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  • Archive for March, 2015

    DE VERES FIRST ART AUCTION AT NEW KILDARE ST. SPACE

    Thursday, March 19th, 2015

    The first auction at de Veres new space in Kildare St., Dublin takes place on March 24. It will feature 92 lots of Irish art.  The renovation at Kildare St. will enable de Veres to conduct more select auctions of Irish Art and Contemporary furniture. New auction areas are also being explored. A photography sale and a book auction will be held here later in the year.  The catalogue for the art auction on March 24 is online. Here is a small selection.

    Yvonne Moore - Dresser (1,400-1,800).

    Yvonne Moore – Dresser (1,400-1,800).  UPDATE: THIS MADE 1,400 AT HAMMER

    Walter Frederick Osborne - A Pensive Moment (1894) (12,000-16,000).

    Walter Frederick Osborne – A Pensive Moment (1894) (12,000-16,000).  UPDATE: THIS WAS UNSOLD

    Pauline Bewick RHA - Still life with artichokes (2,000-3,000).

    Pauline Bewick RHA – Still life with artichokes (2,000-3,000). UPDATE: THIS MADE 3,000 AT HAMMER

    Roderic O'Conor - Waves Breaking on the shore at sunset (30,000-40,000).

    Roderic O’Conor – Waves Breaking on the shore at sunset (30,000-40,000).  UPDATE: THIS MADE 40,000 AT HAMMER

    Colin Middleton - Red Landscape, 1962 (15,000-20,000).

    Colin Middleton – Red Landscape, 1962 (15,000-20,000).  UPDATE: THIS WAS UNSOLD

    MODERN CHINESE ARTISTS AT SOTHEBY’S HONG KONG

    Thursday, March 19th, 2015

    More than 300 paintings by modern Chinese artists estimated at more than US$23 million will come under the hammer at Sotheby’s Fine Chinese Paintings spring sale in Hong Kong on April 6.   Highlights include fresh-to-market works from the family collections of Zhang Daqian, Li Yanshan and Yuan Shikai.

    Zhang Daqian’s Ancient Temple in the Mist

    Zhang Daqian’s Ancient Temple in the Mist

    Wu Dacheng’s Calligraphy Couplet in Zhuanshu

    Wu Dacheng’s Calligraphy Couplet in Zhuanshu

    LARGEST AUCTION OF SOUTHEAST ASIAN ART EVER AT SOTHEBY’S

    Thursday, March 19th, 2015

    The largest Southeast Asian art auction ever held at Sotheby’s promises to be a highlight of the Spring 2015 sales series in Hong Kong. More than 250 lots of Modern and Contemporary Southeast Asian art will come under the hammer on April 4 and 5. The sale is led by modern Indonesian and Filipino masterpieces: Hendra Gunawan’s Pandawa Dadu (The Dice Game from the Mahabharata Epic), one of only two large-format works on the Hindu epic by the artist ever to appear in the market, and Muslim Betrothal by Carlos Villaluz Francisco.

    Hendra Gunawan’s Pandawa Dadu (The Dice Game from the Mahabharata Epic)

    Hendra Gunawan’s Pandawa Dadu (The Dice Game from the Mahabharata Epic)

    Carlos Villaluz Francisco’s Muslim Betrothal.

    Carlos Villaluz Francisco’s Muslim Betrothal.

    AROUND 1,600 LOTS AT MEALY’S IN CASTLECOMER

    Wednesday, March 18th, 2015

    Around  1,600 lots will come under the hammer at three days of sales at Mealy’s in Castlecomer on March 24, 25 and 26.  The largest sale by volume conducted by Mealy’s over many years will include 300 lots from Stranocum Hall, Co. Antrim.  There is everything from a William Sadler painting of shipping off Dublin to George IV Irish mahogany sofas, a large Victorian serving table and an Edison standard phonograph.  The catalogue is online.  Here is a small sample.

    WILLIAM SADLER II (1782-1839), Shipping off Dublin, with Lighthouse and Figures (600-900).

    WILLIAM SADLER II (1782-1839),
    Shipping off Dublin, with Lighthouse and Figures (600-900). UPDATE: SOLD FOR 3,700

     LARGE VICTORIAN MAHOGANY SIDE OR SERVING TABLE

    LARGE VICTORIAN MAHOGANY SIDE OR SERVING TABLE (2,000-4,000)  UPDATE: SOLD FOR 2,200

    One of a pair of Irish George IV sofas

    One of a pair of Irish George IV sofas probably by Mack Williams and Gibton (10,000-20,000).  UPDATE: SOLD FOR 12,000

    AN EDISON STANDARD PHONOGRAPH

    AN EDISON STANDARD PHONOGRAPH (200-300)  UPDATE: SOLD FOR 300

    The Dining Room at Stranocum Hall

    The Dining Room at Stranocum Hall

     

    (See post on antiquesandartireland.com for March 13, 2015).

    SOTHEBY’S FIRST LIVE EBAY AUCTION ON APRIL 1

    Tuesday, March 17th, 2015
    A museum view of eBay and Sotheby's live auction platform. Courtesy Sotheby's

    A museum view of eBay and Sotheby’s live auction platform. Courtesy Sotheby’s

    Sotheby’s first  live auctions on eBay on April 1 will be a themed Photographs sale to be followed by a New York sale on April 2. Exclusive art and collectibles from Sotheby’s live auctions in New York will become available on eBay to 155 million active buyers. Part of eBay’s new live auctions platform, ebay.com/sothebys is now available for browsing and advance bidding on Sotheby’s unique items.

    eBay and Sotheby’s originally announced plans to partner on live auctions last July, and have since worked together to deliver an engaging virtual entrance to Sotheby’s unique inventory.  It will be the first use of live streaming audio and video anywhere on eBay.  Last week a Tefaf report calculated that internet sales made up 6 per cent of global art sales in 2014 with sales of 3.3 billion euro.

    A HAND COLOURED ENGRAVING OF ST. PATRICK FROM 1603

    Tuesday, March 17th, 2015
    Adriaen Collaert (1560-1618) '‘St. Patrick’, 1603 Photo © National Gallery of Ireland

    Adriaen Collaert (1560-1618) ‘‘St. Patrick’, 1603
    Photo © National Gallery of Ireland

    This hand coloured engraving on paper of St. Patrick by Adriaen Collaert dates to 1603 and is from the collection of the National Gallery of Ireland in Dublin. Images of St. Patrick in Art’ – a talk by Caoilte O Mahony on works of art depicting the national saint in art takes place at the gallery at 10.30 a.m. today.

    Ireland: Crossroads of Art and Design, 1690-1840, opens at the Art Institute of Chicago with a special ribbon-cutting featuring bagpipes and local dignitaries today. This is the first major exhibition to showcase the decorative and fine arts of 18th century Ireland, bringing together more than 300 objects – many never before seen in public – lent by public and private collectors across North America. The exhibition continues through June 7, 2015, A temporary Irish pub will be created in the museum’s Café Moderno where guests can hoist a beer after they visit the exhibition. (See posts on antiquesandartireland.com for January 11 and February 20, 2015).

    Meantime you can see St. Patrick’s Day celebrations anywhere and watch famous landmarks as they are bathed with green light with EarthCam

    A happy St. Patrick’s Day to all our readers in Ireland and around the world.

    MONET, MODIGLIANI FROM WHITEHEAD COLLECTION

    Monday, March 16th, 2015

    Masterworks from former Goldman Sachs chairman John C. Whitehead will form the cornerstone collection at Christie’s sales of Impressionist and Modern art in New York on May 14 and 15.  They include Modigliani’s Portrait of Beatrice Hastings and Monet’s Paysage de matin (Giverny). Other highlights are by Morisot, Renoir, Seurat and Van Gogh.  The 90-piece collection is expected to achieve more than $40 million.

    John Whitehead, who died in February, was a passionate collector. He served as chairman of Goldman Sachs during its critical phase of global expansion. He was a key diplomatic figure at the end of the Cold War as Deputy Secretary of State during the Reagan administration, and as Chairman of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. In the wake of 9/11 he was chairman of the Lower Manhattan Development Corporation, tasked with rebuilding the area around Ground Zero.

    Amedeo Modigliani  Portrait of Beatrice Hastings 1916 ($5-7 million).  Courtesy CHRISTIE'S IMAGES LTD. 2015

    Amedeo Modigliani Portrait of Beatrice Hastings 1916 ($5-7 million). Courtesy Christie’s Images Ltd.. 2015  UPDATE: THIS MADE $16,069,000

    Claude Monet, Paysage de matin (Giverny), oil on canvas, 1888. US$6-8 million Courtesy CHRISTIE'S IMAGES LTD. 2015

    Claude Monet, Paysage de matin (Giverny), oil on canvas, 1888. US$6-8 million Courtesy Christie’s Images Ltd. 2015  UPDATE: THIS SOLD FOR $4,533,000

    TAD SMITH IS NEW SOTHEBY’S CEO

    Monday, March 16th, 2015
    Tad Smith, new ceo at Sotheby's.

    Tad Smith, new ceo at Sotheby’s.

    Tad Smith has been named as new President and Chief Executive Officer at Sotheby’s.  The 49 year old has been President of the Madison Square Garden Company – a leader in building sports, media and entertainment brands – since February 2014.  In this role he oversaw strategy and day to day development at MSG Sports, MSG Media and MSG Entertainment. With a track record of driving revenue and profit growth the new President is said to have a passion for art and collectibles.

    Smith replaces William Ruprecht, who served as ceo since 2000.  Ruprecht had been under pressure from billionaire activist investor Daniel Loeb last year to cut costs and increase shareholder value.  Record auction volumes which brought sales last year to $6.1 million have not returned higher profits, and expenses have increased.

    Domenico De Sole, Sotheby’s lead independent director, is replacing Ruprecht as chairman of the board of directors.  Smith will also join Sotheby’s board.

    THE IRISH SPRING ANTIQUE AND FINE ART FAIR AT BALLSBRIDGE

    Monday, March 16th, 2015

    The Irish Spring Antique and Fine Art Fair takes place at the Ballsbridge Hotel in Dublin from March 20-22. With dealers from North and South of Ireland and from London it promises to be an exciting event packed brimful of items of interest to collectors.  There will be jewellery and silver, antique furniture, rare and collectible books, art, coins and banknotes, objets-d’art, prints and vintage fashion.  Here is a small selection. (For a voucher offering reduced entry to the fair see post on antiquesandartireland.com for February 27, 2015.)

    A baguette cut diamond necklace from Saul Greenstein London

    A baguette cut diamond necklace from Saul Greenstein London

     Pair of 18th C. Irish Silver coasters from Danker Antiques Dublin

    Pair of 18th C. Irish Silver coasters from Danker Antiques Dublin

    A large Victorian extension table, William Harnett Co.Limerick

    A large Victorian extension table, William Harnett Co.Limerick

    Leather bound books from Vanessa Parker, Rare books Co.Mayo

    Leather bound books from Vanessa Parker, Rare books Co.Mayo

    A FANCY VIVID YELLOW DIAMOND AT SOTHEBY’S HONG KONG

    Monday, March 16th, 2015

    A stunning 77.77 carat fancy vivid yellow diamond ring is among around 320 lots with an estimated value of US$99 million at Sotheby’s sale of magnificent jewels and jadeite in Hong Kong on April 6.  The ring is estimated at $6.8-7.5 million.  The sale will highlight an array of rare and important colourless and coloured diamonds.  They will be complemented by a suite of “pigeon’s blood” Burmese ruby by Faidee, an extremely rare triple-strand natural pearl necklace and an outstanding jadeite bead necklace.

    77.77-carat VS2 Fancy Vivid Yellow Diamond and Diamond Ring (Est. HK$53 – 58 million / US$6.8 – 7.5 million)

    77.77-carat VS2 Fancy Vivid Yellow Diamond and Diamond Ring (Est. HK$53 – 58 million / US$6.8 – 7.5 million)

    Diamond Necklace, Bulgari, circa 1950s (Est. HK$8 – 9.5 million / US$1 – 1.2 million)

    Diamond Necklace, Bulgari, circa 1950s (Est. HK$8 – 9.5 million / US$1 – 1.2 million)