Country House Collections at Slane Castle October 12
th
& 13
th
2014
11
F
or the 6th annual sale at Slane Castle of things from country houses Adams are pleased to present this eclectic
offering, much with interesting provenance.
Although few houses retain their original contents intact (and what auctioneer could sleep soundly at the thought
of such?) it was always thus, as families have inherited, accumulated, acquired, given away, sold, replaced or lost
their possessions. “Collections”, an awkward word for that which fills a house by choice or chance, now seem to
be formed and dispersed quicker than before and perhaps the peculiar patina acquired by portraits of supposed
or real ancestors, gathering dust or arrow holes caused by bored children, is not as apparent. Certainly there
seems to be less of fossilised dog turd, dead bats and skeletal birds to frighten the wary valuer away from the attics
and basements of damp country houses.
More from these houses has survived, contrary to the popular narrative of destruction, than was perhaps as-
sumed. Most silver was sent into bank safety during the troubles and the amount of Irish Georgian silver extant
is consequently large. Worse was the fashion of applying to existing pieces the dreaded “later” decoration. Much
furniture and painting of course, was dispersed and the Irishness thereof discounted until the heroic work of the
Knight of Glin redressed the balance. With this awakened appreciation of the achievements of indigenous crafts-
men, painters and builders many houses that would have been lost to a jaundiced interpretation of heritage are
now wonderfully restored and full of good things again.
Officialdom has followed, perhaps not always on a logical path but so much has been done that only one or two
generations ago would never have been. Budgets to acquire items of national importance are tight but one would
hope that the scagliola table, a homage to Maria Edgeworth whose writing laid a foundation for defining the Irish
character will find a suitable home (Lot 744) and one can but admire the skill of Arthur Jones’ 1851 exhibition
piece (Lot 629), or imagine the goodness of the Quaker Unthank and his Limerick jug (Lot 546) or dream of the
wealth that ‘The Black Stuff ’ gave to the Guinness family (Lot 708 (bust)).
Here be cruel soldiers, stern statesmen, serious women, young girls, people who with their possessions, passed
their time in this country. That Irish history is far from gloomy (as history books insist) is encapsulated by Mac-
Donald’s happy picnickers listening to the receding echoes at The Eagle’s Nest, after a very decent lunch (Lot 768)
Enjoy!
N.N
The drawing room, St. Anne’s with 708 in situ.
