Viewing is underway for the last big auctions of summer before the holiday season.
First up is Matthews Auctioneers' "Summer Auction" at Rockfield House near Kells, Co Meath, tomorrow afternoon at 2pm.
Over 750 lots "mostly from various deceased estates and other valued clients in Meath, Westmeath and Cavan" go under the hammer. In addition to art and antiques, the auction includes "4,500 original Bangor Blue slates" (no estimate supplied) which auctioneer Damien Matthews said was "a useful lot for anyone restoring an old house". Catering is available on site and viewing is underway from 11am today.
Viewing begins tomorrow at Mealy's Fine Art in Castlecomer, Co Kilkenny, for a two-day "Summer Decorative Art and Design Sale" on Tuesday and Wednesday, July 30th and 31st. Auctioneer George Gerard Mealy said "the theme is 'Summer Thrift' and 95 per cent of the 1,200 lots are being offered without reserve." Estimates range from just €10 up to €2,000.
On Wednesday, Victor Mitchell Auctioneers of Roscrea, Co Tipperary, will hold an "Antiques and Decorative Interiors Auction" at
10.30am in its Mount Butler Salerooms in Roscrea, Co Tipperary, and among the 650 lots are the contents of Slevyre, a house in Terryglass, Co Tipperary.
Finally, on Bank Holiday Monday, August 5th, Dolan's Irish Art House will stage a "Summer Antiques and Art Auction" at The Quay in Clidfen, Co Galway, at 12.30pm. Viewing begins next Thursday, August 1st, and continues throughout the long weekend. Highlights among the paintings are: End of the Day (watercolour) by Mildred Ann Butler (€17,500- €22,500); Pony Show, Clifden, 1968 by Cecil Maguire (€6,000- €8,000); Harvest Fruit by Patrick Hennessy (€3,800- €4,500); and The Claddagh, Galway by Kenneth Webb (€1,500- €1,800). An original, framed Cunard White Star poster advertising transatlantic trips by ocean liner from Dublin, Galway and Cobh to Boston and New York has an estimate of €600-€800.
A summer series analysing the state of the fine art and antiques market begins in The Irish Times next Saturday.
