A large Italian antique early 19th century terracotta olive jar
In wonderful condition with no breaks and a great patina.
Glazed on the inside, decorated on the outside with moulded bands which also act as handles.
This jar has quite a distinctive shape, the large oval body tapering at the bottom permitted the jar to be stored upright in metal or clay rings, useful for when shipped abroad.
A large Italian antique early 19th century terracotta olive jar
In wonderful condition with no breaks and a great patina.
Glazed on the inside, decorated on the outside with a Guilloche pattern and moulded bands which also act as handles.
This jar has quite a distinctive shape, the large oval body tapering at the bottom permitted the jar to be stored upright in metal or clay rings, useful for when shipped abroad.
A set of four hand carved statuary marble statues depicting ‘The Four Seasons” after Carlo Nicoli
Winter wearing a cloak, Spring with flowers, Summer with sheath of corn and scythe, and Autumn with a basket of vines slight size variance
Provenance: Property of a Gentleman, London
20th century
Nicoli’s Four Seasons are presented in the guises of idealised young women. He departs from the standard representation of Winter, for example, as a bearded old man. Instead, Nicoli presents an elegant young woman draped in billowing folds of cloth, her right arm pulling her drapery close to her body to shield herself from the freezing air. Even the Carrara marble, it seems, purveys a sense of cold; the pine cones that the girl holds being the only hint at warmth (pine cones traditionally served as a source of fuel).
Winter gives way to Spring, who is crowned with a diadem of flowers, a symbol of youth and merry making. Following her, we see Summer, who stands poised, scythe resting against her thigh, as she holds a sheath of wheat in her left arm, and then we see the graceful figure of Autumn, who bears a panier of fruit and vines. In each of these charming personifications, the sculptor has succeeded in creating a superb play of textures, as skin and cloth give way to the cold metal of the scythe, the harsh wicker of the basket, and the soft delicacy of fruit and flowers. This array of surface textures is complimented by a gentle sensuousness evident particularly in Spring, as her thin chemise slips below her breast.
A large antique blackened cast-iron free standing fire basket in the Reformed Gothic style
The dramatic fireback with a dragon engulfed by flames. The fretwork front bars with large burn area behind, is supported by andirons terminating in a trefoil style finials.
Circa 1870
Reformed Gothic, also known as Modern Gothic was an Aesthetic Movement style of the 1860s and 1870s in architecture, furniture and decorative arts, that was popular in Great Britain and the United States.
A very fine and well proportioned pair of display cabinets/bookcases by James Hicks of Dublin
With strong late 18th century Sheraton influence, featuring beautiful figured mahogany and fine inlays of exotic woods.
A great practical size, not being too large as most cabinets in this style tend to be.
James Hicks (1866-1936)
He was born into a family of Dublin chair-makers and the moved to London to train in workshops on the Tottenham Court Road, London. On returning to Dublin in 1894, he opened a business in Lower Pembroke Street, which rapidly became one of the city’s leading cabinet-making firms and won the royal warrants of King Edward VII and Princess Victoria, the Crown Princess of Sweden. He was inspired by the styles of Sheraton, Hepplewhite, Chippendale and the prominent 18th century Dublin cabinet-maker William Moore. He described himself as a ‘Cabinet Manufacturer, Collector and Restorer of Chippendale, Adam and Sheraton furniture’ and is still admired for his use of exotic woods, exceptional marquetry and veneering.
Hicks won many awards – notably the Aonach Tailteann in 1928. This satinwood display cabinet won a silver medal at the Royal Dublin Society Spring show in 1934, and the satinwood table dating 1929 was one of several pieces, which represented Ireland’s craftsmanship at the New York World Trade Fair in 1939. The President and Chairman of the fair sent a certificate to the Hick’s firm conveying their appreciation of the substantial contribution which Hick’s exhibit had made towards the success of the fair. Hick sadly died in 1936, never gaining the opportunity to receive this accolade in person.
A fine antique Regency period bullseye fireplace surround made in black Kilkenny marble
The triple reeded shelf with angled corners rests on a cushion panelled frieze flanked by crisp bullseye roundel end-blocks, this over a triple reeded architrave moulding and cushion panelled pilasters.
A tall and elegant fireplace dating to the year 1820, originally from a Georgian property in Dublin city centre.
An antique free standing neo-classical Georgian style steel and cast-iron fire basket
This polished steel fronted fire grate has an intricately pierced and pearl beaded serpentine apron. The tapering pillared front supports have plain turned classical style urns on top.
An antique George IV period two door Mahogany secretaire bookcase in orginal condition
The ogee moulded cornice above a pair of arched astragal glazed doors, enclosing four adjustable shelves, the lower part with a rectangular top and integral double ratcheted writing slide with reading rest, above a secretaire drawer.
The two figured panelled doors enclosing three slides, on moulded plinth.
An antique Mahogany Regency period two door bookcase by Gillington’s of Dublin
The tall top section with two astragal glazed doors surmounted by half turned rope pillars with bulls-eye roundels and breakfront cornice.
The bottom section having two finely figured panelled doors with raised mouldings, these flanked by half reeded pillars.
All four doors have workable locks and all the shelfs within are adjustable.
Circa 1820-30
The Dublin firm of George and Samuel Gillington specialized in high-quality fashionable Regency furniture and is recorded from 1815 to 1838. Their warehouses were mostly in Abbey Street.
An antique George III period mahogany three door bookcase
The cavetto moulded cornice above three glazed doors which feature elegant arched astragals, the doors with original and working locks open to reveal fully adjustable shelves. Below are panelled cupboard doors that have adjustable shelves within; the entire raised on a moulded plinth base.
A collection of antique Statuary Carrara marble chimneypiece tablets from the 18th and 19th century’s
The collection consists of 42 carved elements, including centre tablets, end-blocks, frieze and jamb panels. Collected over a period of years, the display covers an area of 92” wide by 55” high.
All the pieces are English/Irish, exquisitely carved individual works of arts, made between the years 1760 and 1900.
A fine quality antique 18th century style brass and iron fire basket
The iron fireback cast with a scene of playful putto, this behind a polished three barred grate, with finely engraved brass spandrels, urn finials, tapering legs and scrolling pierced apron.
