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    • Archive for December, 2015

    WORLD RECORD FOR HARDSTONE INLAID TABLE TOP

    Thursday, December 10th, 2015
    This pietre dure table top sold for a record £3.5 million.

    This pietre dure table top sold for a record £3.5 million.

    A world record price for a hard stone inlaid table top was established at Sotheby’s in London today when the Grimani table top sold for £3,509,000.  There were two.  Made in Florence circa 1600-1620 and with a  provenance that is fully documented since 1623 the first sold for  £3,509,000. Five bidders competed in a 10-minute bidding battle.  The high estimate was £600,000. It is thought that this pietre dure top with the arms and symbols of the Grimani Family was probably a gift from a member of the Medici family.

    No fewer than four bidders vied for the second table top which sold to a private collector for £1,625,000  – the second highest price for an inlaid Roman table top sold at auction with a top estimate of £500,000. From the last quarter of the 16th century it was purchased by or given to a member of the Grimani family, in all likelihood Doge Marino Grimani (1532 – 1605) whilst in Rome in 1585 and 1592.

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    THE LOCK BY JOHN CONSTABLE SELLS FOR £9.1 MILLION AT SOTHEBY’S

    Thursday, December 10th, 2015
    The Lock at Sotheby's

    The Lock at Sotheby’s

    The Lock, one of John Constable’s most famous compositions sold for £9,109,000 at Sotheby’s London last night.  It was painted c1824-25. The monumental landscape depicting the countryside of the painter’s “careless boyhood” was the highlight of the Old Master & British Paintings evening sale.  It was retained by the artist in his studio until the end of his life. The auction totalled £22.6 million.

    Alex Bell, Joint International Head and Co-Chairman of Sotheby’s Old Master Paintings Department said: “The Lock belongs to a small group of pictures that define Constable’s oeuvre and genius. The artist’s absolute mastery as a landscape painter is everywhere in the picture and this was reflected in the result achieved tonight. The painting was one of many museum-quality works presented in the sale, an unprecedented proportion of which were from private collections and came to the market for the first time in several generations. The combination of quality and freshness to the market are key in this field and certainly account for this evening’s strong results.”

    As of last night Sotheby’s has sold $237,619,514 worth of Old Master and British Paintings worldwide in 2015.

    (See post on antiquesandartireland.com for  September 26, 2015).

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    STAINED GLASS DESIGNS BY RICHARD KING AT FONSIE MEALY

    Wednesday, December 9th, 2015

    A collection of stained glass window designs by Richard King will come up at Fonsie Mealy’s sale of rare books, manuscripts and watercolours in Dublin on December 15.  Four coloured drawings, each measuring 105″ x 21″. were designed for St. Columba’s Church in Perth, Western Australia.  They are each estimated at 3,000-4,000. In addition there is a design for the War Memorial Chapel at Hawthorne, Western Australia entitled God the Father (2,000-3,000); Child of Eire designed for UCD (1,750-2,500) and a Nativity watercolour (1,500-2,000).

    After studies at the Dublin Metropolital School of Art Richard King joined the Harry Clarke studios in 1928. Clarke died in 1931 and in 1935 King became manager of the studio.  He set up on his own in 1940, working in stained glass and graphic design. His windows can be found in various locations in Ireland, at Boston College, Massachusetts and in Western Australia.

    UPDATE: The four coloured drawings sold at hammer respectively for 2,700, 2550,  2,500 and 2,700. God the Father made 2,100 and Child of Eire sold for 4,800.  The nativity watercolour sold for 2,100.

    (See post on antiquesandartireland.com for November 9, 2015).

    ST. ANNE with the BLESSED VIRGIN MARY

    ST. ANNE with the BLESSED VIRGIN MARY UPDATE: THIS SOLD FOR 2,700

     

    UPDATE

    Richard King - THE HOLY FAMILY, St. Joseph with Mary and the child Jesus. Full size original coloured drawing (or cartoon) for a stained glass window, gouache on paper, approx 105 ins x 21 ins, the colouring fresh and unfaded. Lower panel shows St. Joseph leading Mary on the donkey

    Richard King – THE HOLY FAMILY, St. Joseph with Mary and the child Jesus. Full size original coloured drawing (or cartoon) for a stained glass window, gouache on paper, approx 105 ins x 21 ins, the colouring fresh and unfaded. Lower panel shows St. Joseph leading Mary on the donkey.  UPDATE: THIS SOLD FOR 2,550 AT HAMMER

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    ANOTHER GREAT NIGHT OF IRISH ART SALES

    Monday, December 7th, 2015
    Convad by Dan O'Neill sold for 15,000 at hammer.

    Convad by Dan O’Neill sold for 15,000 at hammer.

    A Yeats at 210,000 and a Henry at 97,000 helped to make for another great night for Irish art sales in Dublin this evening.  These prices at Morgan O’Driscoll’s Irish and International art auction are hammer, to which fees and commissions amounting to just under 25% will be added.  They continue the trend established at last weeks Irish art sales in Dublin, which were notable for competitive bidding and a number of above estimate prices.  This is in sharp contrast to the situation in latter years and shows that the recovery in prices in the market for Irish art is now well and truly established.  One work by Michael Flatley sold for 34,000, the second was passed. Each one had been estimated at 30,000-50,000.  Dan O’Neill’s Convad made 15,000 at hammer.  Other prices included St. George’s Market, Belfast by Markey Robinson (14,000), Glacier III by Barrie Cooke (7,600), White Scarecrow and Clown by John Shinnors (11,000), Grid by John Kingerlee (6,000), Second Version of Painting 1946 (1971), a lithograph by Francis Bacon (7,500),  Whispering leaves and wandering sheep by Joseph Malachy Kavanagh (8,500), Tarring the Shed by Nano Reid (11,500), Being 1997 by Louis le Brocquy (13,000) and Barn, West of Ireland by Donald Teskey (9,000).

    (See post on antiquesandartireland.com for December 4, 2015).

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    MAPS AND CHARTS AT ADAMS CARTOGRAPHY AUCTION

    Monday, December 7th, 2015

    John Rocque’s (1705-1762) Chart of Dublin Bay and plan of Dublin and Irlandiae by Baptista Boazio (1588-1606) from a scarce Spanish edition of 1612 are among the treasures of the Richard S.J. Clarke collection of Cartography to be sold at Adams in Dublin on December 15.  The catalogue lists 487 lots from a collection which includes Dutch charts, French charts, Irish and British charts and maps.  Professor Clarke, who was born in 1929, began collecting maps and charts in the 1950’s.  The catalogue for the sale is online.

    UPDATE:  Estimated at 5,000-7,000 Rocque’s chart sold for a hammer price of 12,000.

    Irlandiae by Baptista Boazio (1588-1606) (4,000-6,000).

    Irlandiae by Baptista Boazio (1588-1606) (4,000-6,000).  UPDATE: THIS WAS UNSOLD

    A chart of the south coast of Ireland (1601) by Lucas Janszoon Waghenaer (2,000-4,000).

    A chart of the south coast of Ireland (1601) by Lucas Janszoon Waghenaer (2,000-4,000).  UPDATE: THIS MADE 4,200 AT HAMMER

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    A BUST OF GEORGE WASHINGTON MADE IN HIS LIFETIME

    Monday, December 7th, 2015
    The gilt bronze lifetime bust of George Washington.

    The gilt bronze lifetime bust of George Washington.  UPDATE: THIS WAS UNSOLD

    A lifetime portrait bust of George Washington comes up at Sotheby’s in London on December 10.  The gilt-bronze sculpture is from the celebrated Royal Laboratory established by King Charles III of Spain in Madrid in 1759. Dating to the 1790s, the bust was commissioned to commemorate the signing of the Treaty of San Lorenzo with the United States, which declared a state of mutual friendship between the two nations.  It is thought to be based on a painting by Guiseppe Perovani commissioned by the Spanish charge d’affaires in Philadephia and gifted to Prime Minister Manuel Godoy in 1796.

    Christopher Mason, Sotheby’s Old Master Sculpture Specialist, said: “The modelling and execution is of the highest quality and the identity of the sitter is unmistakable. Washington is Presidential in his demeanor, the sharpness of the bronze casting seemingly reflecting the Enlightenment values of this victorious democratic leader.”

    Estimated at £200,000-300,000 it will come up at Sotheby’s sale of Old Master Sculpture and works of art.

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    A 1922 PHOTOGRAPH OF IRELAND’S CONSTITUTION COMMITTEE AT MEALY’S

    Sunday, December 6th, 2015

    A rare original 1922 photograph of  Ireland’s constitution committee comes up at Mealy’s Christmas sale in Castlecomer on December 14.  The auction will feature 750 diverse lots including silver, wine, port, antique furniture, books and Republican memorabilia.  The photograph, taken in the Shelbourne Hotel’s room 112, now known as the Constitution Room, was the property of the secretary of the committee, Ronald J.P. Mortished.  It is estimated at 200-400.  Lot 725 is a seasonal three magnums of Fonseca 1970 vintage port (800-1,200).  Lot 426 is also in the luxury category. It is a Louis Vuitton lady’s traveling vanity case (1,000-1,200).  Among the other lots is an 18th century English bracket clock made for the Ottoman market with Arabic numerals (1,500-2,500).

    The 1922 Constitution committee photograph: Left to Right:- R.J.P. Mortished (Secretary); John O'Byrne, B.L.; C.J. France; Darrell Figgis (Acting Chairman) ;Ned Stephens, B.L. (Secretary); P.A. O'Toole, B.L. (Secretary); James Mac Neill (sic); Hugh Kennedy, K.C.; James Murnahan (sic), B.L.; James Douglas;

    The 1922 Constitution committee photograph: Left to Right:- R.J.P. Mortished (Secretary); John O’Byrne, B.L.; C.J. France; Darrell Figgis (Acting Chairman) ;Ned Stephens, B.L. (Secretary); P.A. O’Toole, B.L. (Secretary); James Mac Neill (sic); Hugh Kennedy, K.C.; James Murnahan (sic), B.L.; James Douglas;  UPDATE: THIS MADE 550 AT HAMMER

    Three magnums of Fonseca 1970 vintage port.

    Three magnums of Fonseca 1970 vintage port.  UPDATE: THIS LOT MADE 720 AT HAMMER

    A Louis Vuitton lady's traveling vanity case.

    A Louis Vuitton lady’s traveling vanity case.  UPDATE: THIS MADE 1,100 AT HAMMER

    An 18th century English bracket clock with Arabic numerals.

    An 18th century English bracket clock with Arabic numerals.  UPDATE: THIS MADE 3,300 AT HAMMER

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    CHARLEVILLE CASTLE AUCTION POSTPONED DUE TO WEATHER

    Saturday, December 5th, 2015
    A William IV over mantle from the postponed Matthews sale at Charleville Castle (400-700).

    A William IV over mantle from the postponed Matthews sale at Charleville Castle (400-700).

    The antique and collectors auction scheduled to take place at Charleville Castle, Tullamore, Co. Offaly on December 6 has been postponed for one week to December 13.  As Storm Desmond continued to batter Ireland today Matthews Auctioneers of Oldcastle took a last minute decision to postpone the sale.

    It will be held instead on Sunday, December 13. The venue is a remarkably original and unrestored castle, The catalogue, which includes property from an unnamed charitable trust and props decommissioned from Ardmore Studios, Bray, Co. Wicklow, lists 784 lots.

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    A FOOTBALL SIGNED IN 1957 BY THE ILL-FATED MANCHESTER UNITED TEAM

    Friday, December 4th, 2015
    The football signed by the Manchester United team in 1957.

    The football signed by the Manchester United team in 1957.  UPDATE: THIS SOLD FOR 6,000 AT HAMMER

    An historic  and poignant 1957 football signed by the Manchester United team and management comes up at Whyte’s sale of Sport and Entertainment memorabilia in Dublin on December 13 and 14. Among the signatories are seven of the eight players who died in the Munich air disaster in February 1958.  Their names are marked by an asterisk on the following list. It is signed by Matt Busby, *Geoff Bent, Johnny Berry, *Roger Byrne, Jackie Blanchflower, Joe Carolan, Bobby Charlton, Jack Crompton, *Duncan Edwards, Ian Greaves, *Mark Jones, Noel McFarlane, *David Pegg, Albert Scanlon, *Tommy Taylor, *Liam Whelan.  This sad memento of happier days for an ill-fated team is estimated at 6,000-8,000.

    When Shamrock Rovers won the League of Ireland in 1957 they were the first Irish club to qualify for the European Cup. They were drawn against Manchester United. Shamrock Rovers hosted Manchester United at home in Milltown for the first leg and lost 6-0. They travelled to Old Trafford for the 2nd leg on October 2, 1957. Rovers lost 3-2. After the game a member of the team was presented with a football signed by the Manchester United team and management. Busby’s Babes went on to win the second round of the Cup against Dukla Prague and progressed to meet Red Star Belgrade in the third round. It was while returning to England from the away leg against Red Star Belgrade, in February 1958, that the team’s plane crashed after a refuelling stop in Munich. The football is from a descendant of a Shamrock Rovers team member.

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    YEATS AND HENRY AT MORGAN O’DRISCOLL’S DUBLIN AUCTION

    Friday, December 4th, 2015

    Fine works by Jack B. Yeats and Paul Henry are included in Morgan O’Driscoll‘s sale Irish and International art auction at the RDS on December 7.  In the wake of successful sales of Irish art in Dublin already this week there is anticipation around this sale which is headed by a 1949 Jack B. Yeats entitled Business. Estimated at 200,000-300,000 this work was once in the Jefferson Smurfit collection.  Morgan O’Driscoll has just completed a viewing for this sale in London. The catalogue is online. Here is a small selection:

    Paul Henry RHA (1876-1958) Killary Bay, Connemara (80,000-120,000).

    Paul Henry RHA (1876-1958) Killary Bay, Connemara (80,000-120,000).  UPDATE: THIS SOLD FOR 97,000 AT HAMMER

    Business by Jack Butler Yeats (200,000-300,000).

    Business by Jack Butler Yeats (200,000-300,000).  UPDATE: THIS SOLD FOR 210,000 AT HAMMER.

    John Shinnors (b.1950) White Scarecrow and Clown (12,000-16,000).

    John Shinnors (b.1950) White Scarecrow and Clown (12,000-16,000).  UPDATE: THIS SOLD FOR 11,000 AT HAMMER

    Gwen O'Dowd - Spaces 32 (2005) (1,500-2,500).

    Gwen O’Dowd – Spaces 32 (2005) (1,500-2,500). UPDATE: THIS MADE 1,500 AT HAMMER

    John Noel Smith - Untitled Field Painting (2007) (6,000-9,000).

    John Noel Smith – Untitled Field Painting (2007) (6,000-9,000).  UPDATE: THIS WAS UNSOLD

    Tony O'Malley HRHA (1913-2003) Still Life on Piazza Studio (1962) (12,000-16,000).

    Tony O’Malley HRHA (1913-2003) Still Life on Piazza Studio (1962) (12,000-16,000). UPDATE: THIS WAS BID TO 11,000 AND THEN PASSED

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