Regrettably, many exquisite handcrafted pieces such as sideboards, dining tables, chairs, and other sizeable mahogany furniture crafted during the Georgian time period (approximately 1714 to 1830) have fallen out of fashion over the recent years. These items have often been derogatorily referred to as “brown furniture”. Despite this decline in popularity, antique enthusiasts firmly believe in a resurgence of this style. This presents an opportunity for savvy purchasers to attain authentic Georgian furniture at a significantly lower price than it would have been a quarter-century ago.
Sarah Usher, an employee of Straffan Antiques, detests the belittling label “brown furniture”, pointing out that it detracts from the true worth of the items – they are premium quality, created from exceptional materials and fashioned by skilled craftsmen of the period. Usher’s employer, a Co Kildare antique dealer, has just inaugurated a fresh antique store at 58 Francis Street, Dublin 8, where the focus is on Irish, English, and Continental furniture from the 18th and 19th centuries.
Philip Sheppard, of Sheppard’s auction house situated in Durrow, Co Laois, states that the term “brown furniture” has, over the past twenty years, become associated in people’s minds with generic second-hand furniture, thereby failing to distinguish between historical pieces and run-of-the-mill items. Sheppard reminds us that mahogany was once highly valued, precipitating a golden age in Irish furniture craftsmanship. This period was marked by economic prosperity which gave rise to a wealthy class of aristocrats and merchants who filled their elegant Georgian townhouses and country residences with this furniture in the 1700s.
The idea is also emerging that sizable Georgian furniture items can be combined effectively with contemporary furniture from the 20th and early 21st centuries. Usher notes that specific styles, especially Georgian styles from the dawn of the 19th century, are classic and can seamlessly blend in with modern home furnishings and interiors. She mentions tables, bedside cabinets, chairs, and chests of drawers as examples.
The esteemed woods of mahogany, rosewood, and walnut were frequently chosen for Georgian era furniture, often decorated with sleek veneers of satinwood. During this time, the designs of London cabinet-maker Thomas Chippendale (1718-1779) held a significant influence on the stylings of many furnishings. Nonetheless, prominent 18th-century Irish cabinetmakers like William Moore also left their imprint.
Specialists in Irish Georgian furniture often note the curved cabriole-style legs, claw and ball feet on chairs, side tables, and cabinets, and intricate carvings, featuring baskets of flowers and scallop shells as defining characteristics of the time. While the likes of Thomas Chippendale, George Hepplewhite (1727-1786), and Thomas Sheraton (1751-1806) were the influential figures in English Georgian furniture, Robin O’Donnell of Hibernian Antique Fairs suggests that Georgian era furniture made in Ireland is currently more in demand than those crafted in England.
According to O’Donnell, this shift in popularity stems from their elusive nature and high-quality craftsmanship, resulting in a potential major increase in their value over the next decade. It’s important for first-time buyers to be aware of the Edwardian era’s (early 1900s) mass-produced Georgian style revival, creating lighter versions of the original heavier Georgian furniture.
Robin O’Donnell reflects on a time roughly twenty years ago when a three-part dining table would have sold for over €20,000. At his upcoming auction, featuring an exclusive collection of rare 18th-century furniture gathered over four decades, O’Donnell will be auctioning this table for €3,750. Another noteworthy piece is a Georgian crocus table, crafted from Cuban mahogany, designed to hold a tray of spring crocuses, will be offered for €950.
In addition, an auction will be held at 25 Wellington Road, one of Dublin’s finest Georgian terraces, on Tuesday, August 27th. No doubt, this event will attract keen bargain hunters, interior designers, homeowners, and collectors alike, eager to find what are commonly referred to as “sleeper lots”.
Rory Guthrie from DeVeres has revealed that a significant home renovation plan is underway, leading to the sale of currently owned household items. “Auctions centred around household items used to be quite prevalent in the auction industry. Nowadays, however, they’re less common as individuals generally distribute possessions amongst family,” he expressed. Potential purchasers have the opportunity to inspect the items up for auction, including a vast assortment of Irish art, at the premises itself; this is possible from 10am-5pm, on the 24th-26th of August, taking place from Saturday through to Monday.
Moreover, the commencement of Adam’s At Home interiors online auction will be on Wednesday the 28th of August, starting from 11am. The auction contains a variety of items, including George III shield back hall chairs (£500-£800) and a George III chest of drawers (£1,000-£1,500).
Amy McNamara, a representative from Adam’s, believes antiques can quite comfortably coexist with contemporary art and furniture. “Designers are increasingly opting to incorporate pieces from a diverse range of eras, forming a mutual, balanced relationship between the old and new elements,” she articulated.
Additional information can be found on deveres.ie, antiquesandartireland.com, sheppards.ie, straffanantiques.com, & adams.ie
Finalised auction details:
Print by Sean Scully originated from Munich (dated 16/2/96)
Selling estimate: £800-£1,200, yet failed to sell
Auctioning company: O’Reilly’s
Potential portraiture of WB Yeats by Tom Byrne
Selling estimate: £400-£600
Selling price: £600
Auctioning company: O’Reilly’s
Temsias by Pádraig Macmiadhacháin
Selling estimate: £800-£1,200
Selling price: £2,304 (approx. €2,700)
Auctioning company: Bonhams
Regency-period rosewood card table
Selling estimate: £600-£800
Selling price: £450
Auctioning company: Hegarty.