Close shave but no buyer for Ceannt's razor
Date Published: 25-Apr-2012
A steel razor belonging to Éamonn Ceannt – one of the leaders of the 1916 Rising – failed to sell at auction yesterday when it went under the hammer.
The razor went to auction with a guide price between €1,200 and €1,800 – but, despite a number of bidders, it was withdrawn at €1,100 having failed to reach its reserve.
Ceannt, who was born in Ballymoe in East Galway in 1881 and was one of the seven signatories of the 1916 Proclamation, was executed for his part in the Rising.
The steel razor in black horn casting, was put under the hammer by Kilkenny-based Mealy’s, who specialize in rare books, fine arts, antiques and collectibles.
The auctioneers hit the headlines recently when they came under pressure to withdraw a swab from auction which was used to clean the body of Michael Collins following his death.
The razor was made by P. McGivney from Henry Street in Dublin in 1900, is still sharp, and was inscribed ‘E.T. Kent 11.11.01’ on the casing.
A related leather casing is signed twice ‘E. Ceannt’ in his own handwriting.
See full story in this week's Connacht Tribune.