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  • Archive for June, 2013

    MASTERPIECE FAIR NOW IN FULL SWING AT CHELSEA

    Thursday, June 27th, 2013

    Masterpiece 2013 is underway at the South Grounds of the Royal Hospital, Chelsea, London.  Now in its fourth year the fair has established itself as a worthy successor to the Grosvenor House Fair and it brings collectors, art dealers and curators from around the world.  A huge range of goods is on offer in a luxurious purpose built mall type environment packed with everything from antiquities to antique furniture, jewellery, art, sculpture, tirbal art and even classic cars.  Here is a small selection from a huge range.  Masterpiece runs until July 3.

    (See post on antiquesandartireland.com for May 28, 2013).

    The Beethoven Secretaire c1815, Pelham Galleries.

    The Beethoven Secretaire c1815, Pelham Galleries.

    A walnut Angel with Tambourine with original gilding, Lombardy, mid 15th century at Mullany.

    A walnut Angel with Tambourine with original gilding, Lombardy, mid 15th century at Mullany.

    A c Ist century A.D.  Roman relief of a Bacchante or Maenad at Rupert Wace Ancient Art Ltd.

    A c Ist century A.D. Roman relief of a Bacchante or Maenad at Rupert Wace Ancient Art Ltd.

    An English Queen Anne black japanned bureau cabinet c1710 at  Ronald Phillips.

    An English Queen Anne black japanned bureau cabinet c1710 at Ronald Phillips.

    A pair of antique alabaster vases on pedestals at Butchoff Antiques.

    A pair of antique alabaster vases on pedestals at Butchoff Antiques.

    A mid 20th century citrine cluster brooch pendant by Boucheron Paris c1940 at S.J. Phillips Ltd.

    A mid 20th century citrine cluster brooch pendant by Boucheron Paris c1940 at S.J. Phillips Ltd.

    BACON LEADS SOTHEBY’S CONTEMPORARY AUCTION

    Thursday, June 27th, 2013

     

    Francis Bacon's Three Studies of Isabel Rawsthorne 1966 made £11,282,500 and was the top lot at Sotheby's. (Click on image to enlarge).

    Francis Bacon’s Three Studies of Isabel Rawsthorne 1966 made £11,282,500 and was the top lot at Sotheby’s. (Click on image to enlarge).

    Works by Francis Bacon led Sotheby’s contemporary art evening auction in London on June 26. The sale realised £75.8 million with an average lot value of £1.43 million, one of the highest figures for the category in London. More than 90% of lots sold achieved prices at or above estimates.  Bacon’s 1966 triptych portrait of Isabel Rawsthorne made £11,282,500 while the first work the artist ever sold, Head III made £10,442,500.  Bidders from 38 countries participated.

    Double East Yorkshire by David Hockney sold for £3,442,500. (Click on image to enlarge).

    Double East Yorkshire by David Hockney sold for £3,442,500. (Click on image to enlarge).

     

    Afterwards Alex Branczik of Sotheby’s said: “Tonight’s sale was all about the quest for quality – quality across categories – from the modern masters to the new generation of artists”.

    (See post on antiquesandartireland.com for June 10, 2013).

    IRISH ART AT CHRISTIE’S IN JULY

    Wednesday, June 26th, 2013

    Some Irish art from the Modern British and Irish art day sale at Christie’s in London on July 11. All images courtesy Christie’s Images Ltd., 2013.  (Click on any image to enlarge it~).

    (See post on antiquesandartireland.com for June 14, 2013).

    Patrick Hickey (1927-1999) Morning, Wicklow Hillside (£3,000-5,000).

    Patrick Hickey (1927-1999)
    Morning, Wicklow Hillside (£3,000-5,000).

    Jack Butler Yeats, R.H.A. (1871-1957) Early Away (£60,000-80,000).

    Jack Butler Yeats, R.H.A. (1871-1957)
    Early Away (£60,000-80,000).

    Sir William Orpen, R.A. (1878-1931) The First Costume (La Premiere Mode) (£10,000-15,000).

    Sir William Orpen, R.A. (1878-1931)
    The First Costume (La Premiere Mode) (£10,000-15,000).

    MORGAN O’DRISCOLL’S ONLINE IRISH ART AUCTION

    Wednesday, June 26th, 2013

    “Off the Wall” is the title of Morgan O’Driscoll’s

    Mark O'Neill (b.1963) The White Ensemble (3,500-4,500).

    Mark O’Neill (b.1963)
    The White Ensemble (3,500-4,500).  UPDATE: THIS MADE 3,000

    current online art auction.  Featuring 212 lots of mostly Irish art it continues until July 1 at 6.30 p.m.  The catalogue is online. Here is a  small selection.

    Mark O'Neill (b.1963) Le Magasin De Vin (4,000=6,000).

    Mark O’Neill (b.1963)
    Le Magasin du Vin (4,000=6,000).  UPDATE: THIS MADE 9,700.

    Markey Robinson (1918-1999) Still Life, Flowers and Fruit  (1,500-2,000).

    Markey Robinson (1918-1999)
    Still Life, Flowers and Fruit (1,500-2,000).  UPDATE: THIS MADE 1,300

    Markey Robinson (1918-1999) Walking Through The Woods  (800-1,200).

    Markey Robinson (1918-1999)
    Walking Through The Woods (800-1,200).  UPDATE: THIS MADE 600

    MASTERPIECES OF FURNITURE AND DECORATIVE ARTS AT SOTHEBY’S

    Tuesday, June 25th, 2013
    Late Renaissance table top, antique Roman marble inlay.

    Late Renaissance table top, antique Roman marble inlay. UPDATE: THIS SOLD FOR £962,500 AND WAS THE TOP LOT AT THE AUCTION.

    Masterpieces of furniture and decorative arts will feature at Sotheby’s fourth successive sale of Treasures, Princely Taste in London on July 3.  Ranging in date from the 16th to the 20th centuries the sale of just 49 lots  – many commissioned by or made for European rulers and dynasties such as the Medici, Catherine the Great and Napoleon – features highlights such as a magnificent Renaissance table top inlaid with marbles from Roman ruins.  It is estimated at £800,000-1,200,000.  A pair of ivory vases with gilt bronze mounts is estimated at £600,000-1,000,000 and an iconic medal cabinet probably made for Napoleon has an estimate of £300,000-500,000.

    Mario Tavella, deputy chairman, Sotheby’s Europe, commented:“Each of the magnificent pieces in this sale meets the definition of a “treasure”. In addition to their desirability relating to the sumptuous materials of which they are composed and the craftsmanship of the greatest artists of their time, these treasures – formerly the preserve of kings, princes and popes – each carry with them a fascinating story. The very few similar examples known today are preserved in the world’s most important museums. Many of the lots presented in July have been in the same collections for centuries and the sale represents a once in a lifetime opportunity to acquire them.”

    UPDATE:  The sale totalled £9,218,850.

    de Veres online Irish art auction

    Monday, June 24th, 2013

    A total of 167 lots will come under the hammer at de Veres online auction which closes at 7 p.m. on June 26.  Meantime all works are on view at de Veres at Kildare St. in Dublin.  This is a timed auction with bidding carried out through saleroom.com   The catalogue and instructions are online at de Veres.  Here is a small selection:

    Theo McNabb - Study for Room 7/7 (400-600).

    Theo McNabb – Study for Room 7/7 (400-600).

    Peter Curling, Geraniums Stody, 1,000-1,500.

    Peter Curling, Geraniums Stody, 1,000-1,500.

    Elizabeth Cope - Globe artichokes, Tuktan rug in dining room at Shankill Centre (500-700).

    Elizabeth Cope – Globe artichokes, Tuktan rug in dining room at Shankill Centre (500-700).

    Brian Ballard RUA, Objects and Gerbras (1,000-1,500).

    Brian Ballard RUA, Objects and Gerbras (1,000-1,500).

    EL GRECO AT SOTHEBY’S IN JULY

    Friday, June 21st, 2013
    El Greco, St Dominic in Prayer.  (Click on image to enlarge).

    El Greco, St Dominic in Prayer. (Click on image to enlarge).  UPDATE: IT SOLD FOR £9,154,500 – A RECORD FOR A SPANISH OLD MASTER.

    For the first time in living memory two masterworks by El Greco will feature in the same sale. Christ on the Cross and St. Dominic in Prayer are among the highlights at Sotheby’s Old Master and British Paintings evening sale on July 3 in London.  They will make their auction debut after more than 400 years and are estimated at £3-5 million each.

    Giandomenico Tiepolo, Six frescoes.  (Click to enlarge).

    Giandomenico Tiepolo, Six frescoes. (Click to enlarge). UPDATE: THIS SOLD FOR £3,218,500, A RECORD FOR THE ARTIST.

    Frescoes rarely appear at auction and unusually there is a set of six monumental gold ground frescoes by Tiepolo at this sale.  Dating from 1760 and originally at the Palazzo Porto in Vicenza (designed by Palladio) they were removed in 1900 and brought to Berlin.  Since 1966 they have been in the collection of Dr. Gustav Rau (1922-2002).  The set is estimated at £3-5 million.  The sale of 48 lots has a combined estimate of £23.7 million.

    UPDATE:  With an unprecedented level of participation from new markets and buyers from 33 countries the sale realised £35,048,000. El Greco’s Christ on the Cross sold for £3,442,500.

    HOUSE CONTENTS AUCTION IN CAVAN THIS SUNDAY

    Thursday, June 20th, 2013

    More than 700 lots will come under the hammer at an on the premises house sale in Cavan town on Sunday, June 23 at noon.  Matthews of Oldcastle will offer contents from Drumbar House.  It will feature antique furniture including Irish pieces, art, silver, garden furniture and household effects.  The catalogue is on-line. Here is a small selection (click on any image to enlarge it).

    A pair of heavy cast iron canons each 17 inches high (200-300).

    A pair of heavy cast iron canons each 17 inches high (200-300). UPDATE: THESE MADE 150

    A Killarney work table (4,000-7,000).

    A Killarney work table (4,000-7,000).  UPDATE: THIS MADE 3,100

    A Dresden centrepiece (200-300).

    A Dresden centrepiece (200-300). UPDATE: THIS MADE 130

    A pair of Oriental vases with original covers (250-350).

    A pair of Oriental vases with original covers (250-350).  UPDATE: THESE MADE 300

    A Regency dining table (600-900)

    A Regency dining table (600-900) UPDATE: THIS MADE 600

    A Victorian rococo style overmantle (800-1,200).

    A Victorian rococo style overmantle (800-1,200). UPDATE: THIS MADE 500

    MONET MAKES RECORD FOR VENETIAN PAINTING

    Wednesday, June 19th, 2013
    Claude Monet Le Palais Contarini  (£15-20 million). (Click on image to enlarge).

    Claude Monet Le Palais Contarini (£15-20 million). (Click on image to enlarge).

    Monet’s 1908 view of Venice, Le Palais Contarini, sold for £19,682,500 at Sotheby’s in London tonight.  This is the highest price ever for a Venetian painting by the artist. The work was completed while Monet and his wife spent three months in Venice.  It has been widely exhibited around the world and was in the Turner, Whistler, Monet exhibition at Tate Britain in 2005.

    Moments before Piet Mondrian’s Composition with Red, Yellow and Blue (1927) sold for £9,266,500. Five bidders competed for the work, which was eventually knocked down to a bidder on the telephone.

    The Monet was the top lot in an auction which brought in £105,939,000, just exceeding the high pre-sale estimate of £104 million.  Bidders from 33 countries competed on the telephones, in the saleroom and online. The auction was 81.7% sold by lot.

    (See posts on antiquesandartireland.com for June 6 and May 31, 2013).

    EXPRESSIONIST MASTERPIECE BY KANDISKY TOPS CHRISTIE’S SALE

    Wednesday, June 19th, 2013
    Studie zu Improvisation 3 by Wassily Kandinsky is estimated at £12.18 million. CHRISTIE'S IMAGES LTD. 2013 (CLICK ON IMAGE TO ENLARGE).

    Studie zu Improvisation 3 by Wassily Kandinsky is estimated at £12.18 million. CHRISTIE’S IMAGES LTD. 2013 

    Wassily Kandinsy’s Expressionist masterpiece Studie zu Improvisation 3, 1909 was the top lot at Christie’s sale of Impressionist and Modern art in London on June 18.  It made £13,501, 875 in a sale with an overall total of £64,076,575 over a pre-sale estimate of £52.8-75.8 million. The auction was 84% sold by lot and 87% by value and 18 works sold for over £1 million. Modigliani’s 1916 portrait of his dealer Paul Guillaume made £6,781,875. Picasso’s Femme Assise dans un fauteuil made £6,109,875 and Paul Signac’s Sainte Anne (St. Tropez) sold for £3,533,875.

    Jay Vincze, head of Impressionist and Modern Art at Christie’s London said:  “This evening’s auction saw solid results and the continuing strength of selling rates in the category at Christie’s in 2013. There was great depth of bidding on works of high quality at all price levels, with strong participation from many new and existing collectors from both traditional and growth markets, including Greater China and India. The global appeal and accessibility of Impressionist and Modern Art at Christie’s was further highlighted by the auction of ‘Picasso Ceramics’ at South Kensington which was 100% sold by lot and also attracted new bidders from around the world.”