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    • Archive for November, 2013

    ARTWORK FROM MUNICH APARTMENT TO GO ONLINE

    Monday, November 18th, 2013
    Some of the recovered artworks.

    Some of the recovered artworks.

    A total of 590 artworks from the cache of 1,406 seized from the Munich apartment of Cornelius Gurlitt are to be put on line by the German authorities from this week.  The lost art database www.lostart.de focuses on work thought to have been stolen or extorted by the Nazis.   It is operated by the Liason Office of Magdeburg, a federal institution for cultural documentation and losses.  The publication online of the database is an attempt to discover the original owners of works including pieces by Max Beckmann, Pablo Picasso, Oskar Kokoschka, Max Liebermann, Henri Matisse, Auguste Rodin and Eugene Delacroix.

    In an interview with Der Spiegel the German recluse said he would not give anything back voluntarily.  He said his father, a Nazi era art dealer, had acquired the works legally and that as heir he is the rightful owner.

    UPDATE APRIL 2014:  The German government announced an agreement with Mr. Gurlitt under which a team of international experts have one year to investigate the provenance of the seized artworks. The deal will take effect when the artworks are released by the Bavarian government. Mr. Gurlitt can prove ownership of some of the works.  The deal covers those with questionable provenance.

    UPDATE:  MAY 6, 2014:  Cornelius Gurlitt died today at his apartment in Munich.

    Posted in ART | Comments Off on ARTWORK FROM MUNICH APARTMENT TO GO ONLINE

    ANTIQUE ARCHITECTURAL SALE AT HUNTINGTON CASTLE

    Saturday, November 16th, 2013

    A mid 18th century Kilkenny marble fireplace from Castlemorres, Co. Kilkenny is a highlight at Mealy’s architectural sale at Huntington Castle, Co. Carlow on November 18. The auction includes a private collection of carved Georgian stonework, period stone doorways, Irish and other marble mantlepices, salvage items, garden statuary and an early stone entrance.  Most  of the 500 lots will be sold without reserve.  Here is a small selection, the catalogue is online.

    UPDATE:  More than 90 per cent of the lots on offer sold and the auction realised 150,000 at hammer.

    The c1820 Castle McGarrett entrance.

    The c1820 Castle McGarrett entrance.  UPDATE: THIS WAS UNSOLD

    The Castlemorres fireplace in situ.

    The Castlemorres fireplace in situ.  UPDATE: THIS WAS UNSOLD BUT IS UNDER OFFER BY PRIVATE TREATY

    A large Georgian Portland Stone pediment.

    A large Georgian Portland Stone pediment.  UPDATE: THIS SOLD FOR 380

    A Georgian cut granite scroll corbel.

    A Georgian cut granite scroll corbel. UPDATE: IT TURNED OUT TO BE ONE OF A PAIR AND THE TWO SOLD FOR 500.

    Posted in AUCTIONS, Miscellaneous | Comments Off on ANTIQUE ARCHITECTURAL SALE AT HUNTINGTON CASTLE

    THE FERRY BY WALTER OSBORNE AT DE VERES

    Friday, November 15th, 2013
    The Ferry by Walter Osborne (1859-1903) at de Veres.

    The Ferry by Walter Osborne (1859-1903) at de Veres.  UPDATE: THIS SOLD FOR 490,000 AT HAMMER

    THE Ferry by Walter Osborne – considered the most important large landscape of his early works – is the main highlight at de Veres  sale of Important Irish Art in Dublin on November 27.  Around 120 artworks are on offer.  There are significant examples by Gerard Dillon, Paul Henry, Colin Middleton, Beatrice Glenavy, Joseph Kavanagh, Sir John Lavery and Roderic O’Conor.

    The catalogue offers two ink drawings and a watercolour by Jack Yeats.
    On the contemporary side there are works by Basil Blackshaw, Camille Souter, Louis le Broquy, Stephen McKenna, Patrick Scott, John Shinnors and Donald Teskey as well as sculpture from Conor Fallon, Patrick O’Reilly and Imogen Stuart.

    Posted in ART, AUCTIONS | Comments Off on THE FERRY BY WALTER OSBORNE AT DE VERES

    VICTORIA BECKHAM’S WEDDING TIARA AT BONHAMS

    Friday, November 15th, 2013
    The tiara worn by Victoria Beckham at her wedding.

    The tiara worn by Victoria Beckham at her wedding. UPDATE: THIS WAS UNSOLD

    Irish jewellery and metalwork designer Slim Barrett.

    Irish jewellery and metalwork designer Slim Barrett.

    The tiara worn by Victoria Adams (aka Posh Spice) at her marriage to David Beckham – from Irish jewellery designer Slim Barrett – comes up at Bonhams in London on December 5.  Barrett is credited with the revival of the tiara and his work is in the permanent collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.

    The gold and diamond crown tiara worn by Victoria Beckham was exhibited in the 100 Tiaras exhbition at the V and A and in the Diamond Divas exhibition at the Diamond Museum in Antwerp.  It is crafted with 18 carat latticed yellow gold, set with brilliant cut diamonds and suspended diamond drops.  Bonhams estimate it at £18,000-25,000.

    Posted in AUCTIONS, Miscellaneous | Comments Off on VICTORIA BECKHAM’S WEDDING TIARA AT BONHAMS

    WARHOL CAR CRASH SELLS FOR $105.4 MILLION

    Thursday, November 14th, 2013

    Andy Warhol Silver Car Crash [Double Disaster] Left canvas: signed and dated 63 on the overlap Right canvas: signed twice and dated 63 on the overlap Silkscreen ink and spray paint on canvas Overall: 105 x 164 1/8 in. 267.4 x 417.1 cm. Executed in summer 1963 Estimate: In excess of $60 million Courtesy: Thomas Ammann Fine Art AG, Zurich © 2013 Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York

    Andy Warhol
    Silver Car Crash [Double Disaster]
    Left canvas: signed and dated 63 on the overlap
    Right canvas: signed twice and dated 63 on the overlap
    Silkscreen ink and spray paint on canvas
    Overall: 105 x 164 1/8 in. 267.4 x 417.1 cm.
    Executed in summer 1963
    Estimate: In excess of $60 million
    Courtesy: Thomas Ammann Fine Art AG, Zurich
    © 2013 Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York

    Andy Warhol’s Silver Car Crash (Double Disaster) sold for $105.4 at Sotheby’s in New York last night. This is a new auction record for a Warhol.  It was the top lot in a contemporary art sale which brought in $394.1 million.  There were 61 lots on offer and 54 were sold, leaving just seven unsold. It brings the total from sales at Christie’s and Sotheby’s over the past two nights to over one billion dollars.  While there are new collectors and museums at these stellar levels it has to be said that investors looking to diversify assets are a major force in a contemporary art market which is growing hotter by the month.

    A group of paintings from hedge fund billionaire Steven Cohen made around $77 million.  The group was headed by an abstract painting by Gerhard Richter  entitled A.B. Courbet which sold for $26.5 million. Steven Cohen’s firm has pleaded guilty to securities fraud and agreed to pay $1.8 billion to settle charges of insider trading.

    A 24 part work on paper from 1959 entitled Poems to the Sea by Cy Twombly sold for a record $21.7 million; Untitled, Yellow Tar and Feathers by Jean Michel Basquiat made $25,925,000; Warhol’s Liz 1 (Early Coloured Liz) made $20,325,000: By Twos by Barnett Newman made $20,605,000 and Untitled V by Willem de Kooning made $24,805,000.

    Posted in ART, AUCTIONS | Comments Off on WARHOL CAR CRASH SELLS FOR $105.4 MILLION

    WORLD RECORD FOR A DIAMOND AT HIGHEST GROSSING JEWEL SALE

    Thursday, November 14th, 2013
    The Pink Star. (Click on image to enlarge it).

    The Pink Star. (Click on image to enlarge it).

    There was a world record price for a diamond at Sotheby’s highest grossing jewellery sale in auction history at Geneva last night.  The Pink Star – a 59.60 carat oval cut pink diamond – made US$83,187,381, a world record for a diamond or any jewel.  The sale of magnificent jewels achieved $199,512,930, the highest total in history.

    The Pink Star was bought by New York based diamond cutter Isaac Wolf, who renamed it The Pink Dream after the sale.  Four bidders competed for the largest internally vivid pink diamond ever graded.
    A diamond brooch created in 1971 sold for $10,555,778, an auction record for a jewel by Van Cleef and Arpels.  There was a world record for a Burmese sapphire when a 114.72 carat stone sold for $7,137,821.  The Richelieu Sapphires, a pair of 47 carat Kashmir sapphires mounted with diamonds as earrings sold for  $8,358,520, a world auction record for sapphire jewels.  A pair of diamond earrings sold for $9,213,009, a record for a pair of colourless diamonds.
    (See post on antiquesandartireland.com for September 25, 2013)
    UPDATE:  ON FEBRUARY 27, 2014 Sotheby’s said the buyer, a New York diamond cutter, could not pay.  The company said that  they are in discussions with the buyer while also considering other alternatives.

    Posted in AUCTIONS, COLLECTIBLES | Comments Off on WORLD RECORD FOR A DIAMOND AT HIGHEST GROSSING JEWEL SALE

    IRISH GEORGE II TABLE SELLS FOR £185,000 AT DREWATTS

    Wednesday, November 13th, 2013
    This George II Irish side table made £185,000 at hammer at Drewatts.

    This George II Irish side table made £185,000 at hammer at Drewatts.

    A beautiful George II Irish mahogany side table sold for a hammer price of £185,000 at Drewatts Donnington Priory salerooms near Newbury in Berkshire today.  Estimated at just £8,000-12,000 the table is entirely original and is a very fine example of a top quality circa 1750 Irish piece.  It is understood that the table was bought by the Irish antique trade and that it will come back to Ireland.

    The rectangular top has a gadrooned edge above a profusely carved and pierced frieze centred by a lion mask flanked by swags of oak branches and flowerheads. The side friezes are centred by a carved shell, a swag beneath, on cabriole legs with acanthus carved terminals, on stylised lion paw feet.  It came from Townley Hall in Co. Louth built in 1799 for the Townley Balfour family. It is  regarded as a masterpiece in the classical style of Francis Johnston, the foremost Irish architect of his day.
    The poet laureate Sir John Betjeman, in a survey of the work of Francis Johnson wrote: ‘I have seen many Irish houses, but I know none at once so dignified, so restrained and so original as Francis Johnston’s Townley Hall’ .

    Posted in AUCTIONS, FURNITURE | Comments Off on IRISH GEORGE II TABLE SELLS FOR £185,000 AT DREWATTS

    BACON’S FREUD TRIPTYCH BECOMES MOST VALUABLE PAINTING SOLD AT AUCTION EVER

    Wednesday, November 13th, 2013
    Francis Bacon's Three Studies of Lucian Freud, 1969. (Click on image to enlarge it).

    Francis Bacon’s Three Studies of Lucian Freud, 1969. (Click on image to enlarge it).

    Francis Bacon’s Three Studies of Lucian Freud became the most valuable painting ever sold at auction when it made $142,405,000 at Christie’s in New York last night. There was at least six bidders for the work. Christie’s November sale surpassed its record breaking May result and achieved $691,583,000 – the highest auction total in art market history.  The sell through rate  at the Post War and Contemporary Art evening sale was 98% by value and 91% by lot.  Eleven of 69 lots sold for more than $20 million and only six failed to find buyers.

    There were ten world auction records:  Bacon, Jeff Koons, Christopher Wool, Lucio Fontana, Donald Judd, Wade Guyton, Vija Celmins, Ad Reinhardt, Willem de Koning and  Wayne Thiebaud.  Balloon Dog by Jeff Koons sold for $58,405,000 to become the most expensive work by a living artist sold at auction.

    “We are thrilled to announce an historic total of $691.6 million for this evening’s sale of Post-War and Contemporary Art. It is the second time this year that Christie’s has broken the highest total in auction history,” said Brett Gorvy, Chairman and International Head of Post-War and Contemporary Art.  “Collectors from 42 countries registered tonight with strong bidding from American, European and Asian collectors but also from institutions. The sale was heavily focused on icons and masterworks, achieving an astonishing 10 record prices and breaking the record for any work of art ever sold at auction. Beyond the records, 10,000 art lovers flocked to Christie’s galleries in the last week to engage with and enjoy the remarkable selection of artworks on display.”

    Christie’s two-day auction series devoted to Post-War and Contemporary Art achieved a grand total of $ 782,368,375

    (See posts on antiquesandartireland.com for September 10, 2013 and October 10, 2013).

    Posted in ART, AUCTIONS | Comments Off on BACON’S FREUD TRIPTYCH BECOMES MOST VALUABLE PAINTING SOLD AT AUCTION EVER

    RE-DISCOVERED CLAUDE ONCE OWNED BY EARLS OF PORTARLINGTON

    Monday, November 11th, 2013
    Claude Lorrain (1600-1682) - A Mediterranean port at sunrise with the Embarkation of Saint Paula for Jerusalem. Christie's Images Ltd., 2013

    Claude Lorrain (1600-1682) – A Mediterranean port at sunrise with the Embarkation of Saint Paula for Jerusalem. Christie’s Images Ltd., 2013  UPDATE: THIS SOLD FOR £5,066,500

    A re-discovered masterpiece by Claude, once in the possession of the Earls of Portarlington, comes up at Christie’s sale of Old Master and British Paintings in London on December 3.  A Mediterranean port at sunrise with the Embarkation of St. Paula for Jerusalem by Claude Lorrain (1600-1682), one of the greatest and most influential landscape painters of 17th century Europe, is estimated at £3-5 million.  The painting was in Smith collection at Hambleden Manor, Buckinghamshire and, though not unrecorded, was inaccessible to scholars even through photographic reproduction.  It has been unseen by the public since the late 19th century.

    Commissioned in 1650 by the Roman Cardinal Domenico Cecchini (1589-1656), and recorded as such in the artist’s illustrated record of commissions (the Liber Veritatis), the picture was in the collection of the Earls of Portarlington probably by the late 18th century.  One hundred years later it was owned by the famous English retailer WH Smith.

    Posted in ART, AUCTIONS | Comments Off on RE-DISCOVERED CLAUDE ONCE OWNED BY EARLS OF PORTARLINGTON

    SOMETHING TO SUIT EVERYONE AT WOODWARDS SILVER SALE

    Saturday, November 9th, 2013

    There is something to suit all pockets, from rare and collectible items to gifts for special occasions, at Woodwards silver sale in Cork on November 13.  Rare pieces of Irish Provincial silver like a c1785 ladle by Patrick Connell of Limerick and a large Cork sauceboat by William Reynolds are alongside much more affordable examples for new collectors.  The catalogue is online. Here is a small selection with some of the most desireable items:

    George II plain Irish silver baluster mug by J Moore, Dublin, c.1750 (1,500-2,500).

    George II plain Irish silver baluster mug by J Moore, Dublin, c.1750 (1,500-2,500). UPDATE: THIS MADE 1,400

    Rare c1785 ladle by Patrick Connell, Limerick (5,000-7,000).

    Rare c1785 ladle by Patrick Connell, Limerick (5,000-7,000). UPDATE: THIS MADE 4,000

     

    Pair of profusely decorated London silver fighting cocks (2,800-3,200).

    Pair of profusely decorated London silver fighting cocks (2,800-3,200).  UPDATE: THESE WERE UNSOLD

    George II Irish silver punch strainer by J. Gumley, Dublin c1759 (2,400-2,700).George II Irish silver punch strainer by J. Gumley, Dublin c1759 (2,400-2,700). UPDATE: THIS MADE 2,100

    A George V Irish Silver dish ring by S.H. Waterhouse, Dublin 1932 (1,200-1,500).

    A George V Irish Silver dish ring by S.H. Waterhouse, Dublin 1932 (1,200-1,500).UPDATE: THIS MADE 925

    Posted in AUCTIONS, COLLECTIBLES | Comments Off on SOMETHING TO SUIT EVERYONE AT WOODWARDS SILVER SALE

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