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  • Archive for November, 2014

    SOTHEBY’S IRISH ART ON VIEW IN DUBLIN THIS WEEKEND

    Friday, November 28th, 2014

    Irish art from Sotheby’s sale of British and Irish art in London on December 10 goes on view today at Sotheby’s on Molesworth St. in Dublin.  The exhibition will include works by Louis le Brocquy, William Orpen, Jack B. Yeats, Mainie Jellett , Basil Blackshaw and Gerard Dillon.  Viewing continues until Sunday.  Here are  a couple of examples:

    Gerard Dillon - Girl at a Door.

    Gerard Dillon – Girl at a Door. (£30,000-50,000)  UPDATE: THIS SOLD FOR £32,500

    Mainie Jellett - Composition.

    Mainie Jellett – Composition. (£15,000-20,000)  UPDATE: THIS WAS UNSOLD

    IRISH WOMEN ARTISTS WELL REPRESENTED AT JAMES ADAM

    Thursday, November 27th, 2014

    IRISH women artists are well represented at the James Adam sale of Important Irish Art in Dublin on December 3. From the Cubist landscape of Mary Swanzy to Maeve McCarthy’s portrait of Francis Stuart there is a representative selection of Irish women like Muriel Brandt, Mainie Jellett, Evie Hone, May Guinness, Estella Solomons, Letitia M Hamilton,  Kitty Wilmer O’Brien, Grace Henry, Norah McGuinness, Kathleen Mackie, Camille Souter and Rose Barton who deserve to be better known and more widely celebrated.  Here is a small selection.  The catalogue is online:

    Mary Swanzy HRHA (1882-1978) Cubist Landscape (10,000-15,000)

    Mary Swanzy HRHA (1882-1978) Cubist Landscape (10,000-15,000)  UPDATE: THIS SOLD FOR 15,500 AT HAMMER

    Camille Souter HRHA (b 1929) - End of Summer Apples (8,000-12,000)

    Camille Souter HRHA (b 1929) – End of Summer Apples (8,000-12,000)  UPDATE: THIS WAS UNSOLD

    Evie Hone HRHA (1894-1955) - Tinkers' Child (1,500-2,500).

    Evie Hone HRHA (1894-1955) – Tinkers’ Child (1,500-2,500).  UPDATE: THIS SOLD FOR 1,400 AT HAMMER

    Mainie Jellett (1897-1944) Abstract Composition (1,000-1,500).

    Mainie Jellett (1897-1944) Abstract Composition (1,000-1,500).  UPDATE: THIS SOLD FOR 900 AT HAMMER

    May Guinness RHA (1863-1955) - Canal Side Houses, watercolour (800-1,200).

    May Guinness RHA (1863-1955) – Canal Side Houses, watercolour (800-1,200).  UPDATE: THIS SOLD FOR 500 AT HAMMER

    MARKEY ROBINSON MASTERWORK AT DE VERES

    Thursday, November 27th, 2014

    A masterwork by Markey Robinson, a large Gerard Dillon from his Pierrot series and an East Manhattan diptych by Brian Bourke are among the paintings on offer at de Veres in Dublin on December 2.  The auction at Thomas Prior Hall in Ballsbridge will feature traditional landscapes and contemporary Irish art, alongside 15 lots of classic 20th century design furniture. The Robinson work of a busy harbour scene in the west of Ireland measures 48′ x 65′ and was painted on the back of a tea chest.  This exceptionally large work by Markey is estimated at 14,000-18,000. Dillon’s Blue Nude with dancing pierrot (20,000-30,000) is a complex work depicting his fantasy world.  Brian Bourke’s  East Manhattan (10,000-15,000) was painted from the roof of the Irish Consulate in New York and depicts the Chrysler Building in the distance.

    Markey Robinson - Unloading the Catch

    Markey Robinson – Unloading the Catch  UPDATE: THIS WAS UNSOLD

    Gerard Dillon - Blue Nude with Dancing Pierrot.

    Gerard Dillon – Blue Nude with Dancing Pierrot.  UPDATE: THIS MADE 19,000 AT HAMMER

    Brian Bourke - East Manhattan

    Brian Bourke – East Manhattan  UPDATE:  THIS FAILED TO REACH THE RESERVE AND WAS UNDER ACTIVE NEGOTIATION AFTERWARDS.

    FOUR DAYS OF AUCTIONS AT SHEPPARDS, DURROW

    Wednesday, November 26th, 2014

    Silver,  jewellery, ceramics, furniture, fine art, militaria, Oriental art, Irish art, a wine cellar and a library will come under the hammer at four days of sales at Sheppards in Durrow, Co. Laois from December 2-5.  More than 2,000 lots are to be sold in this series of sales. With everything from an Irish George III period satinwood and marquetry cylinder bookcase attributed to William Moore (6,000-9,000) to an Italian walnut last 16th/early 17th century cabinet (8,000-12,000), a pair of Sevres urns (2,000-3,000) to a painting by the Riverdance dancer Michael Flatley (20,000-30,000) this auction seriously pushes the boundaries for its variety. The catalogue is online.  Here is a small selection:

    Michael Flatley (born 1958) - Rossmore Island (20,000-30,000).

    Michael Flatley (born 1958) – Rossmore Island (20,000-30,000).

    A late 16th/early 17th century Italian cabinet.

    A late 16th/early 17th century Italian cabinet.

    A large triangular emerald and diamond cluster ring (6,000-9,000).

    A large triangular emerald and diamond cluster ring (6,000-9,000).

    A cylinder secrétaire attributed to William Moore.

    A cylinder secrétaire attributed to William Moore (6,000-9,000)

    SILVER AND 1892 ILLUMINATED ADDRESS AT WOODWARDS

    Wednesday, November 26th, 2014
    A framed 1892 illuminated address and citation to J.W. McMullen of Cork Harbour Commissioners on his retirement is among the more unusual lots at Woodwards special auction of Irish and English silver, art, jewellery and collectibles in Cork on November 29. The Commissioners were extremely grateful to Mr. McMullen who secured by Act of Parliament an extension of the pilotage of Cork Harbour by 2,000 square miles. Woodwards have not put an estimate on this unique piece.
    Silver in the auction includes tea services, coffee pots, jugs, fish servers and condiments.   There are two dish rings by Egans and a Cork silver teapot by Augustus Whelpley c1800.  Other Cork pieces include an Irish silver marrow scoop by Samuel Neville c1775 and a serving spoon by William Reynolds.  There will be more than 160 lots of silver in an auction of around 250 lots. The catalogue is online.

    An Irish silver dish ring.

    An Irish silver dish ring.

    A George III Cork silver sauce ladle.

    A George III Cork silver sauce ladle.

    A c1800 Cork silver teapot by Augustus Whelpley.

    A c1800 Cork silver teapot by Augustus Whelpley.

    The 1892 citation from Cork Harbour Commissioners.

    The 1892 citation from Cork Harbour Commissioners.

    A WORLD RECORD AUCTION PRICE FOR ANY CHINESE WORK OF ART

    Wednesday, November 26th, 2014
    The Imperial emboridered silk Thangka Yongle presentation mark (1402-1424).

    The Imperial emboridered silk Thangka Yongle presentation mark (1402-1424).

    A 15th century Chinese Thangka sold for a world record auction price of US$45 million at Christie’s in Hong Kong. The Imperial embroidered silk made a world record auction price for any Chinese work of art. It was bought by Liu Yiqian for his recently opened long museum in Shanghai after an intense 22 minute bidding battle.  From an American private collection it dates to the period 1402-1424 and is complete with Yongle six character presentation mark of the period.  There were several other bidders on the phone and the packed saleroom several times broke into applause. This is a record for any Chinese works of art sold by an international auction house.

    Afterwards Mr. Liu said: “I am proud to bring back to China this significant and historic 15th century Thangka which will be preserved in the Long Museum for years to come”.

    BONO, DYLAN, MONROE AND THE TERMINATOR AT CHRISTIE’S

    Tuesday, November 25th, 2014

    From Bono to Dylan, Marilyn Monroe to The Terminator, Christie’s Pop Culture auction at South Kensington, London on December 16 has it covered. The sale celebrates some of the greatest names in 20th century cinema and the music legends of today. It features hand written lyrics, costumes, film scripts and instruments including a custom prototype Gretsch Irish Falcon electric guitar made for Bono and signed by all four members of U2.  Bono commissioned Gretsch to build ten of these guitars for  U2’s 2001 elevation tour.   There is an elaborate harem costume worn by Marilyn Monroe in a photo shoot with Richard Avedon in which she portrayed  legendary screen seductresses Lillian Russell, Jean Harlow,  Marlene Dietrich, Clara Bow and Theda Bara. It featured in Life Magazine on December 22, 1958.  The catalogue for the sale is online. Here is a small selection:

    U2/Bono - A circa 2002 custom prototype Gretsch Irish Falcon hollow body electric guitar (£120,000-180,000).

    U2/Bono – A circa 2002 custom prototype Gretsch Irish Falcon hollow body electric guitar (£120,000-180,000). Courtesy Christie’s Images Ltd., 2014

    Terminator 2: Judgement Day, 1991/Arnold Schwarzenegger (£18,000-25,000).

    Terminator 2: Judgement Day, 1991/Arnold Schwarzenegger (£18,000-25,000). Courtesy Christie’s Images Ltd., 2014

    An elaborate harem costume worn by Marilyn Monroe as Theda Bara in her role as Cleopatra (£300,000-500,000).

    An elaborate harem costume worn by Marilyn Monroe as Theda Bara in her role as Cleopatra (£300,000-500,000). Courtesy Christie’s Images Ltd., 2014

    Bob Dylan Untitled (Sara), 1968 (£50,000-70,000).

    Bob Dylan
    Untitled (Sara), 1968 (£50,000-70,000).  Courtesy Christie’s Images Ltd., 2014

    DR. WATSON’S DNA NOBEL PRIZE MEDAL AT CHRISTIE’S

    Monday, November 24th, 2014
    The Nobel Medal © Christie’s Images Limited 2014

    The Nobel Medal © Christie’s Images Limited 2014  UPDATE: IT SOLD FOR $4.75 MILLION

    Dr. Watson - Image courtesy Science Source.

    Dr. Watson – Image courtesy Science Source.

    The 1962 Nobel Prize gold medal awarded to Dr. James D. Watson for his 1953 discovery with Dr. Francis Crick and Maurice Wilkins, of the structure of DNA will be offered by Christie’s in New York on December 4.  Dr. Watson is one of the world’s greatest living scientists.  The discovery of the double helix gave birth to the new science of molecular biology and revolutionized modern medicine. A Nobel Prize medal has never before been offered for sale by a living recipient. A portion of the proceeds will be donated by Dr. Watson to continue his philanthropic legacy of supporting scientific research, academic institutions, and other charitable causes. It is estimated at $2.5 to $3.5 million.

    Dr. Watson wrote the first textbook of the new science, the influential Molecular Biology of the Gene in 1965.  This was followed in 1968 by his memoir of the discovery The Double Helix, one of the best selling popular science books of all time.  In April 2013 Christie’s sold Dr. Crick’s Secret of Life letter, in which he explained the structure of DNA to his son a few weeks before their discovery was published. It made $6,059,750, more than three times the estimate, and it holds the record for a letter sold at auction.

    UPDATE:  It was bought by Russia’s richest man, mining, steel and telecoms magnate Alisher Usmanov, who plans to return it to Dr. Watson.

    CATHERINE PARR LOCKET WITH CROWN MOTIF AT JAMES ADAM

    Saturday, November 22nd, 2014
    The Catherine Parr locket at James Adam in Dublin on November 23.

    The Catherine Parr locket at James Adam in Dublin on November 23.  UPDATE: THIS WAS UNSOLD

    A locket of hair inscribed Catherine Parr and crested with a crown motif is one of the more unusual lots at the James Adam Sunday Interiors sale in Dublin tomorrow. Catherine Parr (1512-1548), the last of six wives of Henry VIII, was  Queen of England from 1543-47 and outlived her husband. The memorial glazed oval pendant which contains the hair  measures just 4.5 cms and  is estimated at 400-600.  It is lot number 153.

    Catherine Parr was the first English queen to be titled Queen of Ireland.  She was also the most married, with four husbands.

    Collectibles on offer include a collection of 1976 Montreal Olympics coins, a pair of Tiffany plated oil lamps and a 19th century Canton carved and stained ivory chess set. Furniture includes a late 17th century Antwerp inlaid curiosity cabinet on stand (5,000-7,000) and a suite of Louis Seize style gilt wood framed salon seat furniture (4,000-5,000).  More than 600 lots will come under the hammer.

    (See post on antiquesandartireland.com for November 19, 2014)

    INTERIORS AND ART AUCTION BY DE VERES AT LEOPARDSTOWN

    Friday, November 21st, 2014

    Nearly 400 lots will come under the hammer at de Veres interiors and art auction at The Pavilion, Leopardstown Racecourse, Dublin on November 23. The sale features art, antique and modern furniture, sculpture and fittings. Estimates are very reasonable. The catalogue is online.  Here is a small selection:

    William John Leech (1881-1968) - The Church at Thornton-le-Dale, Yorkshire (3,000-5,000).

    William John Leech (1881-1968) – The Church at Thornton-le-Dale, Yorkshire (3,000-5,000).

    Felim Egan - Untitled (1,000-1,500).

    Felim Egan – Untitled (1,000-1,500).

    A vintage Phillips radiogram (300-500).

    A vintage Phillips radiogram (300-500).

    An Art Deco mantle clock (100-200).

    An Art Deco mantle clock (100-200).

    A Tom Dixon mirror globe light (200-300).

    A Tom Dixon mirror globe light (200-300).

    An Italian extending dining table (600-900).

    An Italian extending dining table (600-900).