Although London fine art sales with an Irish connection are now becoming the norm, few can claim such a direct link as that being held by Christie's next Thursday. The auction house will be disposing of the possessions of Maureen Dufferin and Ava, who died last year. One of a trio of Guinness sisters - the others were the late Oonagh Oranmore and Browne and Aileen Plunket - as a young heiress she had been a renowned figure of London society before her marriage in 1930 to the fourth Marquess of Dufferin and Ava whose family home was Clandeboye, Co Down; he died in Burma in 1945 and although his widow subsequently remarried, like her sister Oonagh she preferred to retain her grandest title. Over 90 at the time of her death, Maureen Dufferin appears always to have retained her zest for life; her 90th birthday was marked by a large and much-publicised birthday party given by her two granddaughters.
In her final years, she spent most time at the house in London's Hans Crescent where she had lived for more than 60 years. However, she also owned a property in Kent and a home on Sardinia's Costa Smeralda called the Casa Maureena or, as she preferred to nickname it, the "Villa Costalotta."
Because her family are retaining all personal mementos, the 200-plus lots in next week's sale are generally rather grander than is usual in disposals of this kind and reflect the often-theatrical taste of interior decorator Felix Harbord (who was also employed by Aileen Plunket at Luttrellstown Castle). But there are lots of small items on offer which show that, when fitting out a home, consistency of taste is of paramount importance. In the case of Maureen Dufferin's possessions, this means even the most minor pieces show a sense of flair and harmony. Late in the sale, for example, comes a relatively contemporary set of 16 lotion and potion clear and opaque green glass bottles with individual stoppers on a series of moulded wood stands. Each bottle bears a different legend such as "Hand Lotion" and "Mouth Wash." Bringing order to the bathroom, this set is expected to sell for £300-£500 sterling.
Similarly, from her Kent home - The Owl House - comes a series of late 19th century English porcelain lamp bases, all in the form of owls and with estimates between £100 and £800 for pairs.
Only a few lots have Irish origins, such as a portrait of Richard Brinsley Sheridan's wife Elizabeth Linley. There is a double association with Ireland here because in addition to the Sheridan link, this oil copy from a Reynolds original was painted in 1783 by the Hon Diana Jane Pery, eldest daughter of Edmond Sexton, Viscount Pery of Limerick and Speaker in the Irish Parliament from 1771-1785. Diana Pery later married the first Earl of Ranfurly whose descendants retained the picture until it was bought by Maureen Dufferin at Christie's in 1939 for £2 and 12 shillings; it is now expected to fetch £3,000-£4,000. The sale also includes a 1789 portrait by Sir Joshua Reynolds of Sheridan himself (£30,000- £50,000) from whom the family of Maureen Dufferin's husband were descended.
Irish items also turn up among the silver lots, including a coffee pot and matching hot milk jug made in Dublin in 1927 (£150-£250) and, more significantly, two Dublin-made George III silver dish-rings from circa 1760, both different from the other but sharing the same rococo chinoiserie style of decoration; these are expected to make £800-£1,200 each. Then there are a pair of George III lead jardinieres (£500-£800) carrying the date 1769 and the arms of the Ferrall family and the O'More family of Balyna, Co Kildare.
However, the charm of this sale lies not in any one item but the unity of taste running through the entire collection. Particular delights run from a pair of Italian gilt painted commodes (£1,000-£2,000) to a silvermounted tortoise shell desk calendar (£150-£200) dating from 1928, the year its owner reached 21. Then there is a lock of Mary Queen of Scots' hair (£2,000-£3,000), given by her to a supporter before the Battle of Langside in May 1568. This lock, which passed to Maureen Dufferin by descent from her grandmother) came from a larger piece of hair which is now in Edinburgh's Holyrood Palace. A piece of paper written by Lady Charlotte Campbell explaining the hair's provenance comes with this lot.
