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  • Archive for September, 2015

    RARE SANCAI CERAMICS FROM TANG DYNASTY AT CHRISTIE’S HONG KONG

    Friday, September 11th, 2015

    A selection of Chinese ceramics and works of art will come up at Christie’s Pavilion sale in Hong Kong on October 2. Rare sancai ceramics from the Tang dynasty will be presented, in addition to a wide array of beautifully carved jade and precious stone ornaments and accessories; ceramics from the Song to the Qing dynasties, alongside bamboo, wood, lacquer and bronzes.  Here is a taster.

    A large sancai glazed tripod dish, Tang Dynasty (US$130,000-260,000).

    A large sancai glazed tripod dish, Tang Dynasty (US$130,000-260,000).  UPDATE: THIS SOLD FOR US$347,352

    A small tourmaline box and cover, Qing Dynasty (US$11,000-16,000).

    A small tourmaline box and cover, Qing Dynasty (US$11,000-16,000).

    Fine jade carvings from the Yidetang collection.

    Fine jade carvings from the Yidetang collection.

    FRENCH CROWN JEWELS ANYONE?

    Thursday, September 10th, 2015
    The Dowager Countess of Harcourt diamond necklace of about 65 carats. (US$1.3-1.9 million).

    The Dowager Countess of Harcourt diamond necklace of about 65 carats. (US$1.3-1.9 million).  UPDATE: TIFFANY PURCHASED THIS FOR US$1,548,718

    The Dowager Viscountess Harcourt diamond necklace incorporating 28 diamonds from the landmark 1887 auction of the French Crown Jewels will come up at Sotheby’s in Hong Kong on October 7.  The necklace is accompanied by thorough documentation of its passage through various notable owners over more than a century.  After the Third Republic of France was formed the Ministry of Finance decided to sell the once exclusive property of kings and queens in a public auction in 1887. Jewellers from Europe, North Africa and the United States flocked to the sale, along with European aristocrats and wealthy Americans.  Tiffany was rumoured to have purchased about one third of the lots including 28 mine cut old diamonds from the Great Comb a Pampilles.  They were sold a week later to Junius Morgan of the English banking family. They were passed to his young grand daughter Mary Burns who became Viscountess Harcourt in 1899.  The first Viscount Harcourt had the diamond chains remounted into the present necklace around 1900.  It is estimated at US$1.3-1.9 million.

    The sale offers a selection of superb natural coloured gemstones, diamonds, jadeite and jewels from the most coveted brands worldwide, including iconic designs from Cartier from the 1920s to the present. Among these is a ‘Panther’ ring featuring a 10.62-carat natural Burmese ruby.

    Pride of place goes to the Cowdray Pearls, one of the finest and rarest grey pearl necklaces known (US$4.5 – 7 million).  Formerly in the collection of Viscountess Cowdray, Lady Pearson (1860 – 1932), a distinguished connoisseur and collector, this magnificent necklace strung and mounted by Cartier comprises 42 extremely rare and superb natural grey saltwater pearls well-matched in lustre, shape and size. They are accompanied by a pair of natural grey pearl earrings with mounts by Cartier London.

    The Cowdray Pearls (US$4.5 – 7 million).

    The Cowdray Pearls (US$4.5 – 7 million).  UPDATE: THEY SOLD FOR US$5,266,667

    A 10.62 carat Burmese Mogok ruby, onyx and diamond ring. (|US$2.3-3.2 million).

    A 10.62 carat Burmese Mogok ruby, onyx and diamond ring. (|US$2.3-3.2 million).

    SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE AT MORGAN O’DRISCOLL’S ART SALE IN DUBLIN

    Wednesday, September 9th, 2015

    There is something to suit all tastes at Morgan O’Driscoll’s Irish and International art auction at the RDS on September 14.  The sale of 110 lots features mostly Irish art and sculpture, but some international artists are represented as well.  You do not, for example, see art by Robert Motherwell cropping up every day at auction in Ireland.  The screen print by Motherwell in this sale, from his London series, was at Marlborough Fine Art in London and then in a private collection.  The Pig Market by the Cork 19th century artist Charles Henry Cook (c1830-1906) is one rarity. It is estimated at 3,000-5,000. Born in Bandon he exhibited at the Royal Hibernian Academy in the 1860’s and ’70’s from an address at Patrick St. in Cork.  St. Patrick’s Day by Cook is in the collection of the National Library of Ireland.  The catalogue is online. Here is a small selection:

    (See post on antiquesandartireland.com for September 2, 2015).

    ALICE MAHER (B.1956)RED ARCH / ARCHWAY (1995) (1,000-1,500).

    ALICE MAHER (B.1956) – RED ARCH / ARCHWAY (1995) (1,000-1,500).  UPDATE: THIS MADE 900 AT HAMMER

    ROBERT MOTHERWELL (1915-1991) AMERICAN LONDON SERIES I: UNTITLED (GREEN) (1971) (1,000-1,500)

    ROBERT MOTHERWELL (1915-1991) AMERICAN:  LONDON SERIES I: UNTITLED (GREEN) (1971) (1,000-1,500)  UPDATE: THIS MADE 1,500 AT HAMMER

    Column by Edward Delaney (1,000-1,500).

    Column by Edward Delaney (1,000-1,500).  UPDATE: THIS WAS UNSOLD

    The Pig Market by Charles Henry Cook (3,000-5,000).

    The Pig Market by Charles Henry Cook (3,000-5,000).  UPDATE: THIS MADE 2,400 AT HAMMER

    IRISH SIDE TABLE ESTIMATED AT £300-500 SELLS FOR £19,500

    Tuesday, September 8th, 2015
    This 18th century Irish side table sold for £19,500 today.

    This 18th century Irish side table sold for £19,500 today.

    An 18th century carved mahogany side table, described by Stockport auctioneers Capes Dunn as “probably Irish” sold for a hammer price of £19,500 against an estimate of £300-500 today.

    The table has a rounded rectangular top above a cross grain moulded frieze, on acanthus capped straight cabriole legs with claw and ball frieze, tied by a deep apron.

    The front is carved with leaves from a meandering vine and centred by a grotesque mask.

    THE TAUBMAN COLLECTION AT SOTHEBY’S, NEW YORK

    Monday, September 7th, 2015
    Willem de Kooning, Untitled XXI 1976 $25/35 million

    Willem de Kooning, Untitled XXI 1976 $25/35 million

    More than 500 works spanning the period from antiquity to contemporary art from the collection of A. Alfred Taubman are to come up at Sotheby’s in New York.  They will be sold in a series of dedicated auctions beginning in the autumn.  The sales are estimated at more than $500 million, making this the most valuable private collection ever offered at auction. Represented in the broad-ranging collection are an impressive number of iconic artists including: Mark Rothko and Frank Stella; Pablo Picasso and Egon Schiele; Winslow Homer and Charles Burchfield; and Albrecht Dürer and Raphael.

    Alfred Taubman, who passed away in April at the age of 91, immersed himself in the arts throughout his life – from his early training as an architect, to critical roles as a founder of the Archives of American Art at the Smithsonian Institution, a board member of the Whitney Museum of American Art and longtime Chairman of the Arts Commission of Detroit, the entity which oversaw the Detroit Institute of Arts. A self-made man he launched The Taubman Company in 1950 with a $5,000 loan. He revolutionized the retail experience, creating many design innovations considered standard today.  In 1983 he acquired Sotheby’s. He set about changing the way Sotheby’s did business opening it up beyond the dealers who were its historic mainstays and helping to create the stunning growth of the international art market.

    Under his stewardship, sales such as The Jewels of the Duchess of Windsor (1987), The Andy Warhol Collection (1988), and the Estate of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis (1996) were presented.

    In the early 2000s, an investigation into alleged price-fixing between Sotheby’s and Christie’s led to a confession by Sotheby’s ceo Diana Brooks of a price fixing scheme.  In a plea bargain arrangement prosecutors offered to keep her out of prison if she agreed to implicate Taubman. She did. Taubman was convicted in a jury trial of price fixing.  He was fined $7.5 million sent to jail for ten months.  After his release in 2003 he continued to insist on his innocence. Works from his collection will be presented at sales of Masterworks on November 4, Modern and Contemporary Art on November 5, American Art on November 18 and Old Masters on January 27, 2016.

    Thomas Gainsborough, The Blue Page c1770 $3/4 million

    Thomas Gainsborough, The Blue Page c1770 $3/4 million

    Martin Johnson Heade, The Great Florida Sunset 1887 $7/10 million

    Martin Johnson Heade, The Great Florida Sunset 1887 $7/10 million

    THE CONTRACT THAT LAUNCHED THE BEATLES AT SOTHEBY’S

    Saturday, September 5th, 2015
    The contract that launched the most successful band of all time, binding together the Beatles with manager Brian Epstein, comes up at Sotheby’s London Rock & Pop sale on September 29. Signed on October 1, 1962 just days before the release of their first single ‘Love Me Do’ it is estimated at £300,000-500,000.  This is the only management contract signed between the Beatles and Epstein after the band attained its final line-up of John Lennon, George Harrison, Paul McCartney, and Ringo Starr.
    “Without this contract, and the relationship it represents, it seems inconceivable that the Beatles could have achieved all that they did: it took more than inspired musicianship and song-writing to remake popular music. The presentation, direction, and internal harmony of the Beatles all owed a huge amount to Brian Epstein. He was, as Paul McCartney has acknowledged, the Fifth Beatle.” – Gabriel Heaton, Sotheby’s Specialist in Books and Manuscripts.
    Fascinating insights revealed in the terms of the contract include that Epstein would determine “on all matters concerning clothes, make-up and the presentation” of the Beatles and a clause allowing for band members to be kicked out “should two or more of them desire to remove one or more of the other Artists … with the consent in writing of the Manager”.  UPDATE: It sold for £365,000beatles contract 4beatles contract 2beatles contractbeatles 1

    A PIONEER OF CONTEMPORARY CERAMICS IN IRELAND

    Saturday, September 5th, 2015
    No less than ten pieces by John ffrench (1928-2010) – the great pioneer of contemporary ceramics in Ireland – come up at a house auction at Lifford, Co. Donegal tomorrow. The ten pieces to be sold are from the collection of Albert and Eva Johnson, The Diamond, Lifford, Co. Donegal.  They are to be included in a house sale by Matthews of over 500 lots.   About 25 pieces of Irish ceramic as well as a good selection of antique furniture, art and collectibles including a pair of Irish silver Celtic Revival bowls will come under the hammer.
    John ffrench studied in Italy for four years and returned to set up the Ring Studio in Kilkenny with Peter Brennan in 1956. He began to create sculptural, experimental pots inspired by the Cubism of Picasso and Braque, unlike any previously seen in this country. In the 1950’s mass produced and imported work was standard in Ireland.  The country had virtually no craft pottery tradition. ffrench founded the Arklow Studio Pottery, was closely involved with Kilkenny studios and exhibited at the Waddington Gallery in Dublin. His work is included in the permanent collection at the Crawford Gallery.

    Four ceramic bowls by John ffrench (50-80 each).

    Four ceramic bowls by John ffrench (50-80 each).

    John ffrench wall charger with blue bird motif (100-150).

    John ffrench wall charger with blue bird motif (100-150).

    John ffrench unique hand painted egg (40-70).

    John ffrench unique hand painted egg (40-70).

    A $100 MILLION MODIGLIANI AT CHRISTIE’S

    Thursday, September 3rd, 2015
    Amedeo Modigliani’s Nu couché (Reclining Nude) painted in 1917-18. Courtesy Christie's Images Ltd., 2015.

    Amedeo Modigliani’s Nu couché (Reclining Nude) painted in 1917-18. Courtesy Christie’s Images Ltd., 2015.  UPDATE: IT SOLD FOR $170,405,000

    Amedeo Modigliani’s masterpiece Nu couché (Reclining Nude) – estimated to exceed $100 million – comes up at Christie’s in New York on Monday, November 9. The painting, executed in 1917-18, will be the centerpiece of a special curated evening sale of 20th century art focused on the theme of “The Artist’s Muse”. 

    It is one of a series of great female nudes made for Léopold Zboroswki that famously caused a scandal nearly a century ago when they were exhibited at Modigliani’s first and only one-man show at the Galerie Berthe Weill in Paris.  Outraged by the content of this show — which caused a crowd to form outside the gallery window where one of Modigliani’s nudes was openly on display — the police demanded the immediate closure of the exhibition.

    This is the first time this portrait has come to auction. It is poised to break the standing world auction record of $70.7 million for any work by Modigliani, one of the greatest artists of the 20th century.

    EPIC BATTLE OF WATERLOO CARTOON BY DANIEL MACLISE AT RA

    Thursday, September 3rd, 2015
    A magnificently conserved drawing of the Battle of Waterloo by celebrated Cork artist Daniel Maclise (1809-1870) has just gone on display at the Royal Academy in London. The critically acclaimed cartoon – The Meeting of Wellington and Blücher after the Battle of Waterloo – is over 13 metres wide and 3 metres high. It is on display for the first time since 1972 to mark the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Waterloo.
    Tim Marlow, Director of Artistic Programmes at the Royal Academy of Arts said, ‘Epic doesn’t begin to describe either Daniel Maclise’s original drawings or the restoration project that The Waterloo Cartoon has just undergone. Only by seeing it will anyone fully understand its power, impact and importance’.
    The term cartoon – from the Italian ‘cartone’ – means a large sheet of paper, usually a full-size preparatory drawingThis one served for a famous painting in the Royal Gallery of the House of Lords. Conservation of one of the largest and most detailed cartoons to survive in the UK was carried out at the Royal Academy thanks to a grant from Arts Council, England.
    It took the artist over a year to complete in 1858-59.  The battle was then within living memory and he carried out extensive research. Queen Victoria and Prince Albert even became involved, using their contacts in Germany to gather information from Prussian officers who were present on the day. Maclise’s image is remarkable for its lack of triumphalism, instead highlighting the stoicism of Wellington and Blücher when faced with human suffering and the tragedy of war.
    Daniel Maclise: The Waterloo Cartoon is at The Royal Academy until January 3, 2016.

    Daniel Maclise, R.A.  Cartoon for ‘The Meeting of Wellington and Blücher After the Battle of Waterloo’  1858-1859 © Royal Academy of Arts, London; Photographer: Prudence Cuming Associates Limited

    Daniel Maclise, R.A.
    Cartoon for ‘The Meeting of Wellington and Blücher After the Battle of Waterloo’
    1858-1859 © Royal Academy of Arts, London; Photographer: Prudence Cuming Associates Limited

    A detail of the work.

    A detail of the work.

    A detail of the work.

    A detail of the work.

    Conservation process of The Waterloo Cartoon by Daniel Maclise, R.A. ©Benedict Johnson

    Conservation process of The Waterloo Cartoon by Daniel Maclise, R.A.
    ©Benedict Johnson

    EARLY DRAWINGS BY PAUL HENRY AT O’DRISCOLL AUCTION

    Wednesday, September 2nd, 2015

    Early drawings by Paul Henry (1876-1958) unseen in this country since the 1940’s will be a highlight at Morgan O’Driscoll’s sale of Irish and International art at the RDS on September 14. The two drawings, Boy with a Flute (1910) and Woman with Fagots (1904) were acquired directly from the artist and have been in New Zealand since the 1940’s.  Each one is estimated at 15,000-25,000.

    There is sculpture by John Behan and others,  an original screen print by Robert Motherwell and Old Time Dance by Dan O’Neill which depicts a night time scene and a couple dancing.  The sale of 110 lots will be on view at Morgan O’Driscoll’s Skibbereen offices from September 4-7  and in Dublin at the RDS Minerva Suite from September 11.

    Boy with a Flute by Paul Henry (15,000-25,000).

    Boy with a Flute by Paul Henry (15,000-25,000). UPDATE: THIS MADE 15,000 AT HAMMER

    Woman With Fagots by Paul Henry (15,000-25,000).

    Woman With Fagots by Paul Henry (15,000-25,000).  UPDATE: THIS MADE 14,000 AT HAMMER

    The Pig Market by tCharles Henry Cook (3,000-5,000).

    The Pig Market by Charles Henry Cook (3,000-5,000).  UPDATE: THIS MADE 2,400 AT HAMMER

    Old Time Dance by Dan O'Neill (15,000-25,000).

    Old Time Dance by Dan O’Neill (15,000-25,000).  UPDATE: THIS MADE 9,500 AT HAMMER