Life-like foxhounds among Tullamaine Castle contents for auction

The contents of recently sold Tullamaine Castle in Fethard, Co Tipperary, will go under the hammer in the forthcoming Sean Eacrett sale, which will take place this Monday at the Horse and Jockey Hotel in Tipperary, with previews at the castle this weekend.

Home of the Tipperary Hunt, Tullamaine has been a renowned stud farm for the past 40 years under the tutelage of Bob Lanigan and his wife Deirdre. A respected breeder, Lanigan was instrumental in the establishment of Coolmore Stud – headquarters of the world’s largest breeding operation of thoroughbred racehorses – in its early days, and operations manager for more than two decades. After hanging up his crop and retiring from the business, Tullamaine and its stud farm sold this summer through Goffs.

Known for steeds such as the Miniver Rose and Pollenator – who won the Park Hill and May Hill Stakes within a day of each other – as you would expect the sale features a selection of equestrian art along with a fine selection of antiques and sculpture.

Past residents of the castle include Tim Vigors, the fighter pilot who flew with the Irish Tricolour painted on his Spitfire during the Battle of Britain, and Pamela Mitford, one of the famous Mitford sisters. Unlike Vigors, who also helped establish Coolmore, Pamela Mitford – wife of atomic physicist and amateur jockey Derek Jackson – never rode.

Confused visiting dogs

Highlights of the sale include a life-size sculpture of foxhounds based on the Tipperary Hunt by Rupert Till. Listed at €8,000-€12,000, the piece is so true to form it is said to have confused visiting dogs from a distance.

Described by auctioneer Sean Eacrett as “very important” is a striking longcase clock by Anthonij van Oostrom of Amsterdam. In walnut with marquetry inlay, the 18th century timepiece is highly carved and expected to fetch between €4,000 and €6,000. A fine Georgian mahogany serving table with shell motif on conical ball and claw supports is seeking €3,000-€5,000, while a profusely decorated six-branch brass chandelier with a diameter of well over a metre is listed at €5,000-€8,000.

Originally from Dunbrody House are what the catalogue describes as a “remarkable set” of four glass ormolu wall lights with swagged rope backs that measure over a metre and a half in height (€2,500-€4,000). From the castle hall are side cabinets with ormolu mounts on turned supports with green marble tops (€3,000-€5,000), along with a set of four hunting plates of 19th century engravings by JF Herring (€500-€800). A pair of oils on canvas of horses in a paddock (lot 66, €1,200-€1,800) are also attributed to Herring.

Highlights from the vast dining room are The Bailey Lighthouse by Stephen Catterson Smith (€1,000-€1,500) and three large Peter Curling watercolours of the Tipperary Hunt (€2,500-€5,000). For bibliophiles the sale has 12 lots of books on topics ranging from Irish stately homes to cartoons by Punch, and should you need one it also lists an old cast iron book press (€50-€80). seaneacrettauctions.ie