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  • Archive for July, 2013

    RARE VISUAL RECORD OF WEST OF IRELAND LIFE IN THE 1830’S

    Thursday, July 11th, 2013

    A rare visual record of life in the west of Ireland  in the first half of the 19th century is currently on exhibition at the National Gallery in Dublin.  William Evans of Eton (1798-1877), drawing master at England’s most prestigious public school, travelled to Ireland in 1835 and 1838, touring Galway and Mayo and recording images of the the landscape and its inhabitants.  

    Few images of pre-Famine Ireland exist. In 2008 the National Gallery of Ireland acquired a collection of 41 watercolours of west of Ireland scenes by the English topographical artist. The work is currently on display at the National Gallery in an exhibition entitled From Galway to Leenane: Perceptions of Landscape.  Evans’s traditional watercolours are shown alongside new work by Irish artist Wendy Judge who explores the ida of virtual travel.  The show continues until September 29. (Click on any image to enlarge it).

    William Evans of Eton (1798-1877) Spanish Arch, the Claddagh in the distance, Galway, 1838 Photo © National Gallery of Ireland

    William Evans of Eton (1798-1877)
    Spanish Arch, the Claddagh in the distance, Galway, 1838
    Photo © National Gallery of Ireland

     

    William Evans of Eton (1798-1877) Cor, Maam Valley, Connemara, 1838 Photo © National Gallery of Ireland

    William Evans of Eton (1798-1877)
    Cor, Maam Valley, Connemara, 1838
    Photo © National Gallery of Ireland

     

    William Evans of Eton (1798-1877) Killary, near the mouth of the Bundoracha River, County Mayo, 1838 Photo © National Gallery of Ireland

    William Evans of Eton (1798-1877)
    Killary, near the mouth of the Bundoracha River, County Mayo, 1838
    Photo © National Gallery of Ireland

     

    BECKETT’S WORKING DRAFT OF “MURPHY” SELLS FOR £962,500

    Wednesday, July 10th, 2013

    Samuel Beckett’s working draft for his first novel “Murphy” sold for £962,500 at Sotheby’s

    A page from Beckett's manuscript for "Murphy".

    A page from Beckett’s manuscript for “Murphy”.

    in London today. It was bought by the University of Reading.  Interest was global and Sotheby’s described the six handwritten exercise books dating between August 1935 and June 1936 as:  “The most important manuscript of a complete novel by a modern British or Irish writer to appear at auction for many decades”.  It had been estimated at £800,000-1.2 million.

    Sir David Bell, Vice-Chancellor, University of Reading, commented: “It is important that world-renowned institutions such as the University of Reading can continue to fund access to knowledge and the best resources for researchers and students. The acquisition of Murphy will provide unparalleled opportunities to learn more about one of the greatest writers in living memory, if not all time.”

    (See post on antiquesandartireland.com for May 31, 2013).

    CORK DINING CHAIRS AT LYNES AND LYNES AUCTION

    Saturday, July 6th, 2013

    The Lynes and Lynes auction at Carrigtwohill, Co. Cork on July 13 features two sets of Cork 11-bar dining chairs, each estimated at 2,000-3,000.  There is a selection of antique furniture and collectibles including a mid 19th century campaign chaise longue by Ross and Co. Ellis Quay, Dublin (1,000-1,500).   The catalogue is on-line. Here is a small selection.

    An antique Wedgwood blue and white bucket and it'd (100-200)

    An antique Wedgwood blue and white bucket and lid (100-200)  UPDATE: THIS MADE 65

    A set of ten Cork 11-bar chairs (2,000-3,000).

    A set of ten Cork 11-bar chairs (2,000-3,000).  UPDATE: THIS MADE 2,800

    A carved walnut campaign chaise-longue by Ross and Co. Ellis Quay, Dublin. (1,000-1,500).

    A carved walnut campaign chaise-longue by Ross and Co. Ellis Quay, Dublin. (1,000-1,500). UPDATE: THIS MADE 1,150

    An antique pitch pine cabinet c1880 (700-1,000).

    An antique pitch pine cabinet c1880 (700-1,000).  UPDATE: UNSOLD AND UNDER NEGOTIATION AFTER THE AUCTION.

    SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE AT SHEPPARDS FOUR DAY SALE

    Friday, July 5th, 2013

    A whopping 2,300 lots will come under the hammer at Sheppards four day sale in Durrow, Co. Laois on July 9, 10, 11 and 12 at 10,30 a.m. on each day.  There is everything from architectural salvage to antique furniture, art, collectibles and Asian art across huge price ranges. This is an auction with something for everyone.  The catalogue is on-line. Here is a small selection.

    Japanese ivory netsuke, Sculptor with mallet (200-400).

    Japanese ivory netsuke, Sculptor with mallet (200-400).

    Pair of  18th century terrestrial globes, by Gabriel Wright (3,000-5,000).

    Pair of 18th century terrestrial globes, by Gabriel Wright (3,000-5,000).

    19th century Russian gold and enamelled desk clock, encrusted with diamonds, signed Hoeg Zoib, in original case (5,000-8,000).

    19th century Russian gold and enamelled desk clock, encrusted with diamonds, signed Hoeg Zoib, in original case (5,000-8,000).

     

    Pair of 19th century gilt brass girandole mirrors, with ivory/bone counters dominoes and draughts (300-500).

    Pair of 19th century gilt brass girandole mirrors, with ivory/bone counters dominoes and draughts (300-500).

    David Cobb, ROI, RSNA, Born 1921, Mountains of Mourne (300-500).David Cobb, ROI, RSNA, Born 1921, Mountains of Mourne (300-500).

    A 19th century Gothic carved stone bank facade off Royal Avenue, Belfast in storage for over 60 years (15,000-20,000).

    A 19th century Gothic carved stone bank facade off Royal Avenue, Belfast in storage for over 60 years (15,000-20,000).

    STRONG SALES AND LEADING CURATORS AT MASTERPIECE

    Friday, July 5th, 2013
    Geoffrey Diner Gallery won the best stand award.  The Lichtenstein Puzzle Portrait is on the right of the image.

    Geoffrey Diner Gallery won the best stand award. The Lichtenstein Puzzle Portrait is on the right of the image.

    Strong sales, a rise of 20% in visitor numbers to just under 34,000 and curators from leading museums characterised the Masterpiece Fair in London this year.  The fair attracted curators from the Rijksmusuem, Wallace Collection, Peabody Essex Museum, Legion of Honour – Fine Arts Museum San Francisco, Victoria & Albert Museum, Tate, The Fitzwilliam Museum, The Louvre, Metropolitan Museum of Art, Cleveland Museum of Art, Art Institute of Chicago, Yale Centre for British Art, Getty, Sir John Soane Museum, Dresden were among the museum interest. The British Museum bought ‘Grid 21’ by Hadieh Shafie from Leila Heller Gallery.

    The Washington based Geoffrey Diner Gallery, which won the best stand award, is currently considering offers on Roy Lichtenstein’s Puzzle Portrait of 1978.

    Nazy Vassegh Masterpiece London’s CEO commented “The calibre of works offered at Masterpiece London this year was, across the board, exceptionally high. This strength was reflected in the increased attendance and the presence of many important collectors. I would like to thank the exhibitors and our partners for the huge effort they put into making this an exceptional year, and look forward to 2014 to build on the current success. In the meantime we will be working on a variety of international events to help shape and promote the fair around the world including the European Masterpieces Pavilion at Fine Art Asia 3-7 Oct 2013.”

    (See posts on antiquesandartireland.com for June 27 and May 28, 2013)

    ART DECO JEWELLERY AND JOYCE’S ULYSSES AT O’REILLY’S

    Friday, July 5th, 2013

    Art Deco jewellery and Joyce’s Ulysses feature at the next sale at O’Reilly’s of Francis St., Dublin on July 17.  The sale offers a number of Art Deco brooches, bracelets and rings and no less than three copies of Ulysses by James Joyce.  All are limited editions.  The most expensive first edition is estimated at 6,500-7,500, the other two are estimated respectively at 1,250-1,450 and 600-800. Around 400 lots of antique, Art Deco and vintage jewellery, silver and art will come under the hammer.

    Art Deco diamond plaque brooch (12,000-14,000).

    Art Deco diamond plaque brooch (12,000-14,000).  UPDATE: THIS SOLD FOR 13,000.

    James Joyce, Ulysses, Parish Shakespeare and Co., 1922, First Edition (6,500-7,500).

    James Joyce, Ulysses, Parish Shakespeare and Co., 1922, First Edition (6,500-7,500).  UPDATE: THIS MADE 5,200.

    POPE-HENNESSY SIDEBOARD AT MARSHS AUCTION IN CORK

    Thursday, July 4th, 2013
    The sideboard once owned by Sir John Pope Hennessy at Marshs auction in Cork.

    The sideboard once owned by Sir John Pope Hennessy at Marshs auction in Cork. UPDATE: This was unsold.

    This heavily carved oak Italian mirror backed sideboard, which comes up at Marshs auction in Cork on July 6, was once owned by Sir John Pope Hennessy, the Cork born 8th governor of Hong Kong.   It is estimated 1,500-2,000. The Cork auction will feature a selection of  Georgian, Regency and Victorian furniture and collectibles.

    Though a catholic, Sir John Pope-Hennessy served as Governor in Hong Kong from 1877 to 1883. His lifting of the ban that forbade Chinese people from owning land, constructing buildings and operating businesses in the Central District caused a development boom.  He also allowed Chinese immigrants into Hong Kong to naturalise as British subjects.

    An MP for King’s County and for North Kilkenny he had previously served consecutively as Governor of Labuan, Sierra Leone and the Windward Islands.

    GRAPHIC WORK OF WILLIAM CROZIER AT LAVIT GALLERY

    Thursday, July 4th, 2013
    THE first survey of the graphic work of artist William  Crozier (1930-2011) opens at the Lavit Gallery in Cork today.  The exhibition ranges from monotypes of the 1960’s to the Peninsula portfolio with Seamus Heaney inspired by the Irish landscape and realised in the final months of Crozier’s life. The work is characterised by vibrant colour and nervous energy in the drawing.
    Born in Scotland the artist became an Irish citizen in 1973 and maintained a home in west Cork. His work is in the National Galleries of Ireland, Canada, Poland and Australia and at the Tate Gallery in London.  The Crawford mounted a retrospective in Cork in 1991.   The show at the Lavit Gallery runs until July 24.

    William Crozier Kilcoe Strand, from the peninsula portfolio of 6 intaglio prints, 69 x 57cm, 2011.

    William Crozier – Kilcoe Strand, from the peninsula portfolio of 6 intaglio prints, 69 x 57cm, 2011.

    Two trees, intaglio print, 30 x 36cm, 2007.  (Click on image to enlarge).

    William Crozier – Two trees, intaglio print, 30 x 36cm, 2007. (Click on image to enlarge).

    EL GRECO SELLS FOR OVER £9 MILLION AT SOTHEBY’S

    Thursday, July 4th, 2013
    El Greco, St Dominic in Prayer.  (Click on image to enlarge).

    El Greco, St Dominic in Prayer. (Click on image to enlarge).

    El Greco’s St. Dominic in Prayer sold for £9,154,500 at Sotheby’s evening sale of Old Master and British Paintings in London on July 3.  A record for a Spanish Old Master the work had been estimated at £3-5 million.  It was the top lot in a sale which attracted buyers from 33 countries and realised £35,048,000 million. There were two paintingsss by El Greco – the first time in living memory that two masterworks by the artist featured in the same auction.  Christ on the Cross sold for £3,442,500.

    Claude-Joseph Vernet’s View of Avignon from the Right Bank of the Rhone sold for a record £5,346,500.

    Head of Old Master paintings at Sotheby’s Alex Bell said: “The greatest Old Master paintings have a timeless quality that transcends their era and gives them a relevance to audiences today, as tonight’s global bidding and record result for El Greco attest. The dialogue between Old and New is injecting fresh energy into our field. We’re now firmly in a new era, where clients from new markets are collecting Old Masters in new ways. Our response has been to offer the most exciting and diverse works we can find – and to present them a more contemporary way.” 

    (See post on antiquesandartireland.com for June 21, 2013).

    KATE MOSS – THE AUCTION

    Wednesday, July 3rd, 2013
    ALLEN JONES Kate Moss (bronze glitter), 2013 dye-destruction print image 42 ¾ x 42 ¾ in.  (£20,000-30,000), courtesy Christie's Images Ltd., 2013.

    ALLEN JONES
    Kate Moss (bronze glitter), 2013
    dye-destruction print
    image 42 ¾ x 42 ¾ in.
    (£20,000-30,000), courtesy Christie’s Images Ltd., 2013. UPDATE: THIS MADE £32,500

    Kate Moss the auction comes up at Christie’s in London next September 25.  Curated by Gert Elfering the sale – titled Kate Moss – The Collection – will present a selection of works in various media.  The roster of artists include Allen Jones, with his work Kate Moss (bronze glitter) 2013, (£20,000-30,000), Annie Liebovitz, Mary McCartney, Craig McDean, Irving Penn, Mario Sorrenti, Sam Taylor-Wood, Juergen Teller, Mario Testino, Ellen von Unwerth, and Albert Watson. Their images are complemented by new, specially commissioned painting and sculpture by Allen Jones, a collage by Sir Peter Blake, a tapestry by Chuck Close, and a sculpture of Kate Moss as a naked angel in 18ct gold by Nick Knight. Photographs predominate, many in exceptionally large sizes.

    Philippe Garner, director of photographs at Christie’s commented:  “Kate Moss – The Collection is a very special event at Christie’s this fall, a unique presentation of emblematic works that powerfully capture the very essence of contemporary glamour and style. Gert Elfering has applied his great flair as a curator, to the concept of bringing together a group of outstanding works around the theme of the greatest icon of style of the modern age, Kate Moss.  Gert recognised the appetite of today’s collectors for photographs that confound traditional norms.  And so he has worked with the artists involved to create unique or very limited edition printings in a range of scales that, in certain cases, reach dramatic mural proportions.  He was also keen to include works in other media, reminding us that photography, while central to our image culture, should, in the hands of its great practitioners, be measured and appreciated among the arts in all media”. (Click on any image to enlarge it).

    UPDATE: The sale realized £1,665,500. The top lot was A model Model, 2013, by Allen Jones, which realised £133,875.

    DAVID SIMMS Kate, French Vogue cover, 2005 archival pigment print image/sheet 54 x 44in.  £10,000-15,000. Courtesy Christie;s Images Ltd., 2013.

    DAVID SIMMS
    Kate, French Vogue cover, 2005
    archival pigment print
    image/sheet 54 x 44in.
    £10,000-15,000. Courtesy Christie;s Images Ltd., 2013. UPDATE: THIS MADE £12,500

    NICK KNIGHT Kate ‘Aladdin Sane’, 2003 hand coated archival pigment print image/sheet 40 x 30in.  £25,000-35,000 - Courtesy Christie's Images Ltd., 2013.

    NICK KNIGHT
    Kate ‘Aladdin Sane’, 2003
    hand coated archival pigment print
    image/sheet 40 x 30in.
    £25,000-35,000 – Courtesy Christie’s Images Ltd., 2013. UPDATE: THIS MADE £30,000

    ALBERT WATSON Kate Moss in torn veil, Marrakech, 1993, archival pigment print image 43 ½ x 34 ½ in. (£20,000-30,000). Courtesy Christie's Images Ltd., 2013.

    ALBERT WATSON
    Kate Moss in torn veil, Marrakech, 1993,
    archival pigment print
    image 43 ½ x 34 ½ in. (£20,000-30,000). Courtesy Christie’s Images Ltd., 2013. UPDATE: THIS WAS UNSOLD