With over 350 lots on offer the auction was bound to be busy. As well as the head of St Vitalis there were plenty of other items on offer. Paintings, furniture,jewelry, china, books, rugs, elephants feet amongst other household and garden items. Not forgetting a statue of Hitler from the 1940s which did not get the same level of interest as the Saint.
Interest about the Saint from media outlets and individuals, international and local was quite intense. Some of it critical but for the most part just genuine interest in the bizarre and macabre object. A full list of links to references of the Saints head in relation to the auction head can be found here – Annesbrook Auction 29-05-11 (pdf 20kb).
The Saint eventually sold for 4 times the reserve price. €3,500. It was sold to an anonymous bidder believed to be a Hollywood actor with strong Irish connections.
The auction day in Annesbrook