Dealer’s head-turning lot

The full collection of a retiring antiques dealer will go under the online hammer at Victor Mee Auctions over the coming weekends.

The sale of Gerard Derry’s Retirement Auction will begin at 2pm on May 23-24 and continue on June 6-7. The first weekend will showcase Derry’s decorative interiors and garden pieces and the second will feature his architectural, pub fittings and advertising memorabilia.

Among the interesting lots for sale this weekend is an extremely rare late 19th century hand operated fairground carousel, being sold at auction in full working order, adorned with 18 hand carved and painted horses and two swing boats. The carousel was originally the possession of the Farrells, a carnival family of Buncrana, Co Donegal and is an extremely rare find, as many carousels like it would have been broken up or still retained by carnival families.

This type of carousel dates back to the 1940s, where it would have been enjoyed by many before electrical carousels came into operation. Estimated to sell at auction for between €10,000 and €20,000, this lot is expected to be of high interest amongst bidders. In addition to the fairground carousel, Gerard Derry’s Retirement Auction will see an array of other decorative interiors and garden pieces hit the auction block, many of which are sure to make a statement within any home or garden. Key lots of interest include a three branch 250-year-old Bonsai tree, estimated to sell between €1,500 and €3,500; a decorative cast iron circular tree garden seat, estimated to sell between €400 and €800; and a decorative cast iron three-seater garden bench estimated to sell between €500 and €700.