Victor's Vernacular - charming pieces

Victor Mee Auctions is proud to announce a fantastic return to Vernacular furniture with an exclusive vernacular sale to take place this Sunday, October 19.

With vernacular pieces increasingly rare to the market, this sale marks the first offering of vernacular items from the team at Victor Mee Auctions in a number of years, after some time of careful accumulation of lots.

Vernacular furniture refers to furniture that was made in a traditional, local style, by local people, using local materials. It was most often found in rural Irish homes, spurred into existence by necessity for the pieces rather than any aesthetic desires or trends.

As such, vernacular furniture is primitive in its form, with a tendency to appear a little bit rugged, a little bit unsophisticated and a whole lot charming. These pieces tell stories of old Ireland and, due to age and heavy use in early Irish homes, there are few genuine surviving pieces.

One of the top lots set to appear in this rare auction is a 19th century Irish pine dug out chair. The dug out chair was so-called simply because of how it was made; carved directly from a single trunk with the interior “dug out” to create seating. One of the earliest and most rudimentary examples of Irish furniture, the dug out chair is highly prized by collectors thanks to its rarity, its rawness and pure early origins. This one, appearing as lot 232, is an absolutely splendid example. It’s crude and weathered, measuring just under a metre high. It speaks loudly of a forgotten era and goes to auction with an estimate of €1,000-€2,000, a steal for the discerning collector.

Lot 336 is an early 19th century high back painted pine settle bench. This example is from Cork, crafted from pine and retains its original paint, with a distinctive sunburst panel. It measures 168cm x 145cm and wears an estimate of €800-€1,200. Another staple in the early rural Irish home was the dresser, of which this sale boasts a few. Lot 100 appearing is a 19th century painted pine dresser from County Clare. This piece features three open shelves over a row of short drawers and two panelled cupboard doors, all beneath a shaped cornice. It’s a lovely vernacular piece, authentic and full of charm. It goes to auction with an estimate of €500-€800.

These highlights represent just a glimpse of the fine collection of vernacular pieces set to appear in this rare auction. Auct oneer, Victor Mee, says vernacular furniture holds a special place in his heart, hence his considered approach to compiling this catalogue.

“I fell in love with vernacular furniture a long time ago,” he says. “I bought my first hedge chair in the 70s for 50 pence and I’ve been enamoured since. It’s unfussy. It was never there for decoration, these pieces of furniture were borne from a need for them and to come across surviving pieces today is just a really exciting thing because you’re coming across true, genuine artefacts. They represent a capsule of our own history.”

The Irish Vernacular Sale by Victor Mee Auctions will take place on Sunday, October 19, live online from 3pm.

Viewing of the catalogue will take place at Victor Mee Auctions, Cloverhill, Co Cavan, H14 D573, Monday – Friday from 10am until 5pm and on Saturday, October 18, from 12-5pm. The full catalogue can also be viewed online at:

www.victormeeauctions.ie