Festive Franc's Christmas décor collection goes up for auction

Sat, 04 Nov, 2023 - 08:35

Catherine Shanahan

Ever fancied owning your own Victorian sleigh? Or a psychedelic reindeer? Or a golden pheasant? Or maybe you are planning a big event?

If the answer is yes, now’s your chance, as well-known wedding planner Peter Kelly, AKA Franc, is doing a clear-out via online auction, offloading enough props to fill several Brown Thomas Christmas windows or to stage several weddings.

A Victorian-style sleigh is one of the more unusual items from Franc's collection going up for auction next week. See link to the online auction room at the foot of this article.

There’s a good chance of ending up with a glass some celebrity drank from, or of buying a brass lantern that decorated the table at some royal wedding, as Franc has catered for the rich and famous. The only drawback is you’ll never have bragging rights, because he’s the soul of discretion when it comes to his clients.

“We’ve never been able to say what weddings we’ve done, but we have done everything, from royal events to civic events to big corporate events,” Franc said. “We’ve dealt with celebrities, both national and international, so you could end up buying anything.

“I am selling off 20 years of props, and while it’s hard to let things go for various sentimental reasons, it’s time to shed some stuff now.”

This golden pheasant could be exactly the item you need to complete your yuletide décor this Christmas.

Among the items being auctioned are an exquisite Victorian sleigh, used to create a Christmas scene on the front plaza of the former Beamish & Crawford brewery some years ago.

“I picked it up myself at auction many years ago,” Franc said.

It’s one of the more timely items in the lead-in to Christmas, along with a giant Robin mascot, a psychedelic reindeer, and various festive lights and baubles.

“There’s even a German-designed Krinner Christmas tree stand, operated by a foot pedal and metal cable, and once the tree is in position, a bell rings to confirm that it’s secure enough to stand on its own,” said Franc.

Table settings by Franc among the items that are available to view now ahead of the auction on Tuesday and Wednesday. See link below.

It was used when decorating an unnamed large country house every Christmas.

The 1,000 lots up for auction also include antique brass candle holders, Disney costumes, an ice bar, candelabras, and lamps by legendary French industrial designer Philippe Starck, who oversaw the interior design of the Elysée Palace in Paris when François Mitterand was president.

There’s also an original old bar counter fitted with casters and wheeled out at various marquee weddings over the years.

The decision to auction off so many items is not a signal that he is scaling back on wedding/event planning — it’s simply because the warehouse is relocating closer to where his family now lives, at the former Sisters of Mercy Convent in Rosscarbery, now known as The Convent Garden.

A psychedelic reindeer might appeal to some bidders — there's something for every taste in the online auction of Franc's Christmas props.

The Kellys bought the convent a few years ago, with plans to turn it into a unique weekend retreat venue.

At the moment, it’s housing Ukrainian refugees, but work has been ongoing over the summer to prepare the building for the new business venture.

One room Franc is particularly interested in is a former home economics room (the nuns ran a school) that dates to 1896. Franc’s plan is to restore it fully and to host Victorian cooking retreats, as both he and his wife trained as chefs.