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    OPTIMISM SURROUNDS IRISH ART SALES THIS MONTH

    Saturday, September 10th, 2022
    Direct Provision by Brian Maguire at Morgan O’Driscoll. UPDATE: THIS MADE 1,100 AT HAMMER

    The autumn Irish art selling season gets underway in a spirit of optimism this month.  It kicks off with Morgan O’Driscoll’s online sale on September 12 and there will be auctions of Important Irish Art at Whyte’s, and Adams on September 26 and 28 respectively. At James Adam the belief is that there has never been a better time to sell Irish art. Price records continue to be broken at auctions.  Sales of Important Irish Art at Adams in 2021 and 2022 have grossed over €8.5 million to date. The sale at Adams on September 28 will include art by Norah McGuinness, Roderic O’Conor, Daniel O’Neill, Louis le Brocquy and Hughie O’Donoghue.

    The selection at Whyte’s is appetising.  Here you will find work by Jack Butler Yeats, Roderic O’Conor, John Lavery, Seán Keating, Norah McGuinness, Harry Kernoff, Mainie Jellett, Colin Middleton, Grace Henry, William Scott, Pauline Bewick, Louis le Brocquy, John Shinnors, Donald Teskey, Joseph Edward Southall, Bob Dylan and many others. At the time of writing the catalogue for de Veres sale is not to hand. This is an auction house that rarely disappoints and you are likely to find a particularly good selection of fine contemporary Irish art.

    Rivermouth by Jack B Yeats at Whyte’s. UPDATE: THIS MADE 180,000 AT HAMMER

    With monthly online sales interspersed with auctions of Important Irish and International Art shown in normal times for viewing both in London and New York Skibbereen based Morgan O’Driscoll keeps the ball rolling more than any other auctioneer of art in Ireland.  The online catalogue for the auction next Monday offers much to choose from.  The selection ranges from Yeats,  Harry Kernoff, Nano Reid, May Guinness and Colin Middleton to Pauline Bewick, Felim Egan, Tony O’Malley and the French born Los Angeles based Mr. Brainwash whose work he has been successfully selling in latter years.

    Contemporary art is driven by the experiences of contemporary life. The artist Brian Maguire never shirks difficult subjects. He is driven by the struggle against inequality and violence and is represented in this sale by a challenging work entitled Direct Provision. It features faces, bright eyes and white teeth against a darkand brooding ground.  The acrylic on paper is estimated at €2,000-€3,000. Now firmly established as a first world country where refugees seek a haven it is no harm to be reminded that we Irish among the dispossessed not too long ago.  John Behan’s unique bronze Famine Ship, lot 89 at Morgan O’Driscoll with an estimate of €8,000-€12,000, is a reminder of a  dark and risky past that still exists for others today. In the 21st century the focus has shifted from the Atlantic to the Mediterranean and the English Channel.  

    John Behan – West of Ireland, Famine Ship at Morgan O’Driscoll. UPDATE: THIS MADE 16,000 AT HAMMER

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    ANTHONY EDEN’S COLLECTION HITS THE AUCTION BLOCK AT LAST

    Thursday, September 8th, 2022
    SIR JOHN LAVERY, R.S.A., R.H.A., R.A. (1856-1941)
    Lady Gwendoline Spencer-Churchill in The Merchant of Venice. COURTESY CHRISTIE’S IMAGES LTD. 2021. UPDATE: THIS MADE £44,100

    Paintings and furniture in the home of a husband and wife over a remarkable span of almost 125 years will come under the hammer at ‘Churchill to Eden: The Collection of The Earl and Countess of Avon’ at Christie’s in London on October 21. On offer is an eclectic collection – the property of Sir Robert Anthony Eden, 1st Earl of Avon, K.G., M.C., P.C. (1897–1977), the former British Conservative Party politician who served as Foreign Secretary (1935–1938; 1940– 1945 and 1951–1955) and Prime Minister of the UK (1955 – 1957) and his second wife, Clarissa Spencer-Churchill (1920–2021).

    The sale is an evocative journey into an almost vanished world of politics, society and inter-connections. It will include English furniture, Impressionist and Modern Art, Modern British Art, Antiquities, Chinese Works of Art, Islamic Works of Art, Books and Manuscripts and Silver, all collected by Lord and Lady Avon over many decades.  The couple met at a dinner party in 1947 and were married in 1952 in London, garnering international media attention. The reception was held at 10 Downing Street, the official residence of the Prime Minister and hosted by Winston Churchill. Eden eventually succeeded Churchill as Prime Minister in 1955. Upon retiring from the House of Commons and being elevated to the House of Lords, Eden was created Earl of Avon in 1961.

    UPDATE: THE SALE TOTALLED £2,766,176

    Georges Braque, Verre et Huîtres, a gift from Anthony to Clarissa, Courtesy CHRISTIE’S IMAGES LTD. 2021. UPDATE: THIS MADE £378,000

    Away from his life of politics Eden had a passion for art from an early age, with a keen eye which helped to form this collection. Clarissa Eden counted friendships with Lucian Freud and Greta Garbo among others. Unsurprisingly for a British Prime Minister the collection is led by important Modern British Art; including two paintings by Winston Churchill given to Eden during his political career, three works by Sir John Lavery and works given to Lady Avon by her friends Cecil Beaton and David Jones. There is art by Picasso, Braque, Degas, Laurencin and Corot. The sale also features highlights from Lord Avon’s library including signed Churchill, Field Marshal Montgomery and de Gaulle editions, alongside signed works to Lady Avon from notable authors Evelyn Waugh, Noel Coward and Cecil Beaton.

    Many lots graced the Eden’s Green Drawing Room at 10 Downing Street and featured in archive issues of Country Life in 1961 and in Apollo in 1969 when Lord and Lady Avon were living at Fyfield Manor in Wiltshire where they resided until Lord Avon’s death in 1977. Clarissa lived to the age of 101 and died in 2021.

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    A VOYSEY DONEGAL CARPET LEADS REILLY’S SALE

    Thursday, September 8th, 2022
    LILY OF THE VALLEY DONEGAL CARPET ATTRIBUTED TO C F A VOYSEY. UPDATE: THIS WAS UNSOLD

    A Donegal carpet attributed to C F A Voysey, one of the most noteworthy designers of the Arts and Crafts Movement, is the most expensively estimated lot at an auction by Reilly’s Antiques of Prosperous, Co. Kildare on September 10. It is estimated at 3,400-3,700. The Donegal Carpet Factory was founded in 1898 by the Scottish textile manufacturer Alexander Morton. The work of the factory became world famous in the opening decades of the 20th century. Carpets were made on a 42′ wide hand knotting loom mainly by local women to designs by notable designers like Voysey. There are 418 lots of antique furniture and collectibles in the sale. The catalogue is online.

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    RIJKSMUSEUM MAKES DISCOVERIES ABOUT THE MILKMAID BY VERMEER

    Thursday, September 8th, 2022
    The Milkmaid, Johannes Vermeer, c. 1660. Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam

    Advanced research technologies into the Vermeer painting The Milkmaid, conducted in the run-up to Rijksmuseum’s major Vermeer exhibition in 2023 has yielded several startling discoveries.  Advanced research technologies have brought to light two objects on Vermeer’s world-famous canvas:  a jug holder and a fire basket.  The artist himself later painted over the objects.  The most recent scans also uncovered what is clearly an underpainting. These discoveries offer revealing insights into Vermeer’s process and his search for capturing the tranquil atmosphere that characterises his work.

    The general assumption was that the artist produced his small oeuvre very slowly, and always worked with extreme precision.  This view is now being revised.  A hastily applied thick line of black paint can be seen beneath the milkmaid’s left arm.  This sketch shows clearly that Vermeer first quickly painted the scene in light and dark tones before developing the detail. A similar preliminary sketch in black paint can be seen on the wall behind the young woman’s head.  By comparing the results it has now become clear that Vermeer used black paint to sketch a jug holder and several jugs, but didn’t develop them any further.  The jug holder, a plank of wood with knobs attached, was used in 17th-century kitchens for hanging up multiple ceramic jugs by the handle.  A pantry in Vermeer’s own home contained a similar item. Scientists identified the previously discovered basket, at the lower right of the painting, as a so-called ‘fire basket’.  Woven from willow stems, or withies, this type of basket was a standard household item for young families.  A fire bowl containing glowing coals was placed in the basket to keep new-borns warm and to dry nappies. 

    Tickets for the Vermeer exhibition from February 10 – June 4 2023 go on sale today on the Rijksmuseum website: rijksmuseum.nl/Vermeer

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    SOTHEBY’S TO DISPLAY NEW JOSEPH WALSH SERIES AT LONDON DESIGN WEEK

    Tuesday, September 6th, 2022
    Joseph Walsh with his Gestures table.

    A new design series by Joseph Walsh, the Cork based internationally renowned furniture maker, will be offered by Sotheby’s as part of the London Design Festival. From September 17 – 29 there will be a selling exhibition of key pieces from the newly developed series ‘Gestures’ by the designer-maker at New Bond Street. There will be 12 works from the new series on display for the first time. Included is a large dining table, a sculptural bench, free form lounge chairs, dining chairs and various wall mounted sculptural shelves and consoles.

    ‘Gestures’ has emerged over the past three years, beginning with charcoal sketches which Walsh translates into scale model studies in wood. Wood is cut into layers, rebuilt and then carved to create an uninterrupted sculptural form. Finally, the works are finished in ebonised black. Each piece is functional and boldly sculptural, a unique free form composition designed to sit together in harmony with other works as an exhibition.

    Elena Checchi, Director, Specialist, 20th Century Design, Sotheby’s, said: “Joseph Walsh’s striking sculptural designs truly push the boundaries of working with wood. In the new Gestures series, Walsh distils furniture down to singular expressive gestural lines to bold and impactful effect. This collection of work, exhibited during London Design Festival, is testament to both the mastery of his craft and the technical innovation that this exceptional designer-maker pursues.”

    Gestures Bench.

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    LOTS OF INTEREST AT LYNES AND LYNES

    Saturday, September 3rd, 2022
    Portrait of a young lady in a period frame. UPDATE: THIS MADE 1,700 AT HAMMER

    A stylish portrait requiring further research, a 19th century walnut carved bench with a motto we could all adopt, vintage hats in their original Munster Arcade boxes, a clock carved with the Cork coat of arms and a valuable Patek Philippe wristwatch will contribute to an interesting sale at Lynes and Lynes on September 10. Viewing gets underway in Carrigtwohill today for an auction made up of contents from Ballynoe House, Rushbrooke, Cobh, a large Cork city residence and several individual clients. The most expensively estimated lot is the Patek Philippe Nautilus automatic gentlemans’ wristwatch from Ballynoe House, which has recently been sold.  It is estimated at a cool €30,000-€50,000 and auctioneer Denis Lynes reckons that it could well exceed the top figure.

    A 19th century walnut carved long hall bench with a central heraldic shield is also from Ballynoe and estimated at €1,000-€1,500.  It is carved with the motto ‘Nun Quam Non Paratus’ meaning Never Unprepared. A half portrait of a young lady painted in the style of Sir Thomas Lawrence (1769-1830) bears an Agnews label on the back.  In a period frame it was purchased at the contents auction of Galtee Castle, Co. Tipperary, which was demolished circa 1941.  The castle was built in 1780 by the Kingstons and remodelled in 1892 by Abel Buckley, MP of Ryecroft Hall near Manchester. The venerable firm of Agnews, a leading London Old Master art dealer since 1860, was founded in Manchester in 1817. Located since 1877 at a prominent gallery at Old Bond St. the firm of Thomas Agnew and Sons closed in 2013 and re-opened at St. James’s Place in London.  Their archive was given to the National Gallery.  The painting is estimated at €1,000-€2,000.

    A pair of Irish Georgian peat and plate buckets. UPDATE: THESE MADE 1,600 AT HAMMER

    A curiosity of the sale is an oak mantel clock carved on the top with the Cork Coat of Arms.  The nautical theme is enhanced with flanking cannons and anchors set on a cushion base with swag decoration. This product of the Cork School of carving is estimated at €300-€500. Of vintage interest is a collection of ladies hats in their original Munster Arcade boxes (€50-€80). A top hat by W. Dennehy and Sons of Patrick St. and Castle St., Cork (€40-€60) is accompanied by a shooting stick.The sale kicks off with a pair of Irish Georgian mahogany and brass bound turf and plate buckets (€600-€1,000) and a large Waterford 10 branch chandelier comes with an estimate of €2,000-€3,000. The catalogue for this sale of 354 lots is online.

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    COMPLETE SET OF DAMIEN HIRST PHARMACY MATCHBOOKS

    Friday, September 2nd, 2022
    DAMIEN HIRST (B.1965) BRITISH – Pharmacy (1998 – 2003). UPDATE: THIS MADE 3,200 AT HAMMER

    A complete set of Damien Hirst’s matchbooks from his Pharmacy restaurant comes up as lot 119 at Morgan O’Driscoll’s auction of Important Irish Art online until September 12. On offer is the complete set of 60 matchbooks with an estimate of 800-1,200. The catalogue is online and the sale will be on view in Skibbereen from September 8.

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    VIEWING UNDERWAY IN DUBLIN FOR AT HOME SALE AT JAMES ADAM

    Friday, September 2nd, 2022
    Danish walnut crossbanded drinks cabinet. UPDATE: THIS MADE 1,300 AT HAMMER

    This 19th century Danish walnut crossbanded drinks cabinet is lot 465 at the James Adam At Home sale in Dublin on September 4. Viewing for this auction is now underway and the catalogue is online. There is a selection of furniture, silver, art, jewellery and collectibles among the 518 lots on offer. The cabinet here is estimated at 1,000-2,000.

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    HOCKNEY TO HIGHLIGHT CHRISTIE’S 20th/21st CENTURY SALE IN OCTOBER

    Thursday, September 1st, 2022
    David Hockney, Early Morning, Sainte-Maxime (1969). UPDATE: THIS MADE £20,899,500

    David Hockney’s Early Morning, Sainte-Maxime (1969) will highlight Christie’s 20th / 21st Century evening sale in London on October 13. Depicting a sublime view in the South of France it is a tribute to Hockney’s emotional state at the height of his relationship with Peter Schlesinger and anticipates some of the artist’s greatest works. The estimate is £7,000,000-10,000,000.

    This is one of four paintings based on photographs taken during a trip to France with Hockney’s then partner in autumn 1968. It was at this time that the pair first spent time in the home of the film director, Tony Richardson, near Saint Tropez. They became regular guests at the lavish parties Richardson threw at ‘Le Nid du Duc’, set in the mountains just outside Le Garde-Freinet. Hockney had returned to London in 1968 after spending four years in California. The South of France became an instant draw for him and Schlesinger and would come to play a central role in their relationship. It was Richardson’s home that became the setting for his masterpiece Portrait of an Artist (Pool with Two Figures) when the relationship ended in 1971.

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    AT HOME SALE AT JAMES ADAM IN DUBLIN

    Saturday, August 27th, 2022
    A mahogany table in the Irish 18th century manner at Adams (€3,000-€5,000). UPDATE: THIS MADE 2,800 AT HAMMER

    Silver, antique furniture, jewellery, artworks, porcelain, rugs, chandeliers, mirrors, lamps and even an elmwood shovel feature at the James Adam At Home sale Dublin on September 4.  The selection from 518 lots is wide ranging and appetising. If your mind is turning towards autumn home renovations and style changes, or if you are seeking singular inspiration, then this sale is an ideal place to start.The most expensively estimated lot, at €7,000-€8,000 is a sapphire torque necklace. Furniture, like a 19th century tilt top circular mahogany tea table €200-€300) or a lady’s rosewood writing desk (€300-€500), offers good value.  There is Oriental porcelain, Meissen, Dresden, Worcester and Sevres pieces and a Satsuma tea set and silver wine jugs in Italian contemporary or George IV London 1788 style.  The catalogue is online.

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