Unique nine-day auction at Mayo's Ashford Castle in 1939 is recalled
by Tom Gillespie
UNRIVALLED service, warm Irish hospitality and five-star luxury await at Ashford Castle, Cong’.
So boasts Ashford Castle's comprehensive website.
This 800-year-old castle, now part of The Red Carnation Hotel Collection, was the former home of the Guinness family.
It has hosted countless notables over the years, including the Prince of Wales (who later became King George V) and President Ronald Reagan.
It is situated on a spectacular 350-acre estate on the shores of Lough Corrib. General manager Niall Rochford, with over 30 years of service, has overseen Red Carnation’s impeccable five-year restoration, drawing on local experts and artisans, which has reaffirmed Ashford Castle’s status as one of the most prestigious hotels in Europe.
However, 84 years ago (May 1939) a nine-day auction was held at Ashford Castle, by Messers. Jackson Stops and McCabe, Dublin.
In the edition of May 20 of that year, The Connaught Telegraph reported that a very large crowd was present throughout the selling, both of Mayo people and those from Galway and other distant parts. The bidding for all lots was brisk and the general level of prices was high.
No article was put up for sale which failed to evoke the keenest competition.
During the luncheon interval the grounds of the castle resembled a point-to-point gathering, numerous alfresco luncheon parties being the order of the day.
It was announced by the auctioneers that negotiations had been conducted between the Minister for Lands and Mr. and Mrs. Huggard, proprietors of the Butler Arms, Waterville, Co. Kerry, and other hotels, for the acquisition of the lease by them of Ashford Castle and about 170 acres of land.
Mrs. Huggard informed a press conference that the intention of her husband and herself was to open Ashford Castle as a hotel. It was hoped to be able to open about June (1939) for the start of the tourist season.
The first day of the auction was entirely confined to the ground floor, and 287 lots were disposed of.
The auction opened in the dining room with the sale of glass and china and a certain amount of plates.
An interesting item was of an oak picnic service, consisting of oak plates and dishes, with electroplated centres, recalling spacious days of the vast picnic lunches at shooting and fishing parties.
In the same style were two oak claret jugs, with tumblers to match, and a very nice wine cooler.
The dining room table, which was of polished mahogany, with screw extension cables of expansion to 16 feet six inches, was bought for £21.
A pair of antique mahogany plate buckets excited keen competition and sold for £8.
Next was sold the contents of the Prince of Wales Room, which was specially added to the castle for the visit of the late King George V, then Prince of Wales, in the year 1907.
An inlaid Sheraton mahogany card table was sold in this room and also a pair of unusually fine Cloisonné vases.
A vey ornate onyx and agate writing set, which looked as though it had been specially designed for the royal visit, was a particularly striking exhibit, and the Adam dog grate, after some spirited bidding, was knocked down for £10 10s. A unique Dutch marquetry bureau of beautiful workmanship made £8.
In the billiard room a Burroughs and Watts full-sized billiard table was sold for £45.
Two very heavily decorated Italian walnut cabinets attracted much attention, but the most important lot in this room was a set of six mahogany dining chairs of Chippendale design, with carved backs.
There were some nice tables sold in the ante-room, but nothing of particular interest, and the contents of the hall were then auctioned.
Here was sold what many people thought to be the most attractive item of the day, a small William and Mary walnut marquetry grandfather clock, which made the small price of £18.
A unique Chippendale table with moulded frame on carbriole legs was much sought after, and a pair of very fine Adam mahogany hall chairs, with carved oval fan backs, fetched a good figure.
An interesting item was a pair of Florentine carved wood figures of monkeys on Lockwood bases, which added a touch of grotesque to the scheme of decorations of the hall.
A richly carved Spanish oak credence was a collector’s prize, as also was their large cloissone enamel two-handed vases on tripod legs.
There was considerable competition for a four foot six Irish Chippendale mahogany hall table, which was eventually sold for £16.
Other prices included picnic dinner service of oak, with electroplated mounts consisting of six oval meat dishes, salmon dish and strainer, 23 dinner and 12 salad plates, £2 15s.; oak claret jug and 12 tumblers with electro-plated mounts, £3 5s.; ditto wine cooler, £2; ditto cruet ice tail, butter dish and sardine dish, £2; antique over-mantel in carved and gilt wood frame, £6; mantel dog grate, £3 5s.; five feet brass curb with double rail and pierced and engraved panels, £5 5s.; set of fire brasses, £2; pair lion rests, £9; brass spark guard, £2; carved oak fire-screen with extending glass panels, £3 10s.; set of three Louis XV rouge marble vases and covers with chased gilt mounts, £10; pair of early Dresden groups in colour ‘Summer and Winter’, £5 10s.; two Imari plaques painted with flowers in enamel colours, £4 15s.; two Nankin plaques, £4 10s.; Italian walnut cabinet with richly carved pilasters, mouldings and doors panels, £7 10s.; pair 27-inch Imari plaques painted with flowers on marone ground, £5 5s.; six carved oak panel back dining chairs upholstered in green Morocco, £6; two pairs of crimson red curtains and pelmets lined and interlined, £6; square mahogany breakfast table, £4 5s.; blue and white Nankin plaque, £3 15s.; oak sideboard carved with dead game, fruit and scrolls, and fitted with two drawers and two doors, £4; Imari plaque richly painted in enamel colours with boats and figures, £3 15s.; blue and white Nankin dish, £3 15s.; two pairs crimson red curtains and pelmets lined and interlined, £5; antique mahogany falling-leaf table, £7; carved oak cellarette, £5 10s.; and Imari plaque painted with figures in enamel colours, £4 15s.