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  • Archive for November, 2016

    A GREAT LATE YEATS AT ADAMS

    Wednesday, November 30th, 2016
    Jack B. Yeats - Glory to the Brave Singer (250,000-350,000)

    Jack B. Yeats – Glory to the Brave Singer (250,000-350,000)  UPDATE: THIS WAS PASSED AT 230,000

    A great late Yeats work will highlight the James Adam sale of Important Irish Art and Irish historical documents in Dublin on December 7.  Glory to the Brave Singer, which depicts a woman reclining in a landscape pointing towards a songbird, was exhibited at the RHA in 1951, at Victor Waddington’s in Dublin in October 1953 and at the Munster Fine Art Club annual exhibition in Cork in 1956. It was shown several times at Victor Waddington’s gallery in London in the late 1950’s and ’60’s but has rarely been seen in public since becoming part of a private collection in 1971. It is estimated at 250,000-350,000. It is one of four Yeats’ oils in what Adams describe as one of their finest sales in some years.

    There is a small section on Irish historical documents which includes the most expensively estimated lot, the final order of surrender written  by Padraig Pearse at Easter 1916 (1-1.5 million) and two original copies of the Irish Proclamation (each estimated at 250,000-350,000).

    The art sale features lots from the Smurfit Kappa Collection, which includes a self portrait by Sir William Orpen (the catalogue cover lot) and Paul Henry’s Connemara Landscape.  There are important works by traditional Northern painters like Frank McKelvey, James Humbert Craig and Maurice Wilks.  The back cover of the catalogue features one of Roderic O’Conor’s biggest and most ambitious paintings of the female nude. Etude du nu dates to 1914 and is estimated at 50,000-70,000. The sale features work by artists like Sir John Lavery, Joseph Malachy Kavanagh, Aloysius O’Kelly and Nathaniel Hill as well as four paintings by Patrick Hennessy who was the subject of an exhibition at IMMA during the summer.

    There is work by Mildred Anne Butler, Evie Hone, Mainie Jellett, Letitia and Eva Hamilton and Norah McGuinness.  Contemporary artists include Tony O’Malley, Louis le Brocquy, Mark Francis, Donald Teskey and John Doherty.  The catalogue is online. Here is a small selection:

    UPDATE:   The Pearse surrender letter was unsold.  The sale grossed 1.35 million with 76% of lots sold.

    Louis le Brocquy HRHA (1916-2012) Human Image (Woman) (1997) (40,000-60,000)

    Louis le Brocquy HRHA (1916-2012)
    Human Image (Woman) (1997) (40,000-60,000)  UPDATE: THIS WAS UNSOLD

    Roderic O'Conor (1860-1940) Etude de Nu (50,000-70,000)

    Roderic O’Conor (1860-1940)
    Etude de Nu (50,000-70,000)  UPDATE: THIS WAS UNSOLD

    Patrick Hennessy RHA (1915-1980) The Bronze Horses of Saint Marks (1953) (15,000-20,000)

    Patrick Hennessy RHA (1915-1980)
    The Bronze Horses of Saint Marks (1953) (15,000-20,000) UPDATE: THIS MADE 32,000 AT HAMMER

    Norah McGuinness HRHA (1901-1980) Waterweeds on the Nore (4,000-6,000)

    Norah McGuinness HRHA (1901-1980)
    Waterweeds on the Nore (4,000-6,000)  UPDATE: THIS MADE 5,500 AT HAMMER

    IRISHMAN’S ZULU WAR MEDAL AT AUCTION IN LONDON

    Wednesday, November 30th, 2016
    The South Africa medal awarded to Michael Minihan.

    The South Africa medal awarded to Michael Minihan.  UPDATE: IT SOLD FOR £70,000 AT HAMMER

    The medal awarded to Cork born Private Michael Minihan – one of the defenders of Rorke’s Drift during the Zulu War in 1879 – comes up at auction by Dix Noonan Webb in London on December 8. He was one of 16 Irishmen known to be among the 150 strong British garrison which fought off an attack by up to 4,000 Zulu warriors.  No less than eleven Victoria Crosses were awarded for the defence of the mission station – the former trading post of Irish merchant James Rorke. The 1964 film Zulu starring Stanley Baker and Michael Caine was based on this battle.

    Minehan was the right-hand man in the front rank of ‘B’ Company, a soldier who knew his drill and helped maintain the discipline that held the embattled garrison together during the ferocious hand-to-hand fighting at Rorke’s Drift on January 22-23, 1879. He was highly regarded by his officers and received several testimonials of good character  including one from Lieutenant Gonville Bromhead, his company commander, who won the VC at Rorke’s Drift. Born in Castlehaven, Co. Cork in 1845 Michael Minihan enlisted in the 24th Foot at Bandon in October 1864.  He saw service in India, South Africa and the Mediterranean.  In 1879 the 2nd Battalion of the 24th Foot was part of the British Army that invaded the then independent kingdom of Zululand. ‘B’ Company was detailed to garrison Rorke’s Drift, which had been turned into a supply depot and hospital. They thus avoided the fate of many regimental comrades who were killed when the Zulus overwhelmed a British force at Isandlwana.

    The victorious Zulus then headed for Rorke’s Drift where the tiny garrison, some of whom were hospital patients, found themselves in a desperate battle for survival. Minehan was posted in the cattle kraal, which formed part of the defensive perimeter and eventually had to be evacuated. Captain William Penn-Symonds, an officer in the 24th who was part of the force which relieved Rorke’s Drift knew the Irish soldier well and later wrote: “Minehan was a great pal of mine; he was right-hand man, front rank of ‘B’ Company, who knew his drill well and had often kept me straight.” The day after the battle Private Minehan, who was so exhausted that he could not speak, took Penn-Symonds to the corner of the kraal where he had been stationed. He indicated the body of a Zulu, partly hidden under the straw. During the siege the Zulu had crawled under the straw and grabbed Minehan by the leg. Minehan had thrust his bayonet into the straw killing his assailant.

    After his service in the Zulu War Michael Minihan was posted back to India.  In 1884 he contracted cholera, was sent back to England and discharged as medically unfit.  He died in May 1891 and is buried in Castletownsend.  The grave marker, a cross of wrought iron, was inscribed Michael Minihan, Late of the 24th Regiment and one of the gallant defenders of Rorke’s Drift. His campaign medal for South Africa 1877-79 with clasp 1877-8-9 is estimated at £26,000-30,000.

    The men of 'B' Company 2/24th Regiment who survived Rorke's Drift.

    The men of ‘B’ Company 2/24th Regiment who survived Rorke’s Drift.

    Michael Minihan is the man on the left in the circle.

    Michael Minihan is the man on the left in the circle.

    DIVERSE SELECTION AT MORGAN O’DRISCOLL’S RHA AUCTION

    Tuesday, November 29th, 2016

    Art by Paul Henry, Basil Blackshaw, Andy Warhol, Roy Lichtenstein and Banksy are among a diverse selection at the Irish and International art auction by Morgan O’Driscoll at the RHA Gallery in Dublin on December 5 at 6 p.m.  The international selection includes Lichtenstein’s Red Lamps (1990) numbered 23/60 from his Interior Series (35,000-45,000), Festival (2006) by Banksy with a Pest Control Certificate of Authenticity (15,000-20,000) and Martha Graham: Lamentation (1986) by Andy Warhol (6,000-9,000).  There is a selection of Irish work from artists as diverse as Donald Teskey, Letitia Marion Hamilton, Charles Tyrrell, Nano Reid, Robert Ballagh, Markey Robinson, Hughie O’Donoghue, John Behan and John Noel Smith.  The catalogue, with 161 lots, is online. Here is a small selection:

    John Behan - Migrating Swans (2015) (12,000-15,000)

    John Behan – Migrating Swans (2015) (12,000-15,000) UPDATE: THIS MADE 12,500 AT HAMMER

    Paul Henry - Evening in Achill (1930-38) (120,000-180,000)

    Paul Henry – Evening in Achill (1930-38) (120,000-180,000)  UPDATE: THIS MADE 135,000 AT HAMMER

    Basil Blackshaw - Look Out (2005) (20,000-40,000)

    Basil Blackshaw – Look Out (2005) (20,000-40,000)  UPDATE: THIS MADE 19,000 AT HAMMER

    Roy Lichtenstein - Red Lamps (1990) - Interior Series (35,000-45,000)

    Roy Lichtenstein – Red Lamps (1990) – Interior Series (35,000-45,000)  UPDATE: THIS MADE 37,000 AT HAMMER

    Hughie O'Donoghue - Red Earth VI (1995) (25,000-35,000)

    Hughie O’Donoghue – Red Earth VI (1995) (25,000-35,000)  UPDATE: THIS MADE 28,000 AT HAMMER

    MAHLER’S 2nd SYMPHONY MAKES WORLD AUCTION RECORD

    Tuesday, November 29th, 2016

    mahler-2ndThere was a new auction record for a musical manuscript when the complete manuscript of Gustav Mahler’s Second Symphony (the “Resurrection”) sold for £4,546,250 at Sotheby’s in London today. This monument of musical history, spanning 232 pages and written in the composer’s distinctive hand throughout, ranks as the most significant music manuscript ever to be offered at auction. It remains completely unaltered, untrimmed and unbound – including deletions, alterations and annotations, many in vivid blue crayon. The work retains the form in which Mahler left it, reflecting and revealing the compositional process for the work. mahler-2

    The dramatic manuscript is made all the more noteworthy by its remarkable provenance, coming to auction from the estate of the American economist and businessman, Gilbert Kaplan (1941-2016), who, having become infatuated with Mahler’s Symphony No. 2 upon seeing the piece performed at New York’s Carnegie Hall in 1965, dedicated his life to realising his dream of conducting the piece with the world’s greatest orchestras.

    *The only comparable autograph music manuscripts of major symphonic works to have been sold at auction are the celebrated manuscript of nine Mozart symphonies (which achieved £2.5 million at Sotheby’s in London in 1987) and the manuscript of Robert Schumann’s Second Symphony (which sold for £1.5 million at Sotheby’s in London in 1994).

    HENRY’S WEST OF IRELAND LANDSCAPE THE TOP LOT AT WHYTE’S

    Monday, November 28th, 2016
    Paul Henry (1876-1958) - West of Ireland landscape sold for 87,000 at hammer.

    Paul Henry (1876-1958) – West of Ireland landscape sold for 87,000 at hammer.

    Paul Henry’s West of Ireland Landscape was the top lot at Whyte’s sale of Important Irish Art in Dublin this evening. Measuring 15″ by just over 18″ it sold for a hammer price of 87,000 against an estimate of 90,000-120,000.  Resting by Dan O’Neill made a hammer of 23,000, The Tram, Dublin Nocturne 1926 by Harry Kernoff made 16,000 at hammer, Pierrot by Gerard Dillon made 12,500, Evening Andalucian Town by George Campbell made 11,000, Two Trees by Basil Blackshaw made 20,000 and Still Life with Flowers by the same artist sold for 18,000, Morning Flight, Paradise Island, Bahamas 1980 by Tony O’Malley made 14,000, Garden at Night by William Crozier made 19,000, a Portrait of Sir Edward Wortley Montague by Charles Jervas made 10,500, Three Men in a Boat by Liam O’Neill made 10,000 and a c1965 wood sculpture by Hilary Heron – A level headed man – sold for 8,000.

    The sale grossed 830,000 and 78% of lots on offer found buyers.

    RICH PICKINGS AT SHEPPARDS IN DURROW

    Saturday, November 26th, 2016

    Collectors will find rich pickings among a selection of fine antique furniture, art, jewellery, fine wine, Asian art  and European works of art during three days of sales at Sheppards in Durrow on November 29-30 and December 1.  Viewing is now underway and the catalogue is online. There are rugs, handbags, jewellery, fur coats, sculpture, a private collection of modestly estimated English and Irish watercolours and a good choice of antique furniture including mirrors, chairs, cabinets, lighting and lamps,Chinese ceramics and bronzes, silver, porcelain and a small section on wines and spirits.  The auction series with nearly 1,600 lots in total will finish up with a classic art evening auction with just 60 lots next on December 1 at  7 pm.  There is Irish, British and continental works ranging from a lake scene by George Barrett and a portrait by Hugh Douglas Hamilton to a Dutch landscape by Hendrik Pieter Koekkoek (1843-1927), a landscapes by the English artist Claude Francis Barry (1883-1970), a work from the French Impressionist School and  an Italian portrait by a follower of Lorenzo Lotto. The sale will include work by Markey Robinson, Arthur Maderson, Mildred Anne Butler and Augustus Burke.

    CLAUDE FRANCIS BARRY, RBA (ENGLISH, 1883-1970) - A nocturnal lake scene (8,000-12,000)

    CLAUDE FRANCIS BARRY, RBA (ENGLISH, 1883-1970) – A nocturnal lake scene (8,000-12,000)  UPDATE: THIS MADE 22,000 AT HAMMER

    CLAUDE FRANCIS BARRY, RBA (ENGLISH, 1883-1970) - A sunlit river landscape with sheep in the foreground (8,000-12,000)

    CLAUDE FRANCIS BARRY, RBA (ENGLISH, 1883-1970) – A sunlit river landscape with sheep in the foreground (8,000-12,000)  UPDATE: THIS MADE 10,000 AT HAMMER

    A 19th century Killarney davenport (15,000-25,000)

    A 19th century Killarney davenport (15,000-25,000)  UPDATE: THIS WAS WITHDRAWN AT 14,000

    A Qianlong dish (3,000-5,000)

    A Qianlong dish (3,000-5,000)  UPDATE: THIS SOLD FOR 2,800

    One of a pair of George III period carved gilt console tables (15,000-25,000)

    One of a pair of George III period carved gilt console tables (15,000-25,000)  UPDATE: THESE MADE 24,000

    A Cork Regency sofa table (!,500-2,000)

    A Cork Regency sofa table (!,500-2,000)  UPDATE: THIS SOLD FOR 4,400

    IMPORTANT IRISH ART AT WHYTE’S AT THE RDS

    Friday, November 25th, 2016

    The Important Irish Art sale at Whyte’s at the RDS on Monday, November 28 at 6 p.m. will include a number of lots from the McClelland Collection.  Art from this collection boosted the last art sale at Whyte’s in September.  It grossed over 1.3 million and was the most successful art auction there since April 2008.  McClelland lots in this sale include works by Tony O’Malley (lots 67-79) ranging in estimate of 1,000 to 20,000, William Conor (lists 16 to 23) with some drawings modestly estimated at around 2,000-3,000 and paintings by Colin Middleton (lots 47-50) estimated at from 2,000-5,000.   The auction will include significant works by Paul Henry, Mary Swanzy, Dan O’Neill, Basil Blackshaw, Harry Kernoff and William Crozier.  Viewing gets underway tomorrow at the RDS. The catalogue is online. Here is a small selection.

    Colin Middleton MBE RHA (1910-1983) STRIPED FIGURE, RED , 1967 (3,000-5,000)

    Colin Middleton MBE RHA (1910-1983)
    STRIPED FIGURE, RED , 1967 (3,000-5,000) UPDATE: THIS MADE 6,200 AT HAMMER

    Tony O'Malley HRHA (1913-2003) MORNING FLIGHT, PARADISE ISLAND, BAHAMAS, 1980 15,000-20,000)

    Tony O’Malley HRHA (1913-2003)
    MORNING FLIGHT, PARADISE ISLAND, BAHAMAS, 1980 15,000-20,000)  UPDATE: THIS MADE 14,000 AT HAMMER

    Mary Swanzy HRHA (1882-1978) SUR LE BORD DE LA FORET [FIGURE WITH SHELL] (25,000-35,00)

    Mary Swanzy HRHA (1882-1978)
    SUR LE BORD DE LA FORET [FIGURE WITH SHELL] (25,000-35,000)  UPDATE: THIS WAS UNSOLD

    Harry Kernoff RHA (1900-1974) THE TRAM, DUBLIN NOCTURNE,1926 (12,000-15,000)

    Harry Kernoff RHA (1900-1974)
    THE TRAM, DUBLIN NOCTURNE,1926 (12,000-15,000)  UPDATE: THIS MADE 16,000 AT HAMMER

    SCULLY SELLS FOR £341,000 AT CHRISTIE’S

    Wednesday, November 23rd, 2016
    Sean Scully (b. 1945) Small Horizontal Robe © Christie’s Images Limited 2016

    Sean Scully (b. 1945)
    Small Horizontal Robe © Christie’s Images Limited 2016

    Small Horizontal Robe by Sean Scully sold for £341,000 at Christie’s Modern British and Irish art evening sale in London this evening.   A Windy Day by Sir John Lavery made £1,172,486 in a sale with sell through rates of 90% by lot and 95% by value which brought in £14.6 million. There were world records for Ben Nicholson April 57 (Arbia 2), £3,749,000: John Minton, Jamaican Village, £293,000 and Edward Wadsworth, Imaginary Harbour I, £197,000. The Nicholson was the top lot of the evening in a sale characterised by lively bidding.

    André Zlattinger, Senior Director, Head of Modern British Art, Christie’s London and Rachel Hidderley, International Specialist and Director, Modern British Art commented: “Bidding from Asia was particularly strong, underlining the growing global appeal for this dynamic category that represents the diversity of artists working in Britain and Ireland during the last two centuries”.

    ATTENBOROUGH COLLECTION OF PICASSO CERAMICS DOUBLES ESTIMATE

    Wednesday, November 23rd, 2016
    Grand vase aux femme nues’ sold for £728,750

    Grand vase aux femme nues’ sold for £728,750

    Lord & Lady Attenborough’s celebrated private collection of Picasso ceramics sold for £3,080,875 at Sotheby’s in London.  The ‘White Glove’, -100% sold –  sale soared over its pre-sale estimate of £1.5 million. All 67 lots were pursued by multiple bidders, each one achieving prices above the high estimate.  The top lot was the large scale  ‘Grand vase aux femme nues’, which sold for £728,750 and established a new auction record for a ceramic of this subject.

    In many ways Lord & Lady Attenborough were pioneers, appreciating Picasso’s creative ingenuity with the medium of fire clay soon after the artist began producing ceramics.  Lord Attenborough’s astute understanding of Picasso’s body of work in ceramics has been widely lauded; he understood that Picasso created these pieces with the same innovative passion as his paintings, sculptures and prints. Actively building a collection that was unique for its time – beginning in 1954 with a souvenir ashtray purchased for £3 – Lord & Lady Attenborough spent the next 50 years acquiring many different examples of the ceramic editions. The well-loved and respected late actor, director and producer recounted how every summer, he and Sheila took their children on holiday to a pension in the South of France. A casual visit to the Madoura pottery in the town of Vallauris – where Picasso began working in 1949 – developed into a annual event when, on or around August 29, they would drive to the studio to choose his birthday present.

    A SUCCESSFUL NIGHT AT DE VERES SALE OF IRISH ART

    Tuesday, November 22nd, 2016
    Caballero by Jack B. Yeats made 135,000 at hammer.

    Caballero by Jack B. Yeats made 135,000 at hammer.

    A Scully for 165,000 at hammer and a Yeats at a hammer price of 135,000 over a top estimate of 120,000 made for a successful night at de Veres sale of Important Irish Art in Dublin this evening. There was much competitive bidding for a sale characterised by strong works.  The Yeats, Caballero from 1949, measures just 14″ x 18″ and was a strong result.  Leo Whelan’s Waiting sold for 60,000 at hammer, A wet day, Cork by John Doherty made a hammer price at the top estimate of 20,000 , an abstract landscape by Mary Swanzy sold for 25,000 at hammer over an estimate of 20,000-30,000, The Night Garden by William Crozier made 13,000 over a top estimate of 10,000 and Camille Souter’s Time of Waiting made 24,500 at hammer over a top estimate of 20,000.

    Woman and a Bridget Reilly by Robert Ballagh made 12,000 over a top estimate of 6,000 and Man and a Tom Wesselman by the same artist made 25,000 over a top estimate of 12,000. A number of works by Patrick Scott made over the top estimate including Gold Painting 12.94 which made 32,000 at hammer over a top estimate of 30,000.  Amng other artists whose hammer prices exceeded the top estimate were Hughie O’Donoghue, Barrie Cooke, Patrick Graham, Neill Shawcross, Kenneth Webb, Liam Belton, Felim Egan and Charles Tyrrell.

    (See post on antiquesandartireland.com for November 10, 2016)