A superb 18th century Irish shell work botanical arrangement...

Hammer

£13,000

A superb 18th century Irish shell work botanical arrangement, made by Sarah Dennis (nee Newenham) of Woodhill Cork, with various flowers and insects, in a vase, in an arched chinoiserie cabinet, 46cm high, 1740 - 1770 Sarah was the wife of John Dennis a prominent timber merchant in Cork, they were both from prominent Quaker families, they had one child Elizabeth born 1742 who married at the age of 21 Cooper Penrose and they lived a Woodhill, in Copper Penrose's will of 1815 it shows the bequest of 'mother's shell and feather work' to his two daughters passed down by descent to the vendors