By Jimmy Rhatigam
AS AUCTIONS go, the Fonsie Mealy Autumn Fine Art Sale is up there with the best.
The three-day event is at the firm’s Chatsworth Auction Rooms, Chatsworth, Castlecomer on September 28, 29 and 30.
The gavel will be busy from 11am each day as 1671 lots go under the hammer for a multiplicity of wonderful bits and bobs and myriad gems that in other times adorned the homes or were the property of the gentry.
On offer will be furniture, paintings, Old Masters, Irish Art, silver, fine selection of objet d’Art, collection of Oriental Ceramics, jewellery, vintage cars, carpets, and textiles, fireplaces, taxidermy and other collectibles.
Viewing, with respect to Covid.19 will be September 23, 24 and 25, 10am to 5pm; September 26 and 27, 1pm to 5pm.
We make no apologies for focusing on lots 494 and 500, for medicinal purposes of course.
A snip?
The 494 delight is a Mixed Lot: Taylors 10 Year Old Tawny Port in wooden box; Redbreast Single Pot Still – Lustau Edition, Whiskey in box; Prumier 20 Year Old Cognac in presentation box.
Add in Bas Armagnac, Domaine de la Coaste – J & C Lacourtoisie, Vintage 1967, Bottled, May 1998, 1 Bottle, in box; a Bottle of Vana Tallinn Heritage Edition, Genuine Liqueur, in box and a bottle of Jameson.
There’s more, Powers Whiskey, litre Hendricks Gin, presentation box; 8 bottles, as a lot. Price is expected to be between €150 and €220, a snip, readers may agree?
Only concern is that some connoisseur may spice up the bidding.
The way to deal with that is not to tell him or her about the fantastic sale.
If you miss out on the magic mix, you could turn to lot 500, Champagne: Moet & Chandon Champagne, a Jeraboam, Brut Imperial, in original wooden case.
The big boys
Estimate is €200 to €300, for special occasions such as births, deaths and marriages, with the odd divorce.
If you have an interest in lot 521, forget about any party before driving.
It is a 1959 Morris Minor 1000 two-door Saloon, white with red soft top (retractable) and red leather interior, petrol.
Now you are punting with the big boys: €3,000 to €4,000.
With the vintage beauty in your garage and one or other, or preferably both of the drinks’ selections, you might consider tying the knot with your fiancé or fiancée by bidding for lot 780.
The latter is a rare Irish Claddagh Ring, circa 1820, Size U, unsigned; (1) €1,000-€1,500 Provenance.
To cap a great shopping spree you could bring home lot 199.
It is a Victorian walnut cased musical organ with carved and pierced body, by JF Jones and Co, Manchester, stamped Pelouset, Pelton and Co: €300 to €400.
