ADAM'S Country House Collections 15th October 2019

7 COUNTRY HOUSE COLLECTIONS AT TOWNLEY HALL 2019 In a world in decided state of flux and with our nearest, presumably dearest, neighbours enjoying a schizo- phrenic break-down, take heart from plodding consistency; Adam’s annual Country House Collections sale at Townley Hall. In fact, the restrained and logical architecture of Francis Johnson’s at Townley, is an antidote to the self-serv- ing chaos on either side of us. That we seem to have a relatively stable country with “grown-ups” predominat- ing is amazing given a convoluted history. Many of the lots in this sale illustrate this story. The lovely Galway silver chalice by Bartholomew Fallon (lot 130), shows the determination to keep the old faith venerated. Sweeny (Irish Stuart Silver, 1995) records about 1,400 examples surviving from the 17th century. But in the 17th century the penal laws were haphazard and there were periods of Catholic resur- gency. The Hanoverian succession ensured the virtual elimination of the structures of the Catholic church and survivals from this period are rare. In contrast to this proud but furtive sacred object is the mahogany writing cabinet of c.1750 (lot 215). The ascendancy was now unchallenged and with the energy of arrivistes were building and furnishing at a pace. But with the ability of Ireland to absorb, the decorative arts quickly acquired “Irish” characteristics. This icon- ic piece has all these features. Picture a gentleman like lot 267, sitting here, looking out, at his trees, cattle, horses and sheep, through his spun glass window panes, perhaps avoiding the rolls of mortgage indentures shoved into pigeon holes recording money raised to pay for the house and settlements on spinsters. A good marriage would do, and the house could be supplied with glass from Waterford, pretty tea- things sent over from Worcester, silver and other such for which the ladies had conceived a fancy. Even so, it would be an idea to keep guns and swords in the hall, just in case. After the Union, the Dublin house could go and a period of prosperity was engendered by the welcome bribes lavished by the London government to secure the Union and agricultural profit from the Napoleonic wars, which allowed for rebuilding, with commissions, to the Dublin cabinet makers, such as Williams and Gibton, Gillingtons and others. Then, blessed be, the Empire beckoned and careers in the army, Indian civil service, colonial administration got younger sons away from the duelling and horse-coping of, say, Galway. For those estates that survived the famine the long reign of the plump German haus-frau morphed into the delusion of world domination and all sorts of stuff was sent back home. If there was a predilection for the remains of unsuspecting arrivals, there was also a taste for the Indian, Chinese and other Asian and African objects. By the early 20th century the country house was filled with an eclectic and incoherent clutter. The fine 18th century furniture, not even remembered as being Irish, was probably in the servant’s quarters or estate of- fice. Much was shipped to America to become American. It was the pioneering work of, in particular, the late Knight of Glin, that rehabilitated the decorative arts of Ireland. At Townley Hall it is an annual delight to refurnish the house in an approximation of how it might have looked, for the purposes of this sale. N.N