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    • Archive for May, 2014

    FINE JEWELLERY AND WATCHES AT JAMES ADAM

    Tuesday, May 13th, 2014

    Diamond solitaire rings, an Art Deco diamond necklace, watches by  Rolex, Patek Philippe, Cartier, Omega, Longines, Bulova, Jaeger le Coultre, Breitling and Raymond Weil, necklaces, bracelet, rings, rubies, sapphire, turquoises, pearls, aquamaries and gold jewellery by leading makers will feature at the James Adam sale of fine jewellery and watches in Dublin on May 20.  The catalogue is online. Here is a small selection:

    An 18 carat gold necklace by BVLGARI (3,500-6,500).

    An 18 carat gold necklace by BVLGARI (3,500-6,500). UPDATE: THIS MADE 3,800 AT HAMMER

     

    A Gentleman's 18 carat gold Calatrava wristwatch by Patek Philippe (3,000-7,000).

    A Gentleman’s 18 carat gold Calatrava wristwatch by Patek Philippe (3,000-7,000).  UPDATE: THIS MADE 7,500

     

    A double row of cultured pearls, of graduated length to an Art Deco diamond and ruby plaque clasp (20,000-40,000).

    A double row of cultured pearls, of graduated length to an Art Deco diamond and ruby plaque clasp (20,000-40,000).  UPDATE: THESE WERE UNSOLD

     

    A diamond single-stone ring, composed of a cut-corner emerald-cut diamond within a four-claw setting, to a 14 carat gold hoop, diamond approx. 3.33 carat total (30,000-50,000).

    A diamond single-stone ring, composed of a cut-corner emerald-cut diamond within a four-claw setting, to a 14 carat gold hoop, diamond approx. 3.33 carat total (30,000-50,000).  UPDATE: THIS WAS UNSOLD

     

    A diamond and sapphire necklace (20,000-40,000).

    A diamond and sapphire necklace (20,000-40,000).  UPDATE: THIS WAS UNSOLD

     

    A pair of natural pearl and diamond earrings (6,000-10,000).

    A pair of natural pearl and diamond earrings (6,000-10,000).  UPDATE: THESE WERE UNSOLD

     

     

     

    Posted in AUCTIONS, COLLECTIBLES | Comments Off on FINE JEWELLERY AND WATCHES AT JAMES ADAM

    BOOK GIVEN BY OSCAR WILDE TO GOVERNOR OF READING GAOL AT BONHAMS

    Tuesday, May 13th, 2014
    The copy inscribed by Oscar Wilde.

    The copy inscribed by Oscar Wilde.  UPDATE: IT MADE £55,000.

    A specially printed copy of The Importance of Being Earnest inscribed by Oscar Wilde to Major James Nelson, the Governor of Reading Gaol during the writer’s term of imprisonment there is to be sold at Bonhams Books, Atlases, Manuscripts and Photographs sale in London on June 18. It is estimated at £40,000 – 60,000.  Numbered 13 out of a presentation edition of 100, it is inscribed “To Major Nelson: from the author.  A trivial recognition of a great and noble kindness. Feb, 99.”  Elsewhere, Wilde was to describe Nelson as: “The most Christlike man I ever met.”

    After being found guilty of gross indecency in May 1895 Wilde was transferred from Wandsworth prison to Reading Gaol in November of that year.  There, the draconian regime of the then Governor, Henry Isaacson – a man with “ the soul of a rat” according to Wilde – had a drastic effect on his mental and physical health.  Isaacson was replaced in July 1896 by Major James Nelson who immediately gave his most famous prisoner access to books – his first words are said to have been: “The Home Office has allowed you some books. Perhaps you would like to read this one.  I have just been reading it myself.” Crucially, Nelson allowed Wilde to begin writing creatively again. The result was  De Profundis – an extended letter to his lover and the main author of his misfortune, Lord Alfred Douglas. Under prison rules, all written material had to be handed over each evening and retained by the authorities but Nelson permitted Wilde to consult previous work to help him keep his thread.  On Wilde’s release in May 1897 Nelson gave him back the entire manuscript.
    Bonhams Head of Books, Matthew Haley, said: “This inscribed edition of The Importance of Being Earnest is a poignant reminder of the very real hardship which Wilde suffered in prison and the enormous difference which Major Nelson’s acts of common humanity made to the writer’s morale and health.  It is arguable that the Governor saved Wilde’s life and almost certain that without him there would have been no De Profundis.”

    UPDATE: IT SOLD FOR £55,000.

    Posted in AUCTIONS, COLLECTIBLES | Comments Off on BOOK GIVEN BY OSCAR WILDE TO GOVERNOR OF READING GAOL AT BONHAMS

    16 AUCTION RECORDS FOR EMERGING AND ESTABLISHED ARTISTS

    Tuesday, May 13th, 2014
    Untitled by Martin Kippenberger made a world record price of $18.6 million.

    Untitled by Martin Kippenberger made a world record price of $18.6 million.

    Headed by Martin Kippenberger at $18.6 million there were world auction records for no less than 16 artists at Christie’s contemporary art sale entitled “If I Life I’ll see you Tuesday”  in New York last night.  The sale of work by emerging and established artists attracted worldwide participation and brought in $134.6 million.  An untitled work by Kippenberger made a world record price of $16,645,000 after six minutes of bidding in the room and on the phone.  Peter Doig’s Road House made $11,925,000, a world record for the artist  and Nurse at Greenmeadow by Richard Prince  made a world record for the artist of $8,565,000.

    Among the other artists who set records were Joe Bradley, Dan Colen, On Kawara, Glen Ligon, Adam McEwen and Thomas Schutte.  Contemporary masters also saw strong demand with fierce competition from a largely international collector base. There were 350 registered bidders from 26 countries.

    Posted in ART, AUCTIONS | Comments Off on 16 AUCTION RECORDS FOR EMERGING AND ESTABLISHED ARTISTS

    TINY JADE VESSEL SELLS FOR 380,000 AT JAMES ADAM

    Sunday, May 11th, 2014
    This jade ritual vessel sold for 380,000 at James Adam, Dublin.

    This jade ritual vessel sold for 380,000 at James Adam, Dublin.

    A tiny Chinese jade ritual vessel made 380,000 at the James Adam Sunday Interiors auction on May  11. It had been estimated at 4,000-6,000. It was bought by a bidder on the telephone from Beijing.  The underbidder was in Hong Kong.

    The pale russet and jade vessel dating from the 18th-19th century is carved in shallow relief with stylised Taotie mask and archaistic scrolls.  The handle has a double ended chilong dragon with a detachable mouth ring.  It measures just 12 centimetres high.  The piece came from the executors of a Dublin estate.
    The sale underlines the global nature of the market.  The internet has become a feature in many sales. It is no longer unusual to find collectors from more than 100 countries registering to buy at a single auction in the big international houses.
    Afterwards James O’Halloran, managing director at James Adam, commented that the price is very much in line with other Chinese artefacts which have made exceptional prices throughout the UK and Ireland in latter years.

     

    Posted in AUCTIONS, COLLECTIBLES | Comments Off on TINY JADE VESSEL SELLS FOR 380,000 AT JAMES ADAM

    IRISH OAK FOUR DOOR BOOKCASE AT SIXMILEBRIDGE

    Sunday, May 11th, 2014

     

    The Irish oak mid 19th century bookcase.

    The Irish oak mid 19th century bookcase.

    AN Irish oak library bookcase, by repute produced for Durrow Castle in the mid-1800’s, comes up at the Aidan Foley sale at the Auction Rooms, Sixmilebridge, Co. Clare on May 13.  Possibly by Strahan of Dublin the Victorian breakfront four door bookcase has a carved pediment over fur glazed doors flanked by inset mirror panels.  The lower doors are decorated with oval panels of Harps and Hounds, and a carved shamrock frieze.  It is estimated at 10,000-15,000 in a mixed auction with over 1,000 lots.

    UPDATE:  This was unsold but under negotiation after the auction.

    Posted in AUCTIONS, FURNITURE | Comments Off on IRISH OAK FOUR DOOR BOOKCASE AT SIXMILEBRIDGE

    PORTRAIT MINIATURE OF JOHN SHEARES AT ADAMS

    Saturday, May 10th, 2014

     

    Portrait miniature of John Sheares by John Comerford (1773-1832)

    Portrait miniature of John Sheares by John Comerford (1773-1832)  UPDATE: THIS SOLD FOR A HAMMER PRICE OF 620

     

    The inscription on the back: "John Sheares" Executed for the cause of his country in 1798."

    The inscription on the back: “John Sheares” Executed for the cause of his country in 1798. Painted by John Comerford Dublin

    A portrait miniature of Cork patriot John Sheares (1756-1798) comes up at Adams Sunday Interiors sale in Dublin on May 11.  He and his brother Henry (1753-1798) – lawyers and members of the United Irishmen – were hanged, drawn and quartered at the height of the 1798 Rebellion. They had become politicised by the French Revolution.

    The 8.5 cm high miniature on ivory is attributed to the Kilkenny born Dublin based artist John Comerford (1773-1832). An inscription on the back reads:  John Sheares, executed for the cause of his country in 1798.

    (See post on antiquesandartireland.com for May 5, 2014)

    Posted in ART, AUCTIONS, COLLECTIBLES | Comments Off on PORTRAIT MINIATURE OF JOHN SHEARES AT ADAMS

    PORTRAIT DECORATED SEVRES PLAQUES AT WOODWARDS

    Saturday, May 10th, 2014

    Portrait decorated Sevres plaques are among the more unusual items at Woodwards auction in Cork on May 14.  Napoleon Bonaparte, Josephine and Marie Louise feature on three plates decorated with the Napoleonic crest. Kings Louis XV and Louis XVI, Madame du Barry and Marie Antoinette feature on a set of four Sevres plaques.  The sale is strong in antique furniture and choices include a Regency rosewood card table, an Irish Regency serving table, a Georgian wine cooler, a large Edwardian bookcase, a French oval inlaid desk, Victorian hall chairs and a pair of cast iron garden seats.  The catalogue is online. Here is a small selection: 

    Four Sevres plaques depicting King Loius XVI, Marie Antoinette, Louis XV, and Mme du Barry bearing 1846 stamp and ‘Chateau de Versailles’ crest

    Four Sevres plaques depicting King Louis XVI, Marie Antoinette, Louis XV, and Mme du Barry bearing 1846 stamp and ‘Chateau de Versailles’ crest  UPDATE: THESE MADE 400

     

    Three Sevres plates decorated with portraits of Napoleon Bonaparte, Josephine and Marie Louise, with borders incorporating the Napoleonic crest.

    Three Sevres plates decorated with portraits of Napoleon Bonaparte, Josephine and Marie Louise, with borders incorporating the Napoleonic crest.  UPDATE: THESE SOLD FOR 850

     

    A Georgian wine cooler.

    A Georgian wine cooler.  UPDATE: THIS SOLD FOR 475

     

    A Regency rosewood card table

    A Regency side table  UPDATE: THIS SOLD FOR 2,200

     

    A Regency rosewood card table.

    A Regency rosewood card tablE  UPDATE: THIS SOLD FOR 1,100

     

    Posted in AUCTIONS, COLLECTIBLES, FURNITURE | Comments Off on PORTRAIT DECORATED SEVRES PLAQUES AT WOODWARDS

    PICASSO’S LE SAUVETAGE TOPS SOTHEBY’S SALE IN NEW YORK

    Thursday, May 8th, 2014
    Pablo Picasso Le Sauvetage Painted in 1932

    Pablo Picasso
    Le Sauvetage
    Painted in 1932

    Picasso’s Le Sauvetage sold for $31.5 million at Sotheby’s in New York last night. It was the top lot in an Impressionist and Modern art auction that achieved $219 million.  The work more than doubled the price it made at Sotheby’s in 2004.  Asian collectors contributed 30% of the auction total and bought eight lots for a total of $63.9 million.  Among these were  Henri Matisse’s La Séance du matin ($19,205,000), Claude Monet’s Le Pont japonais  ($15,845,000) and  Alberto Giacometti’s La Place ($13,045,000). The impact of Asian collectors was felt throughout the sale.

    Le Sauvetage, which had a high estimate of $18 million, was the subject of a prolonged bidding battle.  Alberto Giacometti’s La Place, his first multi-figural sculpture, made $13,045,000 and Femme de Venise V from the collection of Jan Krugier made $8,789,000. All five works by Giacometti were sold, for a total of $35.1 million.  Three works by Monet totalled $28 million.  Monet’s Sur la Falaise à Pourville, sold to benefit the Acquisitions Fund of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, made $8,229,000, surpassing its high estimate of $7 million.  Over the last three years, property from American museums has outperformed high estimates by a combined $100 million at Sotheby’s.

    (See post on antiquesandartireland.com for March 30, 2014).

    Posted in ART, AUCTIONS | Comments Off on PICASSO’S LE SAUVETAGE TOPS SOTHEBY’S SALE IN NEW YORK

    RADICAL 19TH CENTURY PHOTOGRAPHS OF EGYPT MAKE £482,500

    Wednesday, May 7th, 2014

    A “lost” album of 19th century photographs of Egypt sold for almost half a million pounds at Sotheby’s in London today.  The 44 photographs, taken between 1852 and 1856 by American photographer and archaeologist  John Beasley Greene, sold for £482,500.  They had been estimated at £100,000-£150,000.  They were re-discovered on a library shelf in France have been assembled by the first owner, who may have been personally acquainted with Beasley Greene in 1853.  It has remained in the same family collection ever since.  The images are notable for their sheer modernity and these are considered some of the most radical early photographs.

    Also in London today a group of plates, vases, jugs, bowls and tiles by Picasso  brought a total of £1,502,188. With prices spanning £1,063 upwards to £68,500, the auction was 98.3% sold by lot.

    JOHN BEASLEY GREENE 1832 - 1856 ALBUM OF EGYPT AND ALGERIA, 1852 - 1856 Album, contemporary green cloth with monogram gilt 'A.L.' on the cover, spine modern cloth, with 44 photographic prints individually pasted to blue albumen card. 43 prints by John Beasley Greene after paper negatives, 39 salt prints and 5 albumenised salt prints. 15 prints with the signature and reference number in the negative. Estimate £100,000 — 150,000 Sold for £482,500

    JOHN BEASLEY GREENE
    1832 – 1856
    ALBUM OF EGYPT AND ALGERIA, 1852 – 1856
    Album, contemporary green cloth with monogram gilt ‘A.L.’ on the cover, spine modern cloth, with 44 photographic prints individually pasted to blue albumen card.
    43 prints by John Beasley Greene after paper negatives, 39 salt prints and 5 albumenised salt prints. 15 prints with the signature and reference number in the negative.
    Estimate £100,000 — 150,000
    Sold for £482,500

    JOHN BEASLEY GREENE 1832 - 1856 ALBUM OF EGYPT AND ALGERIA, 1852 - 1856 Album, contemporary green cloth with monogram gilt 'A.L.' on the cover, spine modern cloth, with 44 photographic prints individually pasted to blue albumen card. 43 prints by John Beasley Greene after paper negatives, 39 salt prints and 5 albumenised salt prints. 15 prints with the signature and reference number in the negative. Estimate £100,000 — 150,000 Sold for £482,500

    JOHN BEASLEY GREENE
    1832 – 1856
    ALBUM OF EGYPT AND ALGERIA, 1852 – 1856
    Album, contemporary green cloth with monogram gilt ‘A.L.’ on the cover, spine modern cloth, with 44 photographic prints individually pasted to blue albumen card.
    43 prints by John Beasley Greene after paper negatives, 39 salt prints and 5 albumenised salt prints. 15 prints with the signature and reference number in the negative.
    Estimate £100,000 — 150,000
    Sold for £482,500

    PABLO PICASSO 1881 - 1973 GROS OISEAU CORRIDA (A. R. 191) Terre de faïence vase, 1953, numbered 7, from the edition of 25 Estimate £60,000 — 80,000 Sold for £68,500.

    PABLO PICASSO
    1881 – 1973
    GROS OISEAU CORRIDA (A. R. 191)
    Terre de faïence vase, 1953, numbered 7, from the edition of 25
    Estimate £60,000 — 80,000
    Sold for £68,500.

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    CANTONESE IVORY CHESS SET AT FONSIE MEALY AUCTION

    Wednesday, May 7th, 2014
    The Cantonese chess set.

    The Cantonese chess set.  UPDATE: THIS WAS UNSOLD

    A Cantonese carved ivory chess set is among the more unusual lots at Fonsie Mealy’s sale in Castlecomer, Co. Kilkenny on May 20. The c1840 chess set is natural colour and red stained and the tallest figure is 5″ high.  The estimate for the set is 1,500-2,000.  Among items of oriental interest in this one day auction of nearly 800 lots is  a cornucopia carved jade vase (200-300) and an unusual carved Chinese oval hardwood box (19th century) with jade lid estimated at 150-220.

    A small shaped carved jade vase.

    A small shaped carved jade vase.  UPDATE: THIS MADE 2,600

    A 19th century carved oval hardwood box with jade lid.

    A 19th century carved oval hardwood box with jade lid. UPDATE: THIS SOLD FOR 425

    An image showing the carving on the chess pieces.

    An image showing the carving on the chess pieces.

    Posted in AUCTIONS, COLLECTIBLES | Comments Off on CANTONESE IVORY CHESS SET AT FONSIE MEALY AUCTION

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