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  • Archive for May, 2011

    A Parisian Café by Ilya Repin and Fabergé at Christie’s

    Sunday, May 22nd, 2011
    A Parisian Café by Ilya Repin will lead Christie’s Russian sale on June 6 in London. Painted in 1875, the work depicts a lively French café scene and represents a daring deviation from Repin’s celebrated Russian subjects. The picture was exhibited at the 1875 Parisian salon and is extensively recorded in the literature on the artist. It was acquired in 1916 by the present owner’s grandfather, who knew Repin.  On the market for the first time in almost a century it is estimated at £3-5 million.
    The afternoon session of the sale is devoted to Russian works of art.  It features more than 40 works by Fabergé, many with Russian Imperial provenance. Leading the selection is a three-colour gold and guilloché enamel Imperial presentation snuff-box by Fabergé (estimate £300,000-500,000).  This was given to Charles Robert Carrington in 1894 to commemorate his attendance at the funeral of Emperor Alexander III and the wedding of Emperor Nicholas II.
    UPDATE: Christie’s achieved the highest price for a painting ever sold in a Russian sale by an international auction house with Repin’s A Parisian Café . The picture session was 92% sold by value. Fabergé was sold 96% by value.  Christie’s say their strategy continues to prioritise quality over quantity; “with this in mind we look forward to our next sale in November.”

    A Parisian Café by Ilya Repin. UPDATE: THIS WAS SOLD FOR £4.5 MILLION, A NEW WORLD RECORD FOR THE ARTIST.

    Imperial presentation snuff-box by Fabergé. UPDATE: THIS WAS ACQUIRED BY AN AMERICAN PRIVATE COLLECTOR FOR £385,250.

    SHARKEY NO RESERVE STUDIO SALE IN CORK

    Sunday, May 22nd, 2011

    Kevin Sharkey 'Emeralds' estimated at 2,500-3,500. UPDATE: THIS SOLD FOR 1,100

    Kevin Sharkey 'All Saints Night' (estimated at 600-1,000) UPDATE: THIS SOLD FOR 180

    A no reserve studio sale of 125 lots by artist Kevin Sharkey will be conducted by auctioneer Morgan O’Driscoll in Cork on May 29.
    Sharkey, a self taught artist, was born in Dublin in 1962. He spent his formative years in Donegal and this is where he calls home. He began painting fifteen years ago. After a diverse career as a fisherman, television presenter, photographer and song-writer he now paints full time. Sharkey divides his time between Ireland and Spain.
    The artist has accumulated paintings of the past 15 years for this sale.  The work is in differing scales and estimates vary from a low of 600 to a high of 12,000.
    The sale will be held at CIT Wandesford Quay Gallery, Wandesford Quay (formerly the Fenton Gallery) in Cork city centre at 4 p.m. on Sunday, May 29.
    UPDATE:  All lots sold in an auction that brought in 80,000.

    Kevin Sharkey 'Dream Scape' (Estimate 1,600-2,400) UPDATE: THIS SOLD FOR 480

    Kevin Sharkey 'Happy Days' (estimate 8,000-12,000) UPDATE: THIS SOLD FOR 1,000

    A HAMPER FOR A QUEEN, A FOUNTAIN IN A MARKET

    Saturday, May 21st, 2011

    The cast iron three section fountain with leaf decorated tiers, acanthus leaf decoration, on circular base (3,000 - 5,000) at Woodwards. (click on image to enlarge) UPDATE: THIS WAS UNSOLD

    WHEN Queen Elizabeth visited Cork on May 20 she was presented with a hamper by the traders of the city’s English Market.  The presentation took place at the Fountain in the market.  One of the more unusual lots at Woodwards sale in Cork on May 25 is a Victorian cast iron fountain similar to the one in the market.
    It is almost certainly from the ironworks of W.R. Harris of Great Georges St. (now Washington St.) in Cork.  Their plate adorns the decorative Arts and Crafts Movement inspired fountain which has been a focal point in Cork since the 1860’s.
    The three tier fountain at Woodwards came from a grand house in North Cork.  With ornate cast acanthus leaves it is smaller than but similar to the fountain in the market which was originally the main source of water for traders.
    It is estimated at 2,000-3,000.  The Woodwards sale is at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, May 25.

    This Georgian breakfront bookcase made 3,300 at Woodwards.

    A pair of Georgian mahogany knife boxes is estimated at 200-400 at Woodwards. UPDATE: These sold for 280

    Set of eight Cork 11-bar chairs at Woodwards. The estimate is 3,000-6,000. (Click on image to enlarge) UPDATE: THESE MADE 2,900

    CONTRASTING STYLES AT ADAMS IRISH ART SALE

    Friday, May 20th, 2011

    Jack B. Yeats RHA (1871-1957) The Westering Sun ( 1950 ) at Adams on June 1. The estimate is 80,000-120,000. (Click to enlarge) UPDATE: THIS SOLD FOR 135,000

    Patrick Collins HRHA (1910-1984) Landscape with Flying Bird (1973) at Adams. The estimate is 25,000-35,000. (Click on image to enlarge) UPDATE: THIS WAS UNSOLD

    CONTRASTING styles of Irish art are illustrated in these images from the James Adam evening sale in Dublin on June 1. A total of 155 carefully chosen lots will be offered in this summer auction of Important Irish Art.

    The range and style of work on offer is considerable.  This is a sale with something to suit all tastes.  The venue for the auction is the Adam Salesroom at St. Stephen’s Green in Dublin.

    UPDATE:  The sale brought in 1.1 million.  More than 70 per cent of lots on offer found buyers.

    William Scott OBE RA (1913-1989) Cup and Pan Blues Silkscreen print estimated at 6,000-8,000 at Adams. (Click on image to enlarge) UPDATE: THIS SOLD FOR 7,500

    Erskine Nicol ARA RSA (1825-1904) Insolvent (1862) Exhibited: The Royal Academy London 1863 estimated at 15,000-20,000. (Click on image to enlarge) UPDATE: THIS SOLD FOR 36,000

    ANTIQUE AND MODERN JEWELLERY AT O’REILLY’S, DUBLIN

    Thursday, May 19th, 2011
    Antique and modern jewellery comes up at O’Reilly’s sale at Francis St., Dublin on May 25.  There are diamond solitaires, Art Deco diamond target rings, a large amethyst and diamond pendant, retro gold jewellery, a sapphire and diamond cluster pendant, a diamond necklace, bracelets and earrings.
    The 415 lot sale features some antique silver as well as paintings and collectables.
    UPDATE: This was a good sale, aided by strong global prices for gold and silver.  In the current market those with money to spend expect exceptional value.  The focus is on what an individual piece is worth.
    An antique three stone diamond ring made 12,800,  a 2.40 carat diamond solitaire ring sold for 12,600, a two carat oval diamond solitaire made  9,200, a diamond line bracelet sold for 6,000 as did a 1.09 carat diamond solitaire and an emerald and diamond line bracelet made 4,800.

    A PAIR OF OPAL AND DIAMOND CLUSTER EARRINGS (2,800-3,200). Click on image to enlarge. UPDATE: THESE SOLD FOR 3,000

    AN ANTIQUE DIAMOND AND BLUE ENAMEL CLUSTER RING, set to the centre with a diamond monogramme and crown, (3,000-4,000). Click on image to enlarge. UPDATE: THIS MADE 3,900

    AN EDWARDIAN DIAMOND TARGET RING, C. 1910 (14,000-15,000). Click to enlarge. UPDATE: This changed hands after the auction for 13,900

    AN EDWARDIAN DIAMOND PLAQUE BROOCH (4,500-5,000). Click on image to enlarge. UPDATE: This made 4,500

    FROM HENRY TO HENDRIX AT WHYTE’S IRISH ART

    Thursday, May 19th, 2011

    Paul Henry RHA (1876-1958) Cottage and Wheat Stacks at Whyte's. It is estimated at 60,000-80,000. (Click on image to enlarge) UPDATE: THIS MADE 106,000.

    Maurice MacGonigal PRHA HRA HRSA (1900-1979) THE RIVER DODDER NEAR TEMPLEOGUE, estimate 2,000-3,000. Click on image to enlarge. UPDATE: THIS MADE 1,900

    From west of Ireland landscapes by Paul Henry to Jimmy Hendrix in concert by renowned photographer John Minihane the Whytes sale on May 30 promises something for everyone.

    The venue for this 300 lot Irish art sale is the Clyde Rooms at the Royal Dublin Society.

    It Includes a unique archive of material from Jack B Yeats’ studio. There are watercolours by  Yeats, a wonderful Paul Henry from the 1920’s, Sean Keating original paintings for Synge’s Playboy of The Western World, rare early works by Miceal MacLiammoir, and a great selection of contemporary works. Whytes say that all estimates are realistic and range from 200 to 80,000.

    UPDATE: The sale grossed over 700,000 and achieved a 73 per cent sell through rate.  The Yeats archive made 24,000.

    AT THE ISLE OF WIGHT, 1969 Estimate: €500-700. (click to enlarge)”]

    John Minihan (b.1946) JIMI HENDRIX UPDATE: THIS WAS UNSOLD

    John Minihan (b.1946) RAY CHARLES IN CONCERT WATERFORD, 1993 Estimate: €500-700. (click on image to enlarge). UPDATE: THIS WAS UNSOLD

    Harry Kernoff RHA (1900-1974) PORTRAIT OF DESMOND McCARTHY, 1936 Estimate: €1500-1800. UPDATE: THIS WAS UNSOLD

    TIARA MAKES HIGHEST AUCTION PRICE EVER FOR A PIECE OF EMERALD JEWELLERY

    Wednesday, May 18th, 2011

    A detail of the emerald tiara. (Click on image to enlarge)

    The highest price ever achieved for a tiara at auction was made at Sotheby’s in Geneva on May 17.  The most important emerald and diamond tiara to have appeared at auction in over 30 years sold for a $2.7 million over the top estimate price of  CHF 11,282,500/ $12,736,927.  This also represented an auction record for a piece of emerald jewellery.

    Six bidders competed for the magnificent and extremely rare emerald and diamond tiara, circa 1900, which was formerly in the Collection of Princess Katharina Henckel von Donnersmarck.  It had been estimated at $5-$10 million).

    The sale total for the entire sale of Magnificent and Noble Jewels was CHF 78,944,900/ $89,121,687 (est. CHF 41.9 – 69 million / $ 47.3 – 77.9 million).

    See antiquesandartireland.com posts for April 26 and March 25.

    Ballagh’s Joyce and Magritte at de Veres

    Sunday, May 15th, 2011

    Robert Ballagh's l"Origine du Langue at de Veres. (click on image to enlarge) UPDATE: THIS WAS UNSOLD

    Louis le Brocquy's Cherub tapestry. (click on image to enlarge) UPDATE: IT MADE 45,000

    Robert Ballagh’s l’Origine du Langue shows René Magritte and James Joyce  seated at a window overlooking the corner of St. Stephen’s Green at the top of Grafton Street in the year 1904.  The Dublin meeting is imaginary (Magritte would have been just five or six years old at the time), the setting isn’t.  Estimated at 20,000 – 30,000 the acrylic on canvas is one of the more unusual subjects at the de Veres Irish Art evening auction at the D4 Hotel in Dubin on Tuesday, May 17.
    The sale is strong on sculpture, with examples by F.E. MacWilliam, Oisin Kelly, Rowan Gillespie, Imogen Stuart and John Behan.  Louis le Brocquy’s 1953 Aubusson tapestry entitled Cherub is another highlight. It was one of a number of tapestries commissioned in 1951 by Mrs. S.H. Stead-Ellis on the theme of The Garden of Eden.  It is estimated at 45,000-65,000.
    James Sinton Sleator succeeded Orpen as President of the Royal Hibernian Academy in 1945.  This self-portrait is estimated at 4,000-6,000.

    UPDATE:  This sale realised 400,000 at hammer.  Around 70 per cent of lots found buyers.  The le Broquy tapestry was the top lot at 45,000, an oil on photographic base by Hughie O’Donoghue made 36,000,  a bronze by Rowan Gillespie made 18,500, an oil by Gerard Dillon made 13,000, a Bahamas painting by Tony O’Malley made 11,000 and an oil on canvas by Jill Dennis made 9,000.

    James Sinton Sleator self-portrait. (click to enlarge) UPDATE: THIS WAS UNSOLD

    Man and Wife by F.E. MacWilliam at de Veres. It is estimated at 10,000-15,000. (click to enlarge) UPDATE: THIS MADE 9,200

    A FEW HUNDRED EURO IN DUBLIN, 170,000 AT SHEPPARDS

    Friday, May 13th, 2011

    This pair of turquoise ground famille rose bottle vases made a hammer price of 170,000 at Sheppards. (click on image to enlarge)

    A pair of Chinese porcelain vases, bought for a few hundred euro in an antique shop in Dublin ten years ago, sold for a hammer price of 170,000 at Sheppards in Durrow on May 12.  They were chased by three bidders on the telephone and one in the room.  The winning bid came from a Chinese client in London acting as agent for a client in mainland China.
    The hammer price of 170,000 for the pair of turquoise ground famille rose bottle vases becomes 200,855 when fees are added.  This was an Irish record for Chinese porcelain. The 24 cms high vases were described in the catalogue as having Daoguang iron-red six-character seal marks possibly republican.  The estimate had been 8,000-12,000.  The seller, who remained anonymous, said he was “super-excited”.
    See posts on antiquesandartireland.com for May 12, May 1 and April 28.

    WARHOL’S LIZ TOPS CONTEMPORARY ART SALE AT PHILLIPS DE PURY

    Friday, May 13th, 2011

    Liz #5 (Early Colored Liz), 1963.

    Andy Warhol’s portrait of Elizabeth Taylor from 1963 made a within estimate price of $26.9 million at the Phillips de Pury contemporary art sale in New York on May 12.
    The silkscreen, ink and acrylic on linen – “Liz #5”  – measures 40″ x 40″. It topped a 50 lot sale in which 22 per cent of lots failed to sell.  This was one of 13 paintings in various colours Warhol made of Elizabeth Taylor.  It had been consigned by the hedge fund manager Steven Cohen.
    The sale, which brought in $98.8 million, was the second highest tally for a contemporary art sale at Phillips de Pury in New York.