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Maud Gonne was one of the prominent figures in Irish history: a bohemian revolutionary, suffragette and actress. Born in 1866, she was the eldest daughter of Captain Thomas Gonne and Edith Frith Gonne (née Cook). During her childhood, the family travelled between Ireland, Great Britain and France, and following her mother’s death in 1871, Maud spent periods in London with her grandfather, Francis Cook, 1st Viscount of Monserrate, a noted art collector.
Gonne lived during a period of great political and cultural change, as Ireland moved out of the 19th century, defined by Empire and the Industrial Revolution and into the political and artistic idealism of the early 20th century. An inheritance from her mother’s estate provided her with a degree of financial independence that was unusual for a woman of her time and enabled her to travel extensively and devote herself to political and cultural causes. Throughout the 1890s, she travelled across the British Isles and the United States campaigning for the nationalist cause and helped found Inghinidhe na hÉireann (Daughters of Ireland), which became a distinct voice for women in Irish affairs.
It is against this backdrop that the present silver service takes on particular interest. Accompanied by a bespoke wooden case evidently made for its transportation and storage, the service appears to have been conceived as a portable and cherished family possession, an intriguing detail given the extent of Gonne family’s travels.
The kettle bears the presentation inscription “Propter Amorem AD 1866”, together with the Gonne family crest and the motto “Ferendo et Sperando”. The date is particularly striking: Maud Gonne was born in 1866. While there is no definitive evidence that the service was presented or acquired to mark her birth, the coincidence raises the possibility that it may have been associated with a significant family occasion that year.
The service is also notable for its finely executed bright-cut decoration, incorporating fruiting motifs and an elaborate bird finial. These details demonstrate the technical and decorative skill of mid-Victorian silversmithing, while the survival of the original wooden case offers a rare glimpse into how such objects might have been transported, protected, and valued by their owners.
Whether or not the service can ultimately be connected to Maud Gonne’s birth, its inscriptions, family associations, and travelling case place it within a fascinating chapter of Gonne family history.
By Weronika Kocurkiewicz
Country House Collections at Townley Hall
Auction Date: Tuesday 13th October - 11:00
Viewing Times: Saturday 10th October 11am - 5pm
Sunday 11th October 11am - 5pm
Monday 12th October 10am - 5pm
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John ffrench was an instrumental figure in the design industry in Ireland and a distinguished pioneer of Irish studio pottery.
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"I should declare my hand. I have a weakness for pictures that punch above their physical weight, and for artists who have been quietly underrated for too long. This pair is both. They are intimate enough to live with at close quarters and serious enough to repay any amount of looking. If the market has lately shown signs of catching up with eighteenth-century Irish painting and I think it has, these two small panels feel, to me, like exactly the sort of thing that will look obvious in twenty years’ time."
Adam’s is honoured to present works from the collection of Lord Rossmore in the upcoming Country House Collections auction at Howth Castle on 28th April. It is seldom that an influential Irish family collection that has survived through the generations comes to the open market.
Works Sold at Adam’s Now in the Irish National Collection
A great opportunity to purchase both established and lesser-known artist’s work at an accessible price point, the Online Picture Auction is the first of many sales to be hosted at Adam’s in 2026. It is perfect for those looking to start a collection and the discerning collector alike.
Through this article, let our expert Adam Pearson guiding you to the (re)discovery of the once established Irish painter Richard O’Neill.
Buying at Auction and the Role of Antiques in a Modern Home
Important Irish Art Auction Highlights
Oliver Dowling Collection by Aidan Dunne
2024 is a year in which Adam’s wants to recognise the key role buying antique furniture and furnishings at auction contributes greatly to the sustainable initiative. In 2019 the Environmental Protection Agency reported stark figures that each year in Ireland 1.2 million reusable bulky items, primarily furniture goes into landfill. Similar to the problem of ‘fast fashion’, the constant production and consumption of new items is leading to rapidly growing waste problem. We want to acknowledge those who are already buying second hand or antique furniture at auction and to encourage new buyers by highlighting the benefits of acquiring affordable, well-made quality items that are built to last.
James Adam & Sons Ltd, Fine Art Auctioneers and Valuers, 26 St. Stephen’s Green, Dublin 2,
D02 X665, Ireland
