Historic Drogheda made pistols for sale
ADAM’S fine art auctioneers in St Stephen’s Green have a number of local items going under the hammer at a sale this Tuesaday (6pm).
Pride of place are a pair of 18th/19th century Irish duelling pistols by Obadiah Wisdom of Drogheda, each with octagonal barrels on fully stocked walnut frames with hatched grips and brass furniture
The name of Obadiah Wisdom appears in several trade directories working in Drogheda between 1790 - 1825. However scant examples of his works have appeared in auction.
The pistols are expected to fetch between €3,000.00 - €5,000.00
There is also a rare set of 12 coat and four waitcoast silver uniform buttons from a uniform of ‘Lord Drogheda’s Blues’.
They date from 1770, each with Hibernia and harp stamps and makers mark J.S, each engraved XVIII L.D within a laurel wreath.
Charles Moore, 6th Earl of Drogheda, raised a troop of cavalry known as ‘Lord Drogheda’s Light Horse’ to oppose the French Admiral Thurot who had captured Carrickfergus. This levy was regularised as the 18th Light Dragoons in 1763 as per the insignia on these buttons.
The blue uniform gave the sobriquet “Lord Drogheda’s Blues”. It saw service in the Napoleonic Wars as a regular regiment of the British Army.
The buttons are expected to go for €1,500.00 - €2,000.00
A ‘fine dining’ menu, intended for the Duke of Rutland in Drogheda, is also up for grabs. It dates from 1787 and has the names of dishes written-out in diametrical fashion, headed first course/second course and inscribed, table of 12 part of the dinner intended for the *Duke of Rutland, in Drogheda. The dinner featured dishes of meat, fowl and fish, jellies, pastry, blamanges etc. but also roast game.
Charles Manners 4th Duke of Rutland, Lord Lieutenant 1784, entertained magnificently. He did a tour of the country in 1787 but catching a fever he died in the Vice-Regal Lodge in that year. The caption intended implies that this banquet never happened but it demonstrates what was thought suitable for such an occasion even outside the capital. price is €300 - €500.
There is also a packet of eleven carte-de-visite size photographs mounted on card, showing the philanthropist Vere Foster, standing beside a group of four woman and two men by an industrial machine, possibly a printing press. Estimate is €100.00 - €200.00