Summer garden sale 'with wild twist' at Victor Mee Auctions
The Victor Mee Auctions Summer Garden Sale “one of Ireland’s most charming auction events” is back, on Tuesday and Wednesday June 10-11, live and online from their family run auction house in Cavan.
The two-day sale features more than 1,000 curated lots of garden statuary, furniture, and architectural features, and there is a “celebratory and playful theme”, say the auctioneers: “a magnificent showcase of animal garden statuary, with a particular focus on native Irish wildlife, large-scale bronzes, and whimsical collector pieces”.
It is timed to follow Bord Bia Bloom, and Victor Mee Auctions offer the next step for green-fingered enthusiasts inspired to transform their own outdoor spaces.
Victor said: “To make the most of the weather, we need to make the most of our gardens. It’s important to us here that the Summer Garden Sale catalogue reflects that sentiment, offering buyers something characterful and unique.
“We want people to buy things they love. We’re seeing huge demand for character pieces that connect people to nature and this year’s animal statuary collection captures that perfectly – especially the native Irish animals, which resonate with our bidders.
“Our auction house is bursting with eccentricities and large-scale standout pieces, in addition to those more elegant, classic, timeless furniture and decorative lots.”
Highlights include:
Lot 215 – Bronze Sculpture of Hares Dancing Under Moonlight (135cm high): A beautifully composed piece evoking folklore and playfulness. Est: €1,500 to €2,500.
Lots 225–228 – Lifesize Bronze Sheep: Wonderfully realistic and full of pastoral charm. Est: €1,500 to €2,500 each.
Lot 525 – Two Good Quality Bronze Pigs: Full of personality, with textured surfaces and joyful composition. Est: €600 to €1,200
Lot 663 – Cast Iron Red Squirrel: An adorable nod to native Irish woodland life. Est: €100 to €200
Lot 45 – Pair of Boxing Hares in Bronze: A dynamic, playful centrepiece. Est: €2,000 to €4,000.
Lot 152 – a rare and historically significant find, an antique carved stone garden obelisk from Knocklofty House in Clonmel. Gifted to the Hely-Hutchinson family by the Chinese Government. Subtle carved Chinese script can still be discerned on the surface, a unique detail that further distinguishes this exceptional piece.
These pieces reflect a rising trend in garden design – the use of wildlife-inspired statuary to evoke a sense of place, charm, and storytelling.
Taking a keen interest in Victor Mee’s upcoming Summer Garden Sale, ‘The Irish Gardener’, Peter Dowdall said: “Animal sculptures can do something quite magical in a garden, they catch the eye, spark curiosity, and often bring a sense of playfulness or nostalgia.
A good focal point, like a bronze hare mid-leap or a family of lifelike sheep, anchors the space and gives it meaning. It draws you in, gives you pause, and invites you to look again. And for me, that’s what a great garden is all about, drawing people into a deeper relationship with nature.”