A Snippet of The Splendour: The Finnstown Collection
Here at Victor Mee Auctions we take great pride in every sale we host. Like your mam, we don’t have favourites. But if we did…
Every now and again a catalogue arises that just carries that little bit more weight.
Finnstown House Hotel has long reigned as one of Dublins most exclusive and elegant locations. Drenched in accolades (“most romantic wedding venue in Ireland” anyone?), the stunning period property closed its doors to the public in December leaving a bereft local and extended clientele.
This April will see Victor Mee Auctions kindly alleviate some of that sting by offering the entire magnificent contents of Finnstown House Hotel for auction in a spectacular three-day auction event.
Taking place on April 4th, 5th and 6th, The Finnstown House Hotel Collection by Victor Mee Auctions boasts a catalogue of over 2000 stunning lots from the hotel and other important clients, many of which have been exclusively cherry-picked by our expert team specifically for inclusion in this sale.
Some of the most striking lots from Finnstown House are the fine furnishings that embellished the bar and lobby areas. The hotel was impeccably presented, offering guests a luxurious experience and the furnishings illustrate that. We’re talking about tub chairs, club chairs, arm chairs, deep buttons and wingbacks. We’re talking about fine upholstery and superb craftmanship, sleek lines and sophisticated palettes, comfort and indulgence. You know we love a chair here at Victor Mee Auctions. We specifically like really, really nice ones. And this sale does not disappoint.
- Rare early 19th. C. Irish mahogany and leather upholstered porter’s chair
- Pair of green velvet upholstered wingback armchairs
- Pair of exceptional quality leather and chrome lounging armchairs on four chrome splayed legs in the Art Deco style
- Black leather Eames chair with matching stool raised on chrome base
- Three Seater Chrome and Leather Aviator Sofa in the Art Deco style
- Pair of good quality 1950s crushed velvet wingback armchairs raised on mahogany cabriole legs
- Pair of retro red and white ribbed leather tub chairs
- Pair of leather upholstered club chairs raised on bun feet
- Pair of green hand dyed leather balloon back deep button armchairs
The calibre of the hotel lots going forward in this sale is such that we are experiencing high interest from hospitality professionals since the launch of the catalogue last week.
Lots 391 to 410, for example, are exceptional quality pairs of pub/restaurant tables with ebonised tops raised on brass columns and brass square bases. They are merely a snippet of a catalogue thronged with remarkable fittings.
Renowned as one of Irelands top wedding venues, Finnstown House was no stranger to a swanky function and another chain of lots worth noting is the collection of Chiavari chairs going as lots 200 to 209. The Chiavari chair was popularized in the 1950s when the design was used in the wedding of John F. Kennedy and Jackie Onassis to seat their 900 guests. They have risen in popularity since thanks to their simplistic and elegant outline. These sets of ten chairs appear with an attractive estimate of €250-€450.

Collection of ten Chiavari bleached oak effect powder coated aluminium wedding venue chairs with upholstered seats
You’ve probably seen our post on social about the rare cast iron Guinness tables but we’re going to highlight them again because they’re very unique and already whipping up a buzz among registered bidders.
These striking 3D tables were designed by the O’Callaghan family, owners of Londons first Irish pub, The O’Connor Don, along with stone inlay specialist, John Harwood, who sought and gained approval from Guinness to use the iconic harp logo in their design. The bases cast iron and the tops inlaid sienna marble, they are heavy and impressive and rare and are accompanied by estimates of €400-€800.

Rare cast iron Guinness pub – bar – restaurant – cafe outdoor tables with inlaid marble top originally from The O’Connor Don, London’s oldest Irish Pub concept.
Taking up another sumptuous portion of the catalogue on day three and whetting that summer appetite is some of the most incredible garden ware we’ve brought to the podium in quite some time.
In addition to a gorgeous and varied array of exterior furniture and planters, there’s garden statuary here that is nothing short of breath-taking. From the magnificently majestic to the absolutely adorable and the positively peculiar, they come in the form of stags, of pigs, of geese and swans and dogs. They come in the form of children and cherubs, ribbon dancers and ballerinas, gladiators and goddesses.
- Pair of good quality cast iron pigs
- Pair of contemporary bronze sculptures of Cherries.
- Exceptional quality bronze fountain decorated with ballerinas in the Art Noveau style
- Bronze boy water feature with hose fountain
- Exceptional quality lifesize bronze model of Stag on craggy rock
- Exceptional quality bronze model of Deer family
- Good quality bronze fountain in the form of Flying Geese.
- Pair of bronze lifesize models of Swan’s
- Exceptional quality bronze model of Hare
Moving back inside, let’s talk lighting. Not far behind our passion for a really nice chair lies our passion for a really nice light. Never to be an afterthought, the effect that the right lighting brings to a space is incontestable. But lighting is personal. The style of the fitting and the ambiance it creates in a space is subjective, dependent on the individual and the space for which it is intended. Fret not though. The Finnstown House Hotel Collection catalogue provides options. There’s an impressive selection of lighting grandiose (could an Irish Crystal Twelve Branch Chandelier be the one?), lighting demure (Opaline glass shade perhaps?) and lighting all kinds in between on offer in this catalogue.
- Exceptional quality Bronze globe hall lantern decorated with brass lions masks in the Italian style
- Exceptional quality Parisian glass and brass pendant hanging light
- Good quality 19th C. gilded brass and glass hall lantern
- Good quality gilded metal hall lantern
- 1940s Czech Republican opaline glass hanging shade
- Victorian cylindrical brass and glass hanging ceiling light
Also worthy of your attention is a fine collection of artwork. Names like French, Campbell, Mooney, McCabe, LeBrocquy and Knuttel reside in the catalogue and adorn the saleroom walls alongside other prominent artists and their exceptional works.
- Graham Knuttel { 1954 – } Birds Oil on Canvas. Signed bottom left.
- Geraldine O’Brien { 1922 – 2014 } Cattle Resting Under The Cherry Blossom.
- Gladys Mc Cabe, MBE HRUA FRSA MA ROI { 1918 – 2018 } Pony Rides On The Beach Oil on Board. Signed bottom left.
- Peter Collis RHA { 1929 – 2012 }. Still Life Fruit and Wine Bottle Oil on Canvas
- Graham Knuttel { 1954 – } Cool Cat Oil on Canvas. Signed bottom left.
- Desmond Carrick, RHA { 1928 – 2012 } Vineyard in Spain Oil on Board.
- George Campbell { 1919 – 1979 }. West Of Ireland Bog Oil on Board Signed upper right.
- Gladys Mc Cabe, MBE HRUA FRSA MA ROI { 1918 – 2018 } Way To The Shore Galway Oil on Board Signed bottom right.
Ah look we could harp on forever about these yummy lots. But as we mentioned, there’s over 2000 of them. And like your mam, we love all our children equally. So on that note, we warmly invite you to come see it all in person. Viewing of the Finnstown House Hotel Collection will take place this weekend Saturday April 1st, Sunday April 2nd and Monday April 3rd from 10am to 5pm each day across our two Cavan locations. Can’t make it? No hassle, you can find it all here: https://auctions.victormeeauctions.ie/ to peruse at your leisure.
The Finnstown House Hotel Collection auction will take place on Tuesday April 4th, Wednesday April 5th and Thursday April 6th from 2pm each day. We are thrilled to welcome in-room bidders back to our auction rooms for the first time since 2020 and we will, of course, be live online for your bids too!