A BUST of Frank Sinatra and Graham Knuttel painting are among items cleared out of five-star hotels during the pandemic that are to be auctioned.
Covid-19 wreaked havoc with the hospitality industry, but also provided the space and time for refurbishment.
As a result, there is now a massive treasure trove of furniture, artwork and collectibles from Dublin’s Four Seasons, Westin and Trinity City Hotels, Glenlo Abbey in Galway and Powerscourt Resort and Spa in Wicklow.
A two-day online auction of more than 1,100 lots is due to take place in Dublin’s Prussia Street next week and is expected to generate in excess of €200,000.
Memorabilia from the famous Buck Whaley’s nightclub and Larry Murphy’s pub in the capital is up for grabs.
Among the items available is a desk, originally from the Harrods department store in London, complete with 40 drawers. With a guide price of between €2,000 - €4,000, the item has come from Dublin’s oldest shop, Reads Cutlers, now House of Read on Dublin’s Parliament Street.
Furniture including side cabinets, lamps and lockers from the former Four Seasons Hotel in Ballsbridge - a favourite haunt of American rocker Bruce Springsteen - also feature.
A bust of Frank Sinatra, a Graham Knuttel oil painting and a lifesize, bronze sculpture of a hunting hare, all privately consigned, are also set to attract interest.
Original pub mirrors, posters and bar stools from the former Buck Whaley’s club and Larry Murphy’s on Lower Baggot Street, could lead former customers on a trip down memory lane.
Also included is the original, wooden ticket office from the Ambassador cinema on O’Connell Street.
Antiques dealer Niall Mullen, who is organising the auction with Kieran Murray, said: "Already, it promises to be one of the most interesting auctions of the year. All of these hotels and bars were refurbished during Covid, when their doors were shut and the contents moved to storage.
"Taking on a hotel auction is tricky, but when they all come together like this, they work."
Mr Mullen said such a sale "won’t happen again, it is purely a product of Covid and the unprecedented effect it had on the hospitality industry".
The public can physically view the lots at 67 Prussia Street, Dublin, from today until Monday while the online auction begins at 2pm on Tuesday, January 17 and Wednesday, January 18.
The full catalogue is available at irishcountryhome.com.