Buy a piece of Irish history: Whyte’s auction includes 1916, Civil War and JFK-visit archive news reels

The so-called Decade of Centenaries, which started in 2012, brought public attention to the many pivotal historical events in Ireland between 1912 and 1923.

With laudable aims to enhance our understanding, offer fresh insights and constructive dialogue, while fostering mutual understanding of different traditions, the various commemorations of the first World War, the Easter Rising, the War of Independence and the Irish Civil War, also created more awareness of historical objects, letters and documents in private and public ownership.

Collectors also used the event to bring to auction letters, documents, military medals and other archival material. Whyte’s annual Eclectic Collector auction, which ends on Sunday, between 2pm and 6pm, is a showcase of sorts of the political, social and cultural history of the period. This current auction of more than 480 lots includes historical artefacts, manuscripts, documents, photographs, militaria and weapons of significant import.

“The general public find things in their houses that belonged to ancestors – sometimes they know it belonged to a grandfather but other times they don’t know who owned it,” says Ian Whyte, who has been running these auctions for many years.

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He points to a few pieces of particular interest in this current auction. These include an archive of a British soldier, Brigadier Henry Gilberton-Smith (1897-1977), who, after fighting for Britain in the first World War, was recruited into the auxiliary division of the Royal Irish Constabulary during the War of Independence. Most of the archive (estimate €800-€1,200), relates to his time in the British army, but in a letter to his parents Gilberton-Smith also expresses his admiration for the Irish revolutionary soldier and politician Michael Collins.

Such archives as that of Irishman James McKenna, who fought for General Francisco Franco in the Spanish Civil War, could provide inspiration to writers of historical fiction, as well as source material for historians (estimate of €3,000-€5,000). This particular archive, which is being sold by a family member, includes a diary, a Spanish army uniform and medals.

The digitalisation and repatriation of 150 news reels of coverage of the first World War, the Easter Rising, the War of Independence and the Irish Civil War for the Irish Film Institute’s Irish Independence film collection was another significant event during the Decade of Commemorations. Having this archive of moving images – mainly captured by non-Irish news agencies for screening in cinemas – back in Ireland has allowed people to see this footage for the first time since its initial distribution 100 years earlier.

Cumann na mBan members at the front of a parade of academics outside the National University (circa 1916), from archive news reels on sale at Whyte's auction

Such news reels also come up for auction from time to time. And in Whyte’s Eclectic Collector auction, there are 12 cans of safety film and one can of nitrate film with 360 minutes of footage from freelance cameramen collected by the Dublin-based early 20th century film distributor Michael Baum. The footage includes significant episodes from the 1916 Rising, the Civil War and the War of Independence, as well as the 1963 visit of American President John F Kennedy.

Michael Baum’s son Bernard converted most of the original nitrate films to safety film and sold them to a collector through Whyte’s in 2006. Now, almost 20 years later, this collection of news reels is up for sale again, with an estimate of €80,000-€100,000.

Meanwhile, curators of historic furniture museums may be interested in a Victorian writing desk made by Irish 19th century Dublin furniture maker Arthur Jones (£4,000-£6,000/€4,700-€7,180), which will be sold at auction in Woolley & Wallis’s Furniture and Collections sale in Salisbury, England, on Thursday, April 10th.

Victorian writing desk by Dublin furniture maker Arthur Jones (£4,000-£6,000), at auction in Woolley & Wallis’s Furniture and Collections sale in Salisbury on April 10th

Arthur Jones, who took over his father William’s firm on St Stephen’s Green in 1840, specialised in carving indigenous yew wood with historical and natural motifs. This particular writing desk has panels of Glena Cottage and Muckross Abbey in Killarney, and is inlaid with shamrocks and a harp. Part of the neo-Celtic movement fuelled by the discovery of ancient art treasures, this particular style was a reaction to factory-made furniture and a precursor to the arts and crafts movement.

Finally, as the sunny weather draws more of us outdoors, many people will be turning their attention to their gardens. RJ Keighery’s of Waterford is first out with the garden furniture this year, its auction taking place on Monday, April 14th, from 10am.

“It’s our largest yet, with over 700 lots. We’ve been storing pieces up all year long from content sales of country house estates throughout the year,” explains Thomas Keighery.

Iron sundial at Keighery's garden furniture auction (€30-€50)

Terracotta lady bust (€100-€150), Keighery's garden furniture auction

Composite stone plaque, Lady with Roses (€60-€100), at Keighery's garden furniture auction

Pair of black painted cranes (€150-€250), Keighery's garden furniture auction

Last year’s garden furniture auction in Waterford attracted a garden designer who worked for the English royals, so Keighery expects international and national buyers again this year.

The auction has everything from large glazed planters to stone urns and troughs, and from cast-iron garden tables and chairs to Corinthian columns, sundials, stone bird baths and sculptures. There is also quite a selection of antique gates. “ “We’re not talking about mad money. There are pieces that will suit all gardens and all budgets,” says Keighery.

Whytes.ie; woolleyandwallis.co.uk; antiquesireland.ie