Norah McGuinness (1901-1980) – Spring Planting made 1,600 at hammer.
An arresting feature of the current market for Irish art became apparent at James Adam in Dublin last night. The sale highlights – Spring Planting by Norah McGuinness and Hidden Landscape by Patrick Collins, made well over their estimates. There is no shortage of money or competition for the best works in todays market, selling everything else is hard work. Both were highlights of the ESB Collection which was offered on December 16. The sale of 148 works brought in 160,000 and 84.25% sold.
The McGuinness sold for a hammer price of 16,000 over an estimate of 5,000-7,000 and was the top lot at the auction. The Collins made 14,000 at hammer, over an estimate of 7,000-10,000. Forest Field by Colin Crotty sold for 1,300 over a top estimate of 700, Charles Tyrrell’s Spree made 8,000 at hammer, which was the top estimate. Another Tyrrell, Cross Flow, made 6,500 with an estimate of 5,000-8,000. The catalogue cover lot, Cecil Maguire’s Claddagh Quay, Galway sold for a hammer price of 9,000 over an estimate of 3,000-5,000. Fergus O’Ryan’s Autumn Flood, Annamoe broke its top estimate of 2,000 by making a hammer of 2,100 and John Skeltons The Road to the Sea, the Rosses made 2,100 over a top estimate of 1,500. Collecting Driftwood by John Skelton made 2,200 over a top estimate of 1,200 and a Still Life by Peter Collis made 1,600 over a top estimate of 1,200.