EBENEZER COKER sounds like a character in a Charles Dickens novel. He was a famous 18th century London silversmith and a set of four silver candlesticks made by him in 1741 is estimated at €5,000-€7,000 in Adam’s first major auction of 2012 next week.
Silver is increasingly popular now that the price of gold is beyond the reach of many investment-minded collectors.
Among the 150 silver lots are pieces by important silversmiths from Dublin, Limerick, Cork, Wexford and Clonmel. A snuff box made by Dubliner Alexander Ticknell in 1795 is in the form of a book with a spine inscribed “Foots Works” – probably a reference to famous Georgian tobacconist and snuff maker Lundy Foot Co and has an estimate of €1,500-€2,000.
Decadent gourmands might like “an immensely solid pair of lobster crackers”, dated 1800, by Cork silversmith Joseph Gibson (€400-€600). Their dinner party guests would certainly be impressed by a set of 12 dining chairs – from a house in Blackrock, Co Dublin – believed to have originally furnished the old Lord’s chamber in the Bank of Ireland, College Green, formerly the Irish House of Lords (€600-€1,000). Oriental porcelain from an old Dublin collection includes a 19th century famille rose nine peach vase, (€2,000-€3,000).
Viewing of the almost 700 lots begins at Adam's, St Stephen's Green tomorrow at 2pm. Auction Wednesday, 10.30am. – MP
