Inside look at luxury Dublin hotel items going under the hammer in auction – from vintage car to famous artist’s drawing
The contents of prestigious Finnstown House are being auctioned off – and these are just some of the amazing items going under the hammer.
The hotel, which was of Dublin’s most popular wedding venues, ceased operations in the first week of December last year.
Cavan-based Victor Mee Auctions has been tasked with the duty of brining the collection to the auction block.
The three-day event kicks off an April 4 in Victor Mee’s Cloverhill auction rooms – and it will be their first in person bidding their since 2020.
The auction will including over 1,800 individual and collective lots of fine and unique furnishings, both antique and contemporary, including a vast array of tables and seating from the hotel bar and lobby areas, as well as superb ornate items and artwork.
The collection will be presented alongside other magnificent lots from the esteemed auction house’s other clients with opportunities for the public to view in totality from April 1 to April 3.
One of the standout lots set to appear is a collection of stunning tables, being sold individually and steeped in provenance, that originally hail from The O’Connor Don, London’s oldest Irish Pub.
These beautiful 3D tables were designed by the O’Callaghan family, owners of The O’Connor Don, and John Harwood (Windsor Workshop) who sought approval from Guinness to use the Guinness harp in their design.
The bases are cast iron and the tops are inlaid marble. The inlaid marble tops were created by John Harwood who specialises in stone and marble inlay.
The tables are estimated at €400-€600 a piece.
Additionally, the Finnstown House Hotel Collection includes two impressive vintage cars.
The first, a fully restored 1920 Dodge Bros Tourer car in working order with leather seats.
Having only had two owners, this show stopper is estimated at €12,000 to €18,000.
The second is a fully restored 1947 Singer 9 Roadster car made by the Singer sewing machine company.
In working driving order this beautiful vehicle is estimated at €5,000 to €8,000.
Also taking up some very impressive space in the catalogue for this sale is a truly extraordinary shepherds hut.
IRISH ARTIST’S WORK
Originally used from the 15th Century to house shepherds, their use declined in the 20th century as farming became more modernised.
These days, shepherd’s huts are more of a novelty than a necessity, often used for glamping and home use.
This one is totally purpose built as a mobile bar with a fully modernised interior with wooden panelled walls and ceilings, exterior wooden steps and bespoke open-out doors in the French style.
Another key item going under the hammer is a pencil on paper sketch, by John. B Yeats, possibly of Lily Yeats.
It appears along a second pencil sketch likely to be a depiction of a young Jack B. Yeats, both go forward with estimates of €600 to €900.
A third Yeats piece will also appear, a female study watercolour and wash signed with monogram, also from The Yeats Family Collection.
There is also a rare shoulder and head taxidermy giraffe mounted on wooden shield, which is estimated to fetch between €2,500 and €4,500.
As well as a gilded metal ten branch chandelier with cut crystal droplets in the Rocco manner, which is estimated at €300 to €600.