Three rare uniforms, once worn by pageboys in Dublin’s Viceregal Court, which vividly evoke the pageantry and privilege of the British administration in Ireland, are to come under the hammer in Sheppard’s (Durrow, Co.Laois) – “Paradigms & The Unexpected” Three-Day sale – on March 6th/8th next.

The uniforms, which had been stored in a leather suitcase, miraculously survived a house-fire two years ago and were salvaged by a descendant of a tailor from Robinson Steele – the Dawson Street outfitters which supplied the military and aristocracy.

A rare photograph of two pageboys wearing the uniforms – taken by Chancellor of Sackville (now O’Connell) Street, a photographer “by appointment” to the Viceregal Court – is also to be auctioned. Unfortunately the image, apparently taken during a visit by King Edward VII to Dublin, was not captioned. The three lots of uniforms and the photograph are estimated in the mid-hundred Euros range to one thousand Euros plus but given that no known other examples exist, this may prove somewhat conservative.

More here from the Irish Times: http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/magazine/2012/0211/1224311544241.html

Full details of the Sale, viewing times, catalogue link etc. here: https://collectireland.wordpress.com/auctions-2/