Sale of Irish country house contents explained

The dispersion of artefacts, through the sale of Irish country house contents, happened often with the destruction of Irish country houses (1919–1923).

Later, post war sales and fires resulted in the destruction of further contents while large auction sales from the 1950s through to the mid 1990s resulted in the loss of further contents.

Post the beginning of the Celtic Tiger era (c 1995 onwards), the sale of contents has been more rigorously catalogued with all but the most exceptionally valuable lots staying in the hands of other home owners within the state.[1] [2]

In the early 21st century, both the National Gallery of Ireland and the National Museum of Ireland have had first refusal and prior notice on important items which have been placed on the market for sale.[3]

List of auctions

!Year!House!County!Date!Auction House!Vendor!Contents sold
1875Santry CourtDublin1875Domville family following bankruptcyMost high value contents
1910Ely House, Ely PlaceDublin8 November 1910Bennett & SonThornley Stoker[4]
1911Dunsandle HouseGalwayApril 1911Bennett & SonDaly familyA significant portion of the contents were ultimately transferred to Russborough House by Major Denis Daly.
1913Rathfarnham CastleDublin2 April 1913Battersby & CompanyMany lots were acquired by the Jesuits who had recently purchased the property.
1916Hermitage HouseLimerick20 January 1916William B FittSome of the most valuable contents were transferred to Kilakee House.
1918Laurentum House, ClashmoreWaterford1918Contents clearance
1919CastlefrekeCorkOctober 1919Marsh's
1919Killakee HouseDublin8 July 1919Bennett & Son
1921Castletown CoxKilkenny11 October 1921Battersby & CompanyWindham Wyndham-Quin, 5th Earl of Dunraven and Mount-EarlSelected contents
1921Tara HallMeathNovember 1921Battersby & CompanyMajor Moore-Brabazon[5]
1922Hazelwood House, SligoSligo18 May 1922Battersby & CompanyMuriel and Philip Dudley Perceval
1925Lucan ManorDublin29 September 1925Bennett & SonCaptain Richard St John Jefferyes ColthurstEntire contents
1929Upperscourt HouseKilkenny1929M. and E. Maher
1932Chareleville, EnniskerryWicklow31 October 1932Viscount Monck
1935Kilkenny CastleKilkenny18 November 1935Battersby & CompanyMarquess of OrmondeEarl of Ossory
1937Moore Abbey, MonasterevanKildare15 February 1937Battersby & CompanyCount John McCormackAll contents
1939Iveagh HouseDublin29 September 1939Battersby & CompanyEarl of Iveagh2,600 lots[6]
1939Ashford CastleMayo15 May 1939Jackson Stops and McCabeIveagh TrusteesContents[7] [8]
1943Rokeby Hall, DunleerLouth1943North'sMaud Montgomery
1944Santry CourtDublin1944Sir Compton Meade DomvilleRemaining contents
1949Carton HouseKildare1949Allen & TownsendDuke of LeinsterLibrary
1950Shelton AbbeyWicklowOctober 1950
1953Killeen Castle, DunsanyMeath20 July 1953Town and Country Estates (Ireland) LtdEarl of Fingall
1954Favour RoyalTyrone1954Town and Country Estates (Ireland) LtdMajor MoutrayMilitary collection
1957Oak ParkCarlow29 October 1957Hamilton and Hamilton Estates LtdValuable contents[9]
1958Gloster HouseOffaly29-31 October 1958 Town and Country Estates LimitedAlmost all contents[10]
1960Bowen's CourtCorkApril 1960W. Marsh & Sons LtdMost contents
1960Straffan HouseKildare1960Jackson Stops McCabe
1960Coolbawn Hotel, CastleconnellLimerick1960
1961Bowen's CourtCork1961Marsh'sElizabeth BowenLibrary
1961Graigue, Palmerstown ParkDublin28 February 1961James Adam & SonsHenry ManganLibrary
1962Dromoland CastleClare1962Lord Inchiquin
1962Cahir Park HouseTipperary1962Battersby & Company
1963Courtown HouseKildare10 June 1963Hamilton and HamiltonEntire contents
1964Kenure HouseDublinSeptember 1964J.H. North & Co. LtdColonel RH Fenwick PalmerEntire Contents[11]
1966Castletown HouseKildare1966Jackson-Stops and McCabe18th-20th century furniture and pictures residue
1966KiladoonKildare31 October 1966SothebysColonel HTW Clements and formed by the late HJB ClementsLibrary and manuscripts[12]
1968Rockfield, KellsMeath6-7 March 1968Keane Mahony SmithW & G ArmstrongEntire contents
1969Doneraile CourtCork1969Hamilton and Hamilton (Estates) LimitedLord DoneraileEntire Library[13]
1972DerkLimerick10 April 1972Stokes & QuirkeEntire contents
1976Clonbrock, BallinasloeGalway1 November 1976Christie, Manson & WoodsLisney & SonMr Luke Dillon Mahon[14]
1976Malahide CastleDublin10-12 May 1976Keane Mahony SmithChristies Manson & Woods LtdRose Maud TalbotEntire contents[15]
1977Donacomper, CelbridgeKildare25-26 July 1977Hamilton & HamiltonChristies Manson & Woods LtdMr and Mrs Bruce Breedin
1977Carton HouseKildare1977Lord BrockettDavid Nall Cain
1977White Lodge, BallycastleAntrim20 September 1977Osborne, King and Megran
1978Slane CastleMeath20 November 1978Sothebys
1978Chareleville, EnniskerryWicklow1978Hamilton & HamiltonChristies Manson & Woods LtdDonald Davies
1979Bettyglen, RahenyDublin1979ChristiesW.H. Ahern[16]
1980Coolattin House, ShillelaghWicklow1980Hamilton & HamiltonChristies Manson & Woods LtdMichael Brendan Cadogan
1980Milverton Hall, SkerriesDublin1980Woods family
1981Birr CastleOffaly7-8 October 1981ChristiesThe Trustees of the Oxmantown Settlement TrustSelected contents.
1981Slane CastleMeath1981
1982Glyde Court, TallanstownLouth15-16 September 1982Nicholas NicholsonColonel and Mrs A C May
1982Adare ManorLimerick9-10 June 1982Christie, Manson & Woods LtdHamilton & Hamilton (Estates) LtdWorks by artists including Van Dyck, Rubens, Teniers and Pugin.
1983Luttrellstown CastleDublin1983Christie Manson & WoodsAileen PlunketEntire contents[17]
1984Powerscourt EstateWicklow24-25 September 1984Christie Manson & Woods
1984Oldbridge House, DroghedaMeath1984GunneMrs DH CoddingtonAll contents
1986Mount Juliet Golf & Spa HotelKilkenny1986SothebysMajor V McAlmont
1986Castle HacketGalway2-4 July 1986Christies and Edmiston's LtdHamilton and Hamilton (Estates) LtdPercy Paley (Estate)[18]
1987Mount Juliet Golf & Spa HotelKilkenny1987ChristiesMcAlmont family.
1988Mountainstown House, NavanMeath28-29 September 1988ChristiesHamilton Osborne KingJohn Pollock[19]
1991Castletown CoxKilkenny7-8 October 1991ChristiesHamilton Osborne KingGeorge Magan[20]
1992Woodstock HouseWicklow1992Hamilton Osborne KingLibrary
1993LyrathKilkenny15 September 1993ChristiesHamilton Osborne KingCaptain and Mrs A C Tupper[21]
1995Farney Castle, ThurlesTipperary4 July 1995GunneEntire contents
1995Glencullen House, KiltiernanDublin5 July 1995AdamsEntire valuable contents
1995GortdrishaghGalway9 July 1995AdamsMrs M R Glynn
1997St Clerans, CaughwellGalway5 June 1997GunneJohn Huston
1998Raford HouseGalway20 October 1998Fonsie Mealy
1999Garretstown HouseMeath1999Fonsie MealyPrince and Princess Guirey
1999Rockfield, KellsMeath1999Hamilton Osborne KingA Cameron
2002Farnham HouseCavan27 January 2002Hamilton Osborne King
2003Mourne ParkDown14-15 April 2003Hamilton Osborne KingPhilip Anley and Bonnie Horsman1,000+ lots[22]
2003Lissadell HouseSligo25 November 2003ChristiesHamilton Osborne KingContents[23]
2012Mount CongreveWaterfordMay and July 2012ChristiesFonsie MealyAmbrose Congreve1,100 lots with Fonsie Mealy and later 120 lots at Christies
2014Bantry HouseCork21 October 2014Lyon & Turnbull
2015Courtown HouseKildare22 April 2015Adams
2016Loughton House, MoneygallOffaly27-30 September 2016Sheppard’s
2021Howth CastleDublinSeptember 2021Fonsie MealyLord HowthEntire contents[24]

See also

Notes and References

  1. News: Cataloguing the Irish 'Big House' . 2024-04-24 . The Irish Times . en.
  2. Web site: Auction catalogues . www.fonsiemealy.ie . 25 April 2024.
  3. Web site: Battersby & Co . 1888 . [Auction catalogues] / ]. 2024-04-24 . catalogue.nli.ie . English.
  4. Web site: Ely House, 8 Ely Place, Dublin, The Residence of Sir W. Thornley Stoker, M.D. - Catalogue of the Entire Well-Known Collection of Fine Art Property, to be sold by Auction . Commencing Tuesday 8th November, 1910 [+ following days]

    Very Good Soft cover (1910) 1st Edition Temple Bar Bookshop ]

    . www.abebooks.co.uk . 23 September 2024.
  5. Web site: Howth Castle, 800 Years of History. Entire Clearance - ... (08 Sep 21) . 2024-04-24 . www.fonsiemealy.ie.
  6. News: The lost grandeur of Iveagh House . 2024-04-25 . The Irish Times . en.
  7. Web site: 2023-09-23 . Unique nine-day auction at Mayo's Ashford Castle in 1939 is recalled . 2024-04-24 . Connaught Telegraph . en-US.
  8. Web site: Rare 'Ashford Castle' Catalogue of House Contents . 2024-04-24 . www.purcellauctioneers.ie.
  9. Web site: Auction catalogues: Killeen Castle, Dunsany Co. Meath, July 1953, 4to, 67 pps, mint condition. Oak P . 2024-06-13 . www.purcellauctioneers.ie.
  10. Web site: Town & Country Estates Sales catalogue of contents of Gloster House, Brosna, Birr. Major 4 day s . 2024-04-24 . www.purcellauctioneers.ie.
  11. Web site: The Age of the Great House – Irish Antique Dealers Association . 2024-04-24 . en-US.
  12. Web site: Sothebys catalogue – Catalogue of the well known Irish library of H.J.B. Clements, Killadoon, Co. Ki . 2024-06-14 . www.purcellauctioneers.ie.
  13. Web site: Hamilton & Hamilton Dublin; Auction Catalogue of entire library from Doneraile Court December 19 . 2024-06-19 . www.purcellauctioneers.ie.
  14. Web site: Christies sale of the contents of Clonbrock, Ahascragh, Co. Galway 1/3 November 1976. Illustrated. S . 2024-06-14 . www.purcellauctioneers.ie.
  15. Web site: 1976-06-06 . Going Going Gone . 2024-06-19 . RTE Radio . en.
  16. News: History Homes: Gothic in Raheny . 2024-06-19 . The Irish Times . en.
  17. Web site: Luttrellstown Castle Contents For Auction . 2024-04-24 . RTÉ Archives . en.
  18. Web site: Christies. Sale of the contents of Castle Hackett, Co. Galway July, 1986. Illustrated. . 2024-06-14 . www.purcellauctioneers.ie.
  19. Web site: Christies catalogue – Sale of contents of Mountainstown House, Navan on 28/29 Sept. 1988. Fine . 2024-06-14 . www.purcellauctioneers.ie.
  20. Web site: Christies catalogue re sale of contents of Castletown House, Co. Kilkenny on the 7th & 8th Octob . 2024-06-14 . www.purcellauctioneers.ie.
  21. Web site: Christies contents catalogue. Lyrath, Co Kilkenny. Sept. 1993. . 2024-06-14 . www.purcellauctioneers.ie.
  22. Web site: HOK Fine Art catalogue re sale of contents of Mourne Park, Kilkel, Co. Down on the 14th & 15th A . 2024-06-18 . www.purcellauctioneers.ie.
  23. Web site: Christies catalogue. Catalogue sale of contents of Lissadell, Co. Sligo on 25th Nov. 2003. Fine with . 2024-06-14 . www.purcellauctioneers.ie.
  24. Web site: Howth Castle, 800 Years of History. Entire Clearance - ... (08 Sep 21) . 2024-06-19 . www.fonsiemealy.ie.

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