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Still Life with Saucepan by William Scott made a hammer price of €72,000 at Whyte’s sale of Important Irish Art in Dublin last night. Whyte’s reported a strong sale despite the economic downturn, with many buyers looking for a hedge against inflation. The auction grossed €1.25 million with 75% of lots sold. The top price was €160,000 for Sunshine and Blossom by Walter Osborne, Turf Stacks in the West by Paul Henry made €130,000 and Unloading the Turf Boat, Aran by Sean Keating made €75,000.
With everything from an Irish rugby jersey signed by the 2004 Triple Crown winning team to an 183o’s Irish silver tea service Whyte’s annual Christmas auction in Dublin on December 10 spans a wide range of collectible items. A new feature of this festive auction is some rare and interesting wine and whiskey. Jewellery includes a ladies Rolex Cellini 18 carat gold watch and there is a range of silver from the early 1700’s to the 1920’s. First edition books, a range of entertainment and sporting memorabilia and a small collection of antique die cast toys are included. The catalogue is online. Here is a small selection:
2004 Rubgy jersey signed by Irish Triple Crown team Andy Farrell testimonial (200-300) UPDATE: THIS SOLD FOR 190
A bottle of Christmas cheer. UPDATE: THIS WAS UNSOLD
Mid 20th century Dunhill Aquarium table lighter (2,000-5,000) UPDATE: THIS MADE 4,600 AT HAMMER
Chiparus Art Deco bronze and ivory figure of a dancer (!,000-1,500) UPDATE: THIS WAS WITHDRAWN
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The Fenians meet General Blackader at Whyte’s sale of History, Literature and Collectibles in Dublin on October 17. Lot 104 in the auction is a surviving door fragment from an explosion at the division corridor in the House of Commons, London. On January 24, 1885 in an event dubbed “Dynamite Sunday” the Fenians detonated near simultaneous explosions at the Tower of London, Westminster Crypt and the Chamber of the House of Commons. The door fragment is estimated at 150-200.
Lot 189 is described by Whyte’s as the only known trophy created to celebrate a British victory in 1916 and it is inscribed to General Blackader. Charles Blackader commanded a territorial brigade in Dublin during the Easter Rising. He presided over the court at Richmond Barracks where most of the leaders of the Rising were sentenced to death. The trophy is a 12lb artillery shell case in a timber and brass frame is stamped “HMY Helga – The call to arms – Liberty Strikes”. “HMY Helga” refers to the armed auxiliary patrol yacht of that name, armed with a twelve-pounder coastal defence gun. During the Rising the Helga shelled Boland’s Mills, Liberty Hall, the GPO and surrounding areas. The gong was purchased by the current owner in Islington Market in 1987. Although now living in Ireland, at the time of purchase she was a Japanese student with Irish connections who liked it because it reminded her of a Shinto temple bell. It is estimated at 800-1,200.
The surviving fragment of a door from the Division Corridor at the House of Commons. UPDATE: THIS MADE 620
The gong fashioned from an artillery case and stamped General Blackader. UPDATE: THIS SOLD FOR 2,600 AT HAMMER
