DOROTHY CROSS (B.1956) – BIRD IN HAND. UPDATE: THIS SOLD FOR 8,000
This bronze by Dorothy Cross entitled Bird in Hand, number 1 from an edition of 3, comes up at Whyte’s Art for Gaza timed online sale which gets underway today at 5 pm. There is no buyer’s commission and all proceeds go to Medicins Sans Frontieres working on the ground in Gaza. The art has been donated by Irish artists and the sale includes pieces by President Michael D. Higgins, Sean Scully, Mick Mulcahy, Charlie Tyrell, Brian Henderson, Alice Hanratty, Guggi, Tim Booth, Dorothy Cross, Brian Bourke, Jay Murphy, James English, Domino Whisker, John Behan, Brian Maguire, Suzy O’Mullane, Maria Simmonds Gooding, Abigail O’Brien, Michael Kane, Constance Short, Michele Sweetman, Brona Anderson, Shane MacGowan, Annette McNamee, Jim Fitzpatrick, Rowan Gillespie, Roisin Murphy, Orla de Brí, John Noel Smith, Shevaun Doherty, Eric Luke, Pauline Bewick, John Gerrard and the UK’s Michael Landy and Michael Stipe. Bird in Hand is estimated at 8,000-10,000.
UPDATE: The sale raised over €168,000. Every single lot sold. The entire proceeds of the auction, without deduction of costs, will go to Médecins Sans Frontières, Doctors Without Borders who are working on the ground in Gaza.
A pair of 12 bore back action Holland and Holland shotguns UPDATE: THIS LOT MADE 8,000 AT HAMMER
A pair of cased 12 bore back action Holland and Holland shotguns, a pair of 19th Sevres guinea fowl which it would be downright foolish to shoot, a late 17th century Aubusson tapestry, a pair of Regency Cork side tables by tradition from the dispersal sale at Kilkenny Castle and a Duleek Irish carpet are among the appetising offerings at Sheppards three day sale in Durrow, Co. Laois on March 5, 6 and 7. There is an array of fine library furniture, lighting, Irish and European art, early tapestries, sculpture, silver and even a Killarney games table.
One of a pair of Regency Cork side tables UPDATE: THIS LOT SOLD FOR 5,000 AT HAMMER
The auction is led by an extensive landscape with travellers and cattle painted in 1828 by James Arthur O’Connor (€15,000-€25,000). The Holland and Holland shotguns are estimated at €14,000-€18,000, the Sevres guinea fowl at €3,000-€5,000. The impressive pair of Cork Regency side tables with rectangular gadrooned tops, rounded corners, spiral turned legs and paw feet – by family tradition purchased at the dispersal sale of Kilkenny Castle in 1935 – are estimated at €4,000-€6,000. A late 17th century Aubusson tapestry with exotic birds, landscape and castle enclosed by an elaborate border is estimated at €3,000-€5,000 and the Duleek Carpet after a design by CFA Voysey and manufactured in Donegal by Alexander Morto and Co. is estimated at €4,500-€6,500. The Duleek range was retailed at Liberty’s in London and was included in their Irish Carpet Exhibition at the Grafton Gallery on Bond St. in 1903.
A detail from the Duleek Irish carpet. UPDATE: THIS MADE 4,600 AT HAMMER
If hunting and shooting is not your thing and if impressive Regency tables from Kilkenny Castle might not fit cosily into your favourite room there is still much to catch the eye at all price points in the selection available. With more than 1,300 lots the sale offers rare and unusual pieces which might be hard to come by across. A designer fabric upholstered chest with seven drawers is estimated at just €300-€500 and among the other lots in this price range you could opt for is a Regency work table, a designer upholstered wing back armchair, an Art Deco style rosewood cabinet, an 18th century circular tea table or a Neo-Classical Edwardian log urn. There is across the board variety from African masks and Chinese porcelain and furniture to jewellery and musical instruments including a Bechstein baby grand piano. Collectibles include a Los Angeles Lakers jersey signed by Kobe Bryant, an 18th century painted fan, a Galway longcase clock, a 19th century French clock garniture and an Egyptian brass hubbly bubbly. Viewing for this sale, which includes the contents of historic Moyaliffe House, at Ballycahill, Co. Tipperary, gets underway in Durrow today and the catalogue is online.
A designer fabric upholstered chest of seven drawers. UPDATE: THIS MADE 300 AT HAMMER
19th century mahogany hunt table. UPDATE: THIS SOLD FOR 5,500
This large hunt table with cabriole legs and ball and claw feet is the top lot at Sean Eacrett’s sale of house contents from Heath House, Abbeyleix on March 4. It is estimated at €5,000-€8,000. More than 1,000 lots will come under the hammer. Viewing is now underway at the house and the sale will be held at Abbeyleix Manor Hotel. The auction offers antique furniture, art, decorative arts and a wide variety of collections. The catalogue is online.
