An early Irish carved granite font with provenance to the Round Tower of Antrim, Steeple Demesne, County Antrim image 1

An early Irish carved granite font with provenance to the Round Tower of Antrim, Steeple Demesne, County Antrim image 2

An early Irish carved granite font with provenance to the Round Tower of Antrim, Steeple Demesne, County Antrim image 3

An early Irish carved granite font with provenance to the Round Tower of Antrim, Steeple Demesne, County Antrim image 4

An early Irish carved granite font with provenance to the Round Tower of Antrim, Steeple Demesne, County Antrim image 5

An early Irish carved granite font with provenance to the Round Tower of Antrim, Steeple Demesne, County Antrim image 6

Lot 125

An early Irish carved granite font with provenance to the Round Tower of Antrim, Steeple Demesne, County Antrim

Amended

The Irish Sale - Vision & Voice

17 – 28 November 2023, 14:00 GMT

Dublin

Sold for €1,408 inc. premium

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Penny Day

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An early Irish carved granite font with provenance to the Round Tower of Antrim, Steeple Demesne, County Antrim

probably early Medieval period, perhaps 9th-11th Century and traditionally thought to have been excavated from the base of the steeple,
the body of tapering cylindrical form carved to each side with winged angel masks and leafy foliage interspaced by protruding knopped lugs (one part lacking), 22.5cm in height , 26cm diameter

Footnotes

Provenance
Samuel (Sam) Lindsay Fawcett (d. 1954), Steeple Demesne, Country Antrim, thence by descent to his son Jack (d. 2006), who acquired the font from his father prior to the sale of the tower to the National Trust, and subsequently to the present owner.

By family repute the font was originally located at the base of the Round Tower of Antrim which stands on the site of a documented monastery which flourished from the 5th-11th Century until it was destroyed by fire. A photograph of the font was used by Sam Fawcett as a Christmas card in the 1930s promoting tours of the family house and parkland.

Saleroom notices

Please note that the first line of cataloguing for this lot should read: "An early Irish carved basalt font with provenance to the Round Tower of Antrim, Steeple Demesne, County Antrim".

Additional information

This auction is now finished. If you are interested in consigning in future auctions, please contact the specialist department. If you have queries about lots purchased in this auction, please contact customer services.
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Collection Notices
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An early Irish carved granite font with provenance to the Round Tower of Antrim, Steeple Demesne, County Antrim

Own a similar item?

Looking for a similar item?

Ask about this lot

Kieran O'Boyle

Kevin Gaines

Penny Day

An early Irish carved granite font with provenance to the Round Tower of Antrim, Steeple Demesne, County Antrim

Footnotes

Saleroom notices

Additional information

Auction information

Related Departments

Conditions of Sale

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