1.
It was a battle of Britain hero - Tim Vigors who first introduced the tradition of horse breeding at Tullamaine. The decorated RAF pilot had something of a checkered wartime experience having been shot down and imprisoned in Burma, presumed dead, before returning the hero to his family home in Tullamaine. Tullamaine Castle features five main reception rooms, and a main hall with a dramatic staircase sweeping up. One of the highlights of the auction is Lot 38, a grandfather clock by a Dutch maker Anthonij Van Oostrom of Amsterdam. Described by Sean Eacrett as ‘very important’, the striking walnut and marquetry inlay longcase clock is by Anthonij van Oostrom of Amsterdam. The eighteenth century clock features a highly carved and fret arch top and dome top and is estimated to fetch €3-5000. Circa 1740 - 60 . H250 x D30 xW45cm approx.) Lot 38. Estimate €4-6000
2.
The home of the Tipperary Hunt, the legacy is evident in a most unusual outdoor art feature at Tullamaine. A lifesize sculpture of a pack of fox hounds in wire is featured running across the lawn. Specially sculpted by Rupert Till, it is so unusual that visiting dogs think from a distance that ‘the pack’ is real. The sculpture based on the Tipperary hunt which had its home at Tullamaine. Lot 774. Estimate €8000-12000
3.
The dining room of Tullamaine features a large collection of art, including a large oil on canvas in a good gilt frame of The Bailey Lighthouse off Howth by Stephen Catterson Smith. Daniel Egan framing label and other Label verso states 'Bought at the sale of the late Canon Harris 1914'. 71 x 112cm approx. Lot 137. Estimate €1000-1500. The art collection also includes an oil of jockey Pat Eddery by Irish equestrian artist Peter Curling. Peter Curling is well known in Tullamaine where there are three large watercolours of the Tipperary Hunt on the walls, along with an oil on canvas of Pat Eddery. Lot 16. Estimate €500-800. Peter Curling watercolours. Est between €2500 - 5000 There is a collection of signed prints by nineteenth century British equine and military artist Lionel Edwards. Including the highlight; ‘Watercolour of Irish Hospital Sweepstakes Morning Exercise May 1966’. Lot 403. Estimate €400-600. The dining room also featured a large collection of Snaffles prints, seen in lots 113 to 130. Estimates ranging from €200-600 each. Snaffles, otherwise known as nineteenth century British artist Charles Johnson Payne, he was famous for his humorous depictions of equine scenes from horse racing to polo. Clearly Tullamaine stud is the perfect showroom for these prints. Two oils attributed to nineteenth century artist JF Herring including lots 59, 66 and 221 Attributed to JF Herring are the pair of oils on canvas of horses in a paddock. (Signed lower left.)30 x 56cm approx. Lot 66. Estimate €1200-1800.
4.
Tullamaine Castle is also referred to in some of the Mitford books, as Pamela Mitford lived there when she was married to Derek Jackson the amateur jockey and physicist. Pamela was responsible for the supervision of the selling of Tullamaine in the 1950s. In contrast to her high society and notorious sisters Pamela adored the simple country life at Tullamaine. Tullamaine Castle is in its own right an outstanding stud for the last forty years, with Bob Lanigan breeding equine stars such as Delilah, Bin Ajwad, Hot Tin Roof a multiple stakes winner, along with Polenator and the The Minirva Rose who won the double at Doncaster Group 2 on successive days, a particular highlight for Lanigan. James Bond actor Pearse Brosnan has stabled his horses at Tullamaine and has been a frequent visitor over the years. Tullamaine has given Brosnan a license to thrill if you will.