Celebrating Ireland
Summer is an exciting season with all its events and celebrations and Ireland is no exception, Reindeer Antiques has decided to put Ireland in the spotlight this week. We have many beautiful pieces in the gallery that showcase the incredible skill and craftsmanship of Irish artists.
One of the main characteristics that is highly appreciated in Irish Georgian furniture is its exhuberant and flamboyant nature. This George II settee epitomises the Irish love of bold carving used to enhance a fairly austere design.
The arms are beautifully carved with lion masks, a motif reminiscent of medieval Irish illumination. The settee’s feet with their double knuckle are typically Irish and again illustrates the native desire to add an extra flourish compared to the more reserved style of English furniture.
Like the flights of whimsy found in much contemporaneous Irish Rococo plasterwork the green man figure found on the knee of this settee is a recurring theme idiosyncratic to Irish furniture.
This Irish desire for flamboyance continued throughout the Eighteenth Century and even found expression in the more elegant Sheraton period. The segment veneered top of this console table has a greater contrast in the design of its marquetry than English examples from the period.
Some other pieces of furniture that display characteristics typical of antique Irish furniture are:
Fine Irish Sheraton revival mahogany oval toilet mirror
Irish Georgian Side Table
Irish Georgian Carved Mahogany Side Chair
If you are interested in seeing more Irish furniture please come and visit our showrooms on Kensington Church Street.
