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  • Archive for November, 2010

    YEATS WITH HUSTON CONNECTION AT ADAMS

    Tuesday, November 30th, 2010

    Lingering Sun, O'Connell Bridge, Dublin by Jack B. Yeats at Adams on December 6. (click to enlarge) UPDATE: IT MADE 140,000

    Jack Yeats’ Lingering Sun, O’Connell Bridge, Dublin, once in the collection of film director John Huston, features at Adams sale of Important Irish Art in Dublin on December 6.  Set along the quays in the centre of Dublin in the 1920’s it is a significant work from the artists mature style.

    Huston, an avid art collector whose great grandfather had emigrated from Co. Armagh in 1840, returned in 1952. He finally settled in St. Cleran’s House, Co. Galway for over 18 years.  He brought Marlon Brando to Ireland and shot Moby Dick in Youghal with Gregory Peck. John Huston owned Ireland’s first Monet and a Juan Gris. He bought the work of many Irish artists, but Yeats reflected his feelings for this country. He was forced to sell most of his collection before his death.
    This painting is estimated at 150,000-250,000.
    UDATE:  This was the top lot in sale which realised 1.53 million and where 80 per cent of lots found buyers.  It made 140,000.

    NEWFLASH – SHEPPARDS AND MEALY’S POSTONED DUE TO BAD WEATHER.

    Monday, November 29th, 2010
    ADVERSE weather conditions in Ireland have led both Sheppards and Mealy’s to postpone their sales for a week.  Snow is predicted in Counties Kilkenny and Laois, with heavy falls anticipated for Dublin and the east coast.
    Sheppards have rescheduled their three day sale for December 14, 15 AND 16.
    Mealy’s has re-positioned their two day sale due to take place on November 30 and December 1 to December 7 at 10 a.m. The entire sale of around 1,200 lots is now to be held on that day.
    See posts on antiquesandartireland.com for November 24 and November 23.

    HENRY THE BANKER AT ADAMS ART AUCTION

    Wednesday, November 24th, 2010

    Clouds at Sunset by Paul Henry made a hammer price of 55,000 at the Adams sale of the Bank of Ireland collection. It was the top price paid. The painting had been estimated at 30,000-50,000. (click to enlarge).

    Paul Henry’s Clouds at Sunset was the top lot at the James Adam sale of the Bank of Ireland collection in Dublin on November 24.  It made a hammer price of 55,000.  Such was the interest in the sale – 4,000 people turned up to view – that the venue had to  be moved from the Adams salesroom to the Great Room at the adjacent Shelbourne Hotel in Dublin.

    Louis le Brocquy’s Study towards an image of James Joyce (est. 50,000-70,000) and Gerard Dillon’s Out with the Nets (est. 25,000-35,000) each sold for 50,000.  Next on the list were works by Patrick Collins and Basil Blackshaw, which each made a hammer price of 38,000.

    Paintings by Tony O’Malley and Basil Blackshaw made 36,000 at hammer, a le Brocquy and a work by Sean Keating each made 32,000 and and top ten was completed by another le Brocquy which sold for 30,000.

    The sale of 145 lots realised 1.5 million and achieved good prices across the board.  All but one painting, Barrie Cooke’s large museum quality triptych entitled Big Forest Borneo, found buyers.  A number of works went above the top estimate, most sold for well into the estimated price and some achieved their lower estimate.

    See posts on antiquesandartireland.com for October 20 and October 13, and the video posted on October 31.

    SHEPPARDS THREE DAY SALE

    Wednesday, November 24th, 2010

    This large famille rose Chinese punch bowl is at Sheppards. UPDATE: THIS WAS UNSOLD.

    An early 18th century Irish gilt console table from the Sheppards sale. UPDATE: THIS MADE 10,500

    Sheppards three day sale in Durrow, Co. Laois on Tuesday, November 30 and Wednesday and Thursday December 1 and 2 features much of interest to collectors.  Among over 1,500 lots there are 96 pieces of Chinese ceramics from the same Co. Carlow private collection which yielded the Qianlong vase which made 110,000 earlier this year.

    The early 18th century Irish gilt console table featured here is estimated at 8,000-12,000. The 18th century Irish tea table with circular serpentine scallop carved top is estimated at 5,000-8,000.  The Chinese Imari ginger jar is estimated at 2,000-3,000 and the Chinese blue and white dish has an estimate of 50-150.  The large Chinese punch bowl, decorated with pheasant and quail in a rocky landscape amid peony blossoms is estimated at 1,400-1,800.

    The auction begins each day at 2 p.m.

    POSTPONED TWICE DUE TO ADVERSE WEATHER.  WILL NOW TAKE PLACE ON DECEMBER 14, 15 and 16

    A Chinese Imari ginger jar and matching lid from a private Carlow collection at Sheppards.

    This Chinese blue and white dish is at Sheppards.

    This 18th century Irish tea table is at Sheppards. UPDATE: IT MADE 5,400

    BANTRY HOUSE IRISH REGENCY MIRRORS AT MEALY’S

    Tuesday, November 23rd, 2010

    This Regency mirror was originally in Bantry House. (click to enlarge) The mirrors failed to sell.

    ONE of a pair of Irish Regency gilt convex girandole mirrors with eagle crests probably by Clare, Grand Parade, Cork – originally from Bantry House – will feature at the Mealy’s two day winter fine arts and decorative sale in Castlecomer, Co. Kilkenny on November 30 and December 1.

    It is one of three lots from Bantry House in the sale.  The mirrors are estimated at 10,000-15,000. A late George III twin pedestal dining table is estimated at 4,000-6,000 and a pair of George III knife boxes with a slope top and serpentine front applied with brass carrying handles originally part of the dining room furniture is estimated at 800-1,500.

    Bantry House, Bantry has been home to the White family since 1739.
    Mealy’s 1166 lot sale features Irish paintings by artists like William Mulready, Walter Osborne, Aloysius O’Kelly, Frank McKelvey, Daniel Maclise, Augustus Nicholas Burke and William Saddler II.
    There are clocks and other timepieces, a collection of vintage fashion and costume, Irish and other period silver and plate, jewellery and a single owner private collection of wine, port and whiskey.
    POSTPONED UNTIL DECEMBER 7 DUE TO BAD WEATHER.
    UPDATE:  THE mirrors failed to sell at auction, under active negotiation afterwards.  The sale realised just under 380,000, about 40 per cent of lots were unsold, but the high value lots found buyers.

    PAUL HENRY AT WHYTE’S NOVEMBER IRISH ART SALE

    Monday, November 22nd, 2010

    Fisherman in a Currach is the title of this 1910 work by Paul Henry. It features at the Whyte's sale in Dublin on November 29. (click to enlarge) UPDATE: IT MADE 145,000

    Donegal Dancer by William Conor features at Whyte's on November 29. It is estimated at 3,000-5,000. UPDATE: THIS WAS UNSOLD

    Painted shortly after Paul Henry first arrived on Achill Island in 1910 the painting on the left is one of a number of works that record the artist’s excitement at his new found surroundings. It is entitled Fisherman in a Currach. The setting is Achill Island and must almost certainly be the Cathedral Rocks at the northern end of the Menawn Cliffs at Keel; the distant island is Inishgallon.  The work will feature at the Whyte’s sale in the RDS on Monday, November 29 at 6 p. m.  It is estimated at 100,000-150,000.
    There are a number of works in the sale donated by leading Irish artists to raise funds for Amnesty International.  Among those who have contributed paintings are Robert Ballagh, Barrie Cooke and Alice Maher.
    There is an illustration by Harry Clarke of John Keats’  The Eve of St. Agnes and this 191 lot sale features works by Percy French and William Conor and a Mediterranean scene by Nathanial Hone.
    The venue for the sale is the RDS Clyde Rooms, Anglesea Road, Ballsbridge, Dublin 4.  Viewing is from Saturday, November 27 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily.
    UPDATE: Fisherman in a Currach was the top lot at this sale. It made 145,000.  Harry Clarke’s illusation for The Eve of St. Agnes made 15,500.  Watercolours by Percy French made various sums of between 1,500 and 6,000 and most of the offerings from William Conor sold too.  Conor’s The Potato Pickers made 21,000. Nathanial Hone’s Fishing Boats at Villefranche c1880 made 35,000, John Behan’s unique bronze Famine Ship made 10,000 and a diptych by John Shinnors sold for 14,500

    SAMUEL BECKETT’S ENDGAME, A RARE FIRST EDITION

    Sunday, November 21st, 2010

    A first edition of Endgame for sale in Cork. UPDATE: IT WAS UNSOLD

    Samuel Beckett’s Endgame,  in its first French edition from 1957, comes up at the Morgan O’Driscoll sale in Cork on Monday, November 29.
    Arriving on the market at the moment when the financial game is up for Ireland, the national endgame for this indebted country involving a financial bailout from the IMF, the ECB and countries like Britain and Sweden, this particular version is Number 32 in an edition of 54 numbered copies.  It is estimated at 3,500-4,500.
    Endgame is a one act play with four characters by the Nobel Prize winning Irish writer. It was originally written in French and entitled Fin de partie.  Beckett, as was his custom, translated it into English.
    The play was first performed in a French language production at the Royal Court Theatre in London in 1957.
    A first edition of L’innommable (The Unnamable) by Beckett, inscribed by the author in 1953, also features in the sale.  It is estimated at 3,000-4,000.
    L’innommable is the final installment of Beckett’s trilogy of novels Molloy/Malone Dies/The Unnamable.   This edition was inscribed by Beckett to his Swedish translator Carl Gustaf Birger Bjurstrom.
    Morgan O’Driscoll will conduct two auctions at the Radisson Hotel at Little Island in Cork on November 29,   The 296 lot antique furniture, silver, Republican memorabilia and rare book
    auction at 4 p.m. will be followed by a 225 lot art sale at 7 p.m.

    The Marriage of Strongbow and Aoife

    Thursday, November 18th, 2010

    A detail from The Marriage of Strongbow and Aoife at the National Gallery of Ireland, which is to be restored. Photo © National Gallery of Ireland (click to enlarge)

    The Marriage of Strongbow and Aoife by Cork born historical painter Daniel Maclise (1806-1870) at the National Gallery of Ireland is to be restored.

    The work on one of the most popular paintings in the collection, viewed by around 750,000 people each year, is made possible through the generosity of the Art Conservation Fund of Bank of America Merrill Lynch.

    The painting will undergo a preliminary technical examination with ultraviolet and infrared reflectography and radiography. This will enable conservators to investigate areas of over-painting, as well as any original under drawings and alterations to the composition. The Maclise painting, which presents extraordinary conservation challenges because of its size (317 x 515cm), requires a selection of structural treatments.

    Aoife, daughter of Dermot McMurrough, King of Leinster, married Richard de Clare, the 2nd Earl of Pembroke, known as Strongbow, in Waterford in 1170.  He was the leader of the Norman Invasion into Ireland.

    Dr. Brendan Rooney, Curator of Irish art at the National Gallery of Ireland, remarked: “Historical subjects of this kind are relatively rare in Irish art, and Cork-born Maclise’s technical ability was exceptional.

    DOLANS IRISH ART IN GALWAY

    Wednesday, November 17th, 2010

    The Ploughed Field by Jay Murphy (estimated at 500-800) features at the Dolans Art Auction at the Marriott Hotel in Galway on Sunday, November 21. (click on image to enlarge) UPDATE: THIS WAS UNSOLD

    This watercolour by Annemarie Bourke entitled Aspects of Galway (estimated at 800-1,200) features at the Dolan's art auction on November 21. (click to enlarge) UPDATE: IT MADE 1,000

    Traditional and contemporary work by Irish artists features at the Dolans art auction at the Marriott Hotel in Galway on Sunday November 21 at 3 p.m.  The emphasis is on affordability.

    EARLY GIANT’S CAUSEWAY PHOTOGRAPHS AT BONHAMS

    Wednesday, November 17th, 2010

    An album of rare photographs of the Giant’s Causeway taken in 1867 by Dublin based photographer, F H Mares is a feature of Bonhams sale of  Books, Maps and Historical Photographs in Oxford on  November 30 next.  The album is inscribed: “Emma Townsend, from her affectionate Sister Bessie on the return from Ireland, March 27th, 1879” and is estimated at £200 – 400.

    The Giant's Causeway in the 19th century. (click to enlarge) taken in 1867 by Dublin based photographer, F H Mares is a feature of Bonhams sale of Books, Maps and Historical Photographs in Oxford on November 30 next. The album is inscribed: "Emma Townsend, from her affectionate Sister Bessie on the return from Ireland, March 27th, 1879" and is estimated at £200 - 400. UPDATE: IT MADE £660.

    Other lots of Irish interest include the Dublin Edition of Clarendon’s History of the Civil Wars in England from the library of the 5th Earl of Drogheda (£300-500): a set of over 80 photographs of personalities of the Kildare Hunt from 1890, (£300-500): 80 books and manuscripts belonging to the Earls of Donoughmore contain a scare eighteenth century devotional work in Irish, ‘An Teagasg Criosdiadhe,’ by Bonaventure O’Hussey, (£900-1,200).
    This influential Tridentine catechism was written in Antwerp in the early years of the 17th century to increase awareness of  international developments in catholic practice in Gaelic Ireland.
    The collection also features a group of rare librettos for eighteenth century comic operas performed at the Theatre Royal, Smock Alley, Dublin (£1,000-1,500). They include Galluppi’s ‘The Guardian Trick’d’ and the 1762 work, ‘The Fair of Malmantile,’ by Goldoni.
    UPDATE: THE F.H. Mares album made £660, the Kildare Hunt photographs sold for £864, An Teagasg Criosdiadhe made £2,880 and the Theatre Royal librettos failed to sell.