Robinson Brothers’ chairs in upcoming auction

AN upcoming auction in Co Cavan will include a set of rare and “deeply sentimental” dining chairs made by the Robinson brothers of Milltown.

The February Interiors and Jewellery Sale at Victor Mee Auctions in Cloverhill near Butlersbridge, takes place on February 11.

This auction will include a stunning set of eight dining chairs with two carvers (8+2), built in the 1970s by the renowned Robinson carpenters, whose name is still spoken with respect and affection throughout the local area.

Brothers Charlie, Tom-Joe and Michael Robinson earned their standing over many years of dedicated work in their humble workshop in the heart of Drumlane parish.

From this unassuming setting, they produced exceptional furniture, drawing on honed skills in marquetry, fine joinery, French polishing and even tool-making, often fashioning their own implements to suit the task at hand.

“Their work was careful, deliberate and deeply considered. It was made to last, and made properly,” a spokesperson for Victor Mee Auctions said.

Though now sadly deceased, the brothers’ exquisite work represents a tradition of rural Irish craftsmanship that has largely disappeared.

The present set of mahogany chairs with a marquetry inlay, appearing in the auction as Lot 226, is understood to have been made in the 1970s by Charlie Robinson.

The configuration of eight dining chairs with two carvers, rather than the more common six with two, reflects the Robinsons’ remarkable understanding of Regency-period precedent and strongly suggests that these chairs were made as a bespoke commission, rather than as part of any standardised production.

“This set of chairs is more than a beautifully crafted and functional suite of furniture,” Victor Mee Auctions said. “It represents a tangible link to the Robinson brothers themselves, to a much-loved local family, and to a level of craftsmanship that many feel has been lost.”

As with all Victor Mee Auctions sales, there is much to explore beyond any single highlight.

While the Robinson chairs may stand at the heart of this local story, they are part of a much broader and carefully curated auction catalogue. Alongside furniture, artwork, decorative pieces, carpets and lighting, the sale also includes a stunning collection of fine jewellery, adding further interest and elegance to the catalogue.