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 4^th, 5^th and 6^th, 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.

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.

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.

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.

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 1^st, Sunday April 2^nd and Monday April 3^rd 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 4^th, Wednesday April 5^th and Thursday April 6^th 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!