the con-
dition of a lot. Whilst we make certain observations on the lot, which are
intended to be as helpful as possible, references in the condition report
to damage or restoration are for guidance only and should be evaluated
by personal inspection by the bidder or a knowledgeable representative.
The absence of such a reference does not imply that an item is free from
defects or restoration, nor does a reference to particular defects imply the
absence of any others. The condition report is an expression of opinion
only and must not be treated as a statement of fact.