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  • Archive for November, 2019

    PHOTOGRAPHY AT NATIONAL GALLERY OF IRELAND

    Saturday, November 9th, 2019

    This 1841 daguerreotype of Maria Edgeworth by an unknown photographer is part of the first photography display at National Gallery of Ireland until February 2.  The growing photography collection is showcased  with works by Irish and international photographers including Erich Hartmann, Amelia Stein, Nevill Johnson, Eamonn Doyle, Inge Morath and Jane Bown.  Over the past 12 months the Gallery has acquired over 100 photographs by Irish and international photographers, ranging from the 19th century to contemporary practice.

    The collection includes both vintage and modern prints and incorporates daguerreotypes, albumen prints, platinum and silver gelatin prints.  In 2018, the Gallery acquired a rare example of a vintage albumen print, dating back to the 1860s, by one of the fore-runners of early photography, Julia Margaret Cameron. The distinctive work features Mary Ryan, an Irish woman who was taken in by Cameron when she was struggling to support herself in England.  Maria Edgeworth was a prolific Ango-Irish writer whose works include Castle Rackrent.  The daguerreotype was the first commercially successful photographic process and this one is from the collection of The National Gallery.

    FLASK DISCOVERED BY SHEPPARDS MAKES 610,000

    Thursday, November 7th, 2019

    A round of applause greeted the sale of a rare Chinese moon flask discovered at a routine valuation at Blarney Castle for a hammer price of 610,000 at Sheppards in Durrow today. It had been estimated at 80,000-120,000. Unusually Sheppards had imposed a special condition of no internet bidding on the piece and registered bidders were required to pay a deposit. The blue and white flask, Bianhu, from a Co. Cork collection was discovered at a valuation by Sheppards at Blarney Castle in September.

    (See post on antiquesandartireland.com for September 2, 2019)

    ART TOPS LOTS AT ADAMS MID CENTURY MODERN SALE

    Thursday, November 7th, 2019

    The most expensively estimated lots at the James Adam Mid Century Modern sale in Dublin on November 19 are all artworks. Linear Access by Mark Francis has an estimate of 15,000-25,000; Mother and Child (screenprint) by Andy Warhol; Mayo Series, Approaching Storm by Patrick Graham; Exposed Painting, Pewter by Callum Innes and Piccadilly by Albert Irvin are all estimated at 10,000-15,000. The evening auction of 158 lots Italian and Danish design furniture, Murano glass and a variety of collectibles.

    MARK FRANCIS (b.1962)
    Linear Axis. UPDATE: THIS MADE 31,000 AT HAMMER

    ANTIQUE PEDESTALS FROM AN IRISH COLLECTION

    Wednesday, November 6th, 2019

    This pair of Regency patinated bronze pedestals from a private Irish collection come up at Sotheby’s Style Private Collections sale in London on November 12. They are dated to c1810 and were acquired from Harold Caplin of Merrion Antiques around 1960. The estimate is £8,000-12,000.

    NATIONAL ANTIQUES FAIR IN LIMERICK

    Tuesday, November 5th, 2019

    The National Antiques Fair at the South Court Hotel in LImerick on November 9 and 10 justifiably claims to be Ireland’s biggest antiques, art and vintage fair by far.  While other fairs have got smaller this one has got bigger and attracts customers from all over Ireland and beyond.  The closure of so many antique shops accounts for this growth as numerous dealers now find it more economical to trade at fairs rather than maintain a presence on the street.

    While this is a pity there is an upside.  Hibernian Antique Fairs say this fair will be full to the rafters with antique shops and dealers and art dealers and galleries.  Many of these are members of the Irish Antique Dealers Association who exhibit at the RDS fair every September.  Another reason for Limerick’s success is that this is a fair that caters for all tastes and all pockets.  Opening times are from 11 am to 6 pm on each day.

    Weldon’s will offer this Edwardian pear shaped emerald cluster ring priced at 24,500.

    RE-DISCOVERED CHINESE BLUE AND WHITE FLASK AT SHEPPARDS

    Saturday, November 2nd, 2019

    The much anticipated auction of the Chinese blue and white flask uncovered by Sheppards at a charity valuation in Blarney Castle in September takes place in Durrow on November 7. Lot 134 is described as a rare and important Chinese blue and white flask.  This particular type of moon flask is also known as a bianhu or pot.  The flask is unglazed and a central raised roundel depicts an arabesque Islamic star with flower head.  There is leaf scroll and flower head decoration and a painted outer border in cobalt blue.  From a private collection in Co. Cork it is estimated at a whopping 80,000-120,000.  Unusually there will be no internet bidding on this lot, meaning that international buyers will have to travel to Durrow for the auction.

    Brimful of interest the auction of Masterworks is on view in Durrow from November 2. It is a small well chosen sale spanning centuries of artistic excellence. The catalogue lists just 148 lots.  Among them are an interesting pair of covered Cork glass cassoulets and a pair of Dublin hide upholstered antique armchairs.  An 18th century carved Chippendale overnmantle mirror with serpentine plate below a pagoda pediment is estimated at 4,000-6,000.Other lots include a 19th century Sevres clock garniture, Chinese porcelain, a pair of 19th century satinwood and painted Dublin pier tables, jewellery and wine in original boxes including a case of 12 bottles of 2005 Chateau Margaux estimated at 6,000-9,000. A large William IV circular dining table is estimated at 14,000-18,000 and a Killarney wood work table is estimated at 8,000-12,000.  Among the art lots is Soleil en Foret by Roderic O’Conor estimated at 65,000-85,000 and an antique Flemish tapestry.

    RARE CHINESE FLASK DISCOVERED AT CORK VALUATION EVEN ESTIMATED AT 80,000-120,000

    JEWELS WHICH BELONGED TO EMPRESS EUGENIE

    Friday, November 1st, 2019

    Historic jewels formerly in the collection of Eugénie, The Last Empress Of France, will come up at Christie’s sale of Important Jewels in London on November 27. A pair of 19th century natural pearl earrings is estiamted at £60,000-80,000. A mid-19th century ruby and diamond heart locket pendant, circa 1850-60 is estimated at £10,000-15,000. A glazed compartment on the reverse of the pendant contains a lock of hair reputedly belonging to Napoleon Ill.

    Married to Napoleon III, Eugénie de Montijo (1826-1920) was a woman of great elegance, beauty and charm. Born in Granada, Spain, she was educated at the fashionable convent of the Sacré-Coeur in Paris, and contributed immensely to the grandeur of the French court. From the beginning of her reign in 1853, Empress Eugénie did much to enhance the reputation of French haute joaillerie, which at that time inspired the whole of Europe. Her love of jewellery being legendary, she had many Crown jewels remounted to suit her personal taste and also commissioned new pieces from the most famous jewellers in Paris including Bapst and Chaumet.

    ASIAN ART AND CERAMICS AT JAMES ADAM IN DUBLIN

    Friday, November 1st, 2019

    This pink ground Famille Rose tea tray is among the top lots at the James Adam sale of Asian Fine Art, Oriental sculpture and ceramics in Dublin on November 5. The tray, with Jiaqing mark, dates to 1796-1820. The central reserve has an Imperial poem relating to tea preparation and date corresponding to 1797. It is estimated at 20,000-30,000.

    UPDATE: The tray was unsold, a Qianlong Imperial Seal made 32,000 at hammer.