AN IMPORTANT single-owner private Irish collection of silver goes under the hammer at Mealy’s two-day winter fine and decorative art sale next week. The top lot is a pair of silver meat dish covers made in London in 1825 for William Cavendish, the 6th Duke of Devonshire.
Large enough to conceal a plump turkey and classy enough to impress even the snootiest Christmas guest – they are engraved with the crest and the family motto Cavendo Tutus (safe through caution) and have finial tops in the form of a ducal crown. The estimate is €5,000-€7,000.
Other seasonally topical lots include a china turkey dish depicting Windsor Castle (€100-€150) and an Irish provincial silver basting spoon, made by 18th century Limerick silversmith Joseph Johns (€1,200-€1,700) – an ideal gift for Mrs Patmore-types who will be slaving over the stove.
The catalogue features more than 1,300 lots including glass, oriental art, chandeliers, paintings, rugs furniture, clocks, vintage wines and taxidermy, and includes house contents from Bushy Park Mount Talbot, Co Roscommon, and, on the instructions of socialite Mafra O’Reilly, 41 Sandford Road, Ranelagh, Dublin 6.
Mealy’s two-day winter fine and decorative art sale takes place in Castlecomer, Co Kilkenny, next Tuesday and Wednesday and viewing begins at noon today.
