A major collection of antique furniture and art from the Luggala Estate in Wicklow is to be auctioned.
The auction will take place on the grounds of the County Wicklow estate early next week and includes high quality Irish art, Eighteenth-Century furniture as well as lower value token mementoes.
Four hundred items will go under the hammer, ranging from fifty euro to one million euro says. Fine art auctioneer George Mealy believes many items will draw much interest to Irish art collectors, such as,
A set of four watercolours by Joseph Tudor which are of historical value to the country.
The Honorable Garech Browne who is a well-known patron of the arts and traditional music enthusiast has hosted his friends in the 18th century Gothic hunting lodge, and three of its rooms will be opened to the public.
Also for sale is an early Georgian longcase clock also known as the Speaker's Clock that is expected to fetch up to half a million euro. Originally ordered by Francis Johnston, it is an artefact of significant historical value as Garech Browne explains,
It was in the Irish Houses of Parliament before the Act of Union, and I think we all know what history would tell us about that.
The preview of items on display takes place this weekend, but those interested must be in possession of an auction catalogue which can be purchased at the gate of the Luggala Estate and covers two people.
An RTÉ News report broadcast on 28 April 2006. The reporter is Teresa Mannion.
