All posts by Don

Renaissance dining room suite

Renaissance Suite – AF073

An important 19th century suite of dining room furnishings in the Neo-Renaissance style

All three pieces are very elaborately carved in walnut with male terminal figures, female bacchante heads, male foliated masks, lion’s head terminal figures, winged dragons, carved borders of egg and dart, lambrequins and acanthus and a profusion of foliated scroll work.

Arched Chimneypiece 

Carved with a central cartouche flanked by scrolling foliage. The canted corners with bearded male terms on foliated ‘S’ scrolls supporting the blockings. The top with a raised canted top centred by a female bacchante head flanked by vines and fruits. The shelf supports a large mirror with a curved pediment, centred by an elaborate foliated male mask and supported by similar male terminal figures. The arch has an integrated Rosa Portugallo in-ground and hearth, consistent with its Portuguese provenance.

Combined Credenza and Vitrine 

The lower section with two doors to the centre carved with female bacchante heads set within strapwork borders. The same male terms flank the shelf to either side. The frieze with foliated saturnalian masks to the drawers.  The top gadrooned and set with Belgian Black marble. The back similarly elaborately carved and with lion’s head ‘s’ scroll terms supporting a four-door vitrine; the doors separated by bearded terms supporting the egg and dart frieze with a curved pediment containing a foliated Bacchic head.

Three-tiered Credenza 

This is almost identically formed as the above but with panelling above the second shelf topped with a similar pediment flanked by foliated dragons.

Circa 1878

PROVENANCE: Bought in Portugal by Ryan & Smith from private family home.  By family repute, this suite of furniture was bought at the Paris Exhibition in 1878.

Probably by J. Herman, Brussels, as similar pieces by Herman feature in the 1880 Cinquantenaire Exhibition catalogue.

Price on application 

Tall boy

Georgian Tall boy – AF070

Antique mahogany George III tall boy with pull out secretaire drawer

An exceptionally fine Mahogany tallboy or chest on chest of small proportions, with chamfered and Chippendale style fretwork corners. The drawers with brass handles and escutcheons, the top cornice carved with dental work. 

Circa 1790

Irish Georgian style fireplace

Merrion – Mantel

Georgian neo-classical style pure white marble fireplace

This fireplace was copied from a Georgian original made by George Hill and Author Darley of Mercer Street, Dublin. It was installed in a house on Merrion Square, Dublin in 1780, and is a great example of the high quality neo-classical fireplaces, that can be found in the finest of 18th century Irish houses.

This is a very faithful to the original, hand carved reproduction made by Ryan & Smith.

 

Kilkenny fossil marble fireplace

Kilkenny Fossil Mantel – 18153

Antique 18th Century Irish Georgian mantel

The moulded and strongly veined Carrara marble cornice shelf, above a frieze centred by a statuary tablet, inlaid with richly figured Kilkenny fossil marble.  This is flanked by panels of Kilkenny marble and ending with statuary blocks, inlaid with the same fossil marble as the centre tablet. The jambs consisting of fluted statuary pilasters set on Kilkenny slips.

This bold and strong architectural design together with the clever use of black and white results in a very attractive piece. There are three different types of Kilkenny, each having fossils which vary in size and two different types of Carrara, a strong veined Carrara, sometimes called “Old English” and a pure white statuary Carrara.

Irish, circa 1780

Antique bookcase

Antique Bookcase – AF063

Late Regency period mahogany secretaire bookcase

The flamed mahogany two panelled doors, with paw-feet acanthus consoles at either side. The glazed doors have pointed arches and a beaded fore edge, with cast brass escutcheons. Inside there are 3 shelves with reeded edges. The secretaire pulls out of an unusual but pleasing to the eye half hexagon shape drawer. 

Circa 1820

 

Regency bureau

Regency Bookcase – AF065

Mahogany bookcase on writing stand, in the manner of Gillows 

Made in the Regency Gothic style from a mellow coloured mahogany. The four door bookcase resting on a stand with two outside drawers and centre drawer with pull out leather writing desk. The elegant turned legs typical of the Regency period.

In wonderful original condition with the wood being a great aged colour.

circa 1830

 

Carved Irish corbel fireplace

Carved Irish Corbel

Carved Irish Corbel Marble Fireplace by Ryan & Smith

A beautifully carved and well proportioned large white marble fireplace, with carved acanthus bracket corbels and basket of flowers centre plaque. This style of fireplace is found in the finest Dublin townhouses of the early to mid 19th century. A transitional style between Regency and Victorian.

 

Example pictured with a matt antique finish.

Antique overmantel

Antique Mirror – AF062

Antique 18th century over-mantel mirror

A carved timber and poly-chrome lacquered over-mantel mirror in the neo-classical style. With female caryatids holding a chain of bell-flowers which is upheld by two putti centred by a paterae with perching eagle. There are three plate glass mirrors, the large centre mirror framed by a border of athemions with a frieze of laurel arabesques resting on top.

This exceptional over-mantel is in good condition, retaining its original paint work.

 

Circa 1780

Large Oak Sideboard

Antique Sideboard – AF056

Large antique pollard oak sideboard of exceptional quality and great architecture form

This wonderful sideboard, server or buffet boasts exquisitely carved elements and eye-catching pollard oak veneers. The arch topped back is carved with a hunt trophy depicting a hare, pheasant and grouse. At either side are two pilasters carved with summers fruits and centred by panels of abundant grapevines. The deep breakfront shelves are separated by acanthus balustrade columns on the front and recessed panels at the back.

Pollard oak veneering is an extremely time-consuming process which creates a unique and stunning appearance. To complete a piece of this quality and scale took several years of expert craftsmanship and skill.

 

Irish, circa 1850

Regency Cabinet – AF055

Antique Regency mahogany side cabinet of small proportions

The doors decorated with raised gadrooned panels under a single drawer. Inside the cabinet are adjustable height shelves. The whole raised on a bead and reel base with paw feet.

Lovely colour of flamed mahogany  and in great condition.

 

Circa 1820

Regency Marble Fireplace

Regency Fireplace – 19260

Antique Statuary marble fireplace with coloured Breccia Violetta marble panels

The rectangular shelf with triple reeded edge above the breccia violetta frieze centred with a carved tablet depicting a classical Grecian urn. The jambs with reeded convex pilasters under carved acanthus corbels flanked by breccia violetta panels.

Irish, circa 1830