As spring approaches and the excesses of Christmas fade from our memories, some people are realising that they can make some money from clearing out rooms of their surplus furniture, or indeed tackling storage spaces that hold cherished items they may even have forgotten they own.
Michael Sheppard, of Sheppard Auction House in Durrow, Co Laois, says their auction rooms are “like a busy train station” at the moment, as people have used time off over the holidays to clear out things they no longer need.
“Somebody dies and stuff is moved to the attic and then it finally gets sorted out,” he says.
The Swedes have an interesting phenomenon called death cleaning, in which older people and their families set their affairs in order. This can mean anything from sorting out the family heirlooms from the junk, downsizing to a smaller house or developing a system so that you stop losing things. The ultimate aim is to make the latter years of our lives as comfortable and stress-free as possible.
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In her international bestseller, The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning, Swedish author Margareta Magnusson guides people through the process of clearing out unnecessary belongings before others must do it for you. She even has a throwaway box of personal items that she suggests family members discard after she dies.
[ Swedish death cleaning: Put your life in order so loved ones needn’t ]
But before we get too morbid, it’s worth remembering that one person’s trash is another person’s treasure. And with this in mind, Sheppard’s Auction House in Durrow, Co Laois, has called its forthcoming auction on Tuesday, January 28th, Gems in the Attic.
With an incredibly eclectic range of items from about 50 vendors, it is indeed a treasure trove of collectibles.
The 700-lot auction includes 18th- and 19th-century furniture, a good selection of European and Persian rugs, tapestries and wall hangings, some silver, fine wines and art works of various calibre.
However, what caught the eye of this viewer most was the range of porcelain vases, plates, urns and jars from the Far and Middle East, as well as some from closer to home. Take, for example, the 19th-century Japanese Imari bowls and charger plates (large plates placed underneath the various bowls, plates and dishes with food, which protect the table while adding elegance to the table settings). There is also an exquisite Turkish polychrome plaque (€100-€150), and a pair of 18th-century charger plates (€200-€300). The Chinese Qing dynasty celadon double gourd vase is also impressive (€500-€800). Celadon refers to a type of soft grey/green coloured glaze on the ceramic. It was popular because it resembled the more expensive jade. It was also widely believed that a celadon dish would break or change colour if poisoned food was put in it.
Seasoned auction hunters will know that this type of auction can also throw up something that has been sought after for some time. The 19th-century painted classical chimney piece (€1,500-€2,500), or the larger, more elegant white marble chimney piece (€3,000-€5,000) might be a case in point, as are a few door knockers – of which the 18th-century brass knocker is the finest (€150-€250).
Those seeking out more unusual birthday gifts for loved ones may also be attracted to the 19th-century travelling chess set (€300-€400), or the 19th-century Chinese carved bone chess set (€400-€600). Other gems include a Tibetan turquoise encrusted box with a lid (€50-€80); a brass and leather-bound telescope (€80-€120); 19th-century opera glasses (€50-€80); and an 18th-century Islamic polychrome terracotta panel (€200-€300).
Viewing of all items takes place today, tomorrow and on Monday, January 27th.
Other auctions
The first antiques, art and vintage fair run by Hibernian Antiques Fair goes ahead today and tomorrow, 11am-6pm, in Limerick Racecourse. With about 40 dealers from all over Ireland, there will be everything from Irish militaria, coins and banknotes to high-end and vintage jewellery, Irish contemporary art, tools, antique clocks, porcelain and silver. Pauline Shields from Newry, Co Down, will also have a range of French vintage items.
And, finally, Roseberys fine art auctioneers in Knight’s Hill in London is selling a rare stainless steel and aluminium manual wind dashboard mounted chronograph stopwatch, which was owned by the late rally driver John McClean. The stop watch (£3,000-£5,000) is for sale in their auction on Wednesday, February 5th.
McClean was a well-known member of the motor trade in Northern Ireland and spent more than 30 years as a privateer rally driver, taking part in the Manx International, the Donegal International and the Circuit of Ireland during the late 1960s and 1970s. The Autavia timepieces, made in Switzerland from 1962 to 1983, were highly rated as dashboard-mounted chronographs for motorcars, power boats and aircraft.
What did it sell for?
Stephen Curry ‘Christmas Day’ jersey (Curry’s highest-scoring Christmas day game, with 38 points, for Golden State Warriors
Hammer price $42,000 (€40,417)
Auction house Sotheby’s, New York
Chanel earrings, 1984
Hammer price €89.60
Auction house Bonham’s, Paris
Frank Gehry Wiggle Side Chair
Hammer price €3,584
Auction house Bonham’s, Brussels
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