Guinness heirlooms go under hammer

Heirlooms belonging to the Guinness family of Furness, Naas, Co Kildare will go under the hammer on the 6th October. Furness, a large Georgian house which was built in 1740, carries great history and character from previous owners. The house currently belongs to Patrick and Louise Guinness.

Patrick, the son of Desmond and Mariga Guinness, is seventh generation in direct succession to Arthur Guinness. The auction, which is being handled by specialist auctioneers, Fonsie Mealy Auctioneers, gives a rare insight into the important role that the Guinness family have played in preserving Irish history, with furniture, paintings, rare books and manuscripts of Irish and international interest spanning over 200 years.

The collection, which includes 725 lots, has been formed from a wide variety of sources including some chance inheritances that are part of European history over the last two centuries. From Patrick’s grandparents came a number of Guinness and Mitford heirlooms, surnames that have such resonance in Irish and English history. The sale also includes items purchased at the important Irish dispersal sales of the 1950’s and 1960’s; including Carton House, Castletown House, Gormanston Castle and St. Annes. These items include period furniture, paintings, prints, drawings, wonderful silver, objets d’art, fine library of books, important manuscript letters and maps, rare examples of carriages and coaches, garden furniture and statuary.

The sale includes some important highlights, one of which is a painting entitled 'The Spirit of Justice', a portrait of Caroline Norton by famous Cork artist Daniel Maclise. Norton is regarded as the first major Irish female icon of the 19th century, having fought for early women’s rights. Her intense campaigning led to the passing of the Custody of Infants Act 1839, the Matrimonial Causes Act 1857 and the Married Women’s Property Act 1870.

Another extremely rare and interesting item is the early 19th century road coach that is reputed to have been used by King George IV on his visit to Ireland in 1821. King George IV had a “close friendship” with Lady Conyngham, of Slane Castle, and the carriage bears armorials which include the Conyngham family coat of arms.

Items of national interest include the Francis Johnston “Speakers” clock. This monumental mahogany longcase clock is profusely carved and decorated with figures and applied with the Johnston coat of arms. It was made by Dublin clockmaker J. Waugh & Son, and was once housed in Grattan’s parliament building in College Green, Dublin. Once the Irish House of Parliament ceased to exist in 1801, the clock was removed to the North of Ireland and remained there until recent years.

Of the utmost importance is a small but select library of rare books, manuscripts and letters; which includes the original manuscript inventory of the contents of Carton House c. 1818; also the manuscript Carton House Library Catalogue c. 1815, and other rare manuscript drawings by James Gandon, Thomas Johnson and George Cooley. Also included are the 1789 drawings of Carlton House in London for the Prince of Wales by architect H. Holland.

The sale also includes highlights such as a magnificent 18th century carved giltwood ‘Chippendale’ style, over-mantel mirror, which was purchased in 1943 at the Carton House sale. Among items purchased at the early Castletown sales are rare items of militaria: including helmets, coat of armour and long swords, some of which have links and provenance going back to Thomas Wentworth (Earl of Strafford, Lord Deputy of Ireland), the man who was responsible for the building of Red House, outside Naas, now a national monument.

The sale also includes a multiplicity of fascinating items, including Guinness related items including cartoons, barrels, toys, carpets, curtains, tapestries, rare maps and prints, period furniture, paintings and drawings, silver, carriages, garden furniture and statuary.

Speaking about the auction, George Fonsie Mealy, Director, Fonsie Mealy Auctioneers, said, “This is an incredibly exciting sale, with many unusual items. Each piece has a story of origin, some dating back to the 1700’s, and a collection as extensive and varied as this, with so much family history attached, is now seldom offered on the public market.”

Viewingwill take place on the Premises at Furness, Naas, Co. Kildare

October 3rd & 4th, 12noon-17.59 daily

October 5th. 10.30am -17.00

Sale: The Auction itself will take place at the Killashee House Hotel, Naas, Co. Kildare on Tuesday 6th October from 10.30am.