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WHYTE’S TO HOLD FIRST ONLINE ART AUCTION ON MARCH 11

Saturday, February 28th, 2015

THE leading Irish auction house Whyte’s will hold their first ever online art auction on March 11. A total of 148 lots are on offer, with estimates from 50 euro up. Much of the art is available at very reasonable estimates. Whyte’s report that in latter sales up to 25% of lots have been bought by people bidding online. The catalogue is online. Here is a small selection from what is on offer.

ANDY WARHOL – ARETHA FRANKLIN AND KEITH RICHARDS c1986 screenprint (2,000-3,000). UPDATE: THIS SOLD FOR 3,800

Joop Smits – Summer Bouquet (300-400).UPDATE: THIS SOLD FOR 220

Helen Lillias Mitchell – Lilian Davidson’s Toby Jug, 1936 (200-300). UPDATE: THIS SOLD FOR 180

Walter Verling – Mountain Scene, Connemara (500-700). UPDATE: THIS SOLD FOR 500

JANE O’MALLEY – TREVAYLOR WOODS, CORNWALL (150-250). UPDATE: THIS WAS UNSOLD

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BANKSY IN GAZA WITH PLENTY TO SAY

Saturday, February 28th, 2015

THE graffiti artist Banksy has visited Gaza and has plenty to say about it through his art. He has released a online video – it amounts to a power political and artistic statement – about the current situation in the Gaza Strip. The anonymous artist travelled to Palestine and the video apparently shows him in the smuggling tunnels before getting to work on buildings ruined by the Israeli bombardment last July and August. The murals include what seems to be the Greek goddess Niobe weeping in the doorway of a destroyed building. A giant image of a cat playing with a ball of twisted metal speaks volumes about loss and lack. Another images shows an Israeli watch tower with added playfulness. Here is the video.

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LANDMARK SERIES OF AUCTIONS OF ELLSWORTH COLLECTIONS

Friday, February 27th, 2015

A landmark five day series of auctions devoted to the collection of Robert Hatfield Ellsworth takes place at Christie’s New York from March 17-21. Six live auctions and a series of online sales are together expected to realise in excess of $35 million. All lots from what is considered to be one of the most important private collections of Asian Art ever to come to market will be sold without reserve. An online only sale will run from March 18-27.

Robert Hatfield Ellsworth (1929-2014) was widely recognised throughout Asia and the Americas for his ground breaking role in the study and appreciation of Asian art. UPDATE: The complete collection of Robert Hatfield Ellsworth achieved $134 million.

Two from a set of four Huanghuali horseshoe back armchairs, Ming Dynasty, 17th century. Courtesy Christie’s Images Ltd., 2015. UPDATE: THESE SOLD FOR $9,685,000 – a world auction record for Huanghuali furniture

A large and important gilt bronze figure of Avalokiteshvara, Nepal, 13th century ($2-3 million) Courtesy, Christie’s Images Ltd., 2015 UPDATE: THIS SOLD FOR $8,229,000 – A world auction record for a Nepalese sculpture.

A rare Doucai ovoid jar China Yongzheng-Qianlong period ($5,000-8,000) Courtesy Christie’s Images Ltd., 2015.

(See post on antiquesandartireland.com for December 29, 2014).

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ACCLAIMED IRISH ARTIST BRIAN MAGUIRE SHOWS IN NEW YORK

Wednesday, February 25th, 2015

The Mexican drug war is the subject of an exhibition by acclaimed Irish artist Brian Maguire at Fergus McCaffrey in New York from March 5 to April 21. Maguire has worked regularly in the Mexican city of Juarez – the murder capital of the world – since 2010. More than 5,000 people have been butchered there by drug cartels over the past six years. The show – entitled The Absence of Justice Demands this Act – includes 14 large paintings completed between 2012 and 2014 that address the drug war.

Founded in 2006 and based at 514 West 26th St. in Chelsea Fergus McCaffrey Gallery is internationally recognised for its ground breaking role promoting the work of post war Japanese artists and a quality roster of contemporary European and American artists. Fergus McCaffrey opened a second gallery in the Caribbean island of St. Barthelemy in 2014 and the gallery’s third location opens in Tokyo this year. Brian Maguire has shown with the Kerlin Gallery in Dublin since 1990 and represented Ireland at the 1998 Sao Paolo Biennale.

Brian Maguire Rifles (Juarez) 2014 copyright Brian Maguire, Courtesy Fergus McCaffrey.

Brian Maguire Nature Morte (4) 2014 copyright Brian Maguire, Courtesy Fergus McCaffrey.

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HENRY LANDSCAPE THE TOP LOT AT WHYTE’S AUCTION

Tuesday, February 24th, 2015

Revolution, 1942 by Mary Swanzy (1882-1978) sold for a hammer price of 6,000.

A Connemara landscape by Paul Henry from the 1940’s was the top lot at Whyte’s sale of Irish and International art in Dublin last night. Estimated at 60,000-70,000 it sold for a hammer price of 68,000. A screen print by Roy Lichtenstein – Still Life with Lobster – estimated at 12,000-15,000, sold for a hammer price of 21,000. Over 90 per cent of works on offer found buyers. Reading the News, an 1871 genre painting by the Co. Clare born painter Richard Staunton Cahill (1826-1904) sold for a hammer price of 14,000 over an estimate of 8,000-10,000. Crow Feathers by Tony O’Malley sold for a hammer of 9,500 over a top estimate of 8,000 and Revolution by Mary Swanzy estimated at 4,000-6,000 sold for 6,000 at hammer. A bronze sculpture by John Henry Foley (1818-1874) – Ino and Bacchus 1851 – with a top estimate of 4,000 made a hammer price of 5,800.

(See post on antiquesandartireland.com for February 14, 2015).

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PORTRAIT OF PRESIDENT OBAMA’S ANCESTOR AT IRISH AUCTION

Friday, February 20th, 2015

After William Cuming – late 18th early 19th century Irish School – Half length portrait of Rev. John Kearney. UPDATE: THIS FAILED TO SELL at auction and was sold the following day for 1,750 to a private Irish collector.

An early 19th century Irish School portrait of a member of the Kearney family – President Obama’s direct Irish ancestors – comes up as lot 621 at Fonsie Mealy’s auction in Castlecomer on February 25. The half length portrait of the Rev John Kearney, Provost of TCD and Bishop of Ossory, is in its original gilt frame and is estimated at 1,750-2,500. Born of relatively humble origins in Dublin in 1741, John Kearney entered TCD at the age of 15 and was appointed Provost in 1799. He was a founder of the Royal Irish Academy in 1785. One of his daughters, Rose,married Hervey Pratt. He inherited Castle Morres in 1831 on the death of his mother, a sister of the 2nd Viscount Mountmorres, and changed his name to de Montmorency.

At the same sale there is a set of early George II forks, property of Dean Jonathan Swift (1667-1745) (2,000-3,000) and engraved JS on each green ivory handle. UPDATE: THIS SOLD FOR 3,800 AT HAMMER.

President Barack Obama’s roots in Ireland go back to 1850, when Falmouth Kearney, the 19-year-old son of a local shoemaker, left Moneygall in Co. Offaly to begin a new life in the United States. The Kearney family probably originated in Tipperary before settling in County Offaly in the Irish midlands, then known as King’s County, in the 1700s. One branch of the family moved to Dublin and entered the very profitable business of making wigs. By helping out with the wig-making business, the midlands relatives were able to buy property rights in Moneygall and Shinrone around 1800. By the time wigs fell out of fashion, the Dublin Kearneys had moved into more established professions. John Kearney’s father was a barber surgeon.

UPDATE: The painting was sold to a private collector in Ireland on the day after the auction for 1,750.

(See post on antiquesandartireland.com for February 17, 2015 for a note on the de Montmorency’s).

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SOTHEBY’S AT LISMORE CASTLE FOR ART VALUATIONS

Friday, February 20th, 2015

Lismore Castle on the banks of the River Blackwater.

The stunning surroundings of the Banqueting Hall at Lismore Castle in Co. Waterford will be the venue for an Irish art valuation session on February 26. Charlie Minter, British & Irish art specialist from Sotheby’s, will appraise and value works by British and Irish artists from the 19th and 20th Century.

Valuations will take place in the castle – the Irish seat of the Dukes of Devonshire – from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. In the evening, Minter will give a lecture on the market for Irish Art and the opportunities for collectors today. Further information about the day is available from Lismore Castle Arts. Lismore Castle Arts is committed to the presentation and promotion of contemporary visual art in southern Ireland. The west wing of the castle is a state of the art contemporary gallery.

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AN IRISH GEORGE III OVAL WALL MIRROR AT FONSIE MEALY

Thursday, February 19th, 2015

A large Irish George III period oval wall mirror estimated to make 3,000-4,000 at Fonsie Mealy’s sale in Castlecomer on February 25 could make more. Enriched with a rim of blue and gilt milk glass studs inside a carved gilt frame it is complete with the original mirror plate. The mirror is 32 inches high.

An exhibition quality satinwood display cabinet by James Hicks is estimated at 7,000-10,000 and a stained glass panel from Kildimo Church in Co. Limerick by the Harry Clarke studio is estimated at 7,000-10,000. The catalogue for the sale is online.

A large Irish George III oval wal mirror with blue and gilt enriched glass studs (3,000-4,000)

A large Irish George III oval wall mirror with blue and gilt enriched glass studs (3,000-4,000) UPDATE: THIS SOLD FOR 9,500

An exhibition quality inlaid satinwood breakfront display cabinet by James Hicks (7,000-10,000) UPDATE: THIS WAS UNSOLD

A stained glass Harry Clarke Studios panel, Kildimo Church, Co. Limerick (7,000-10,000). UPDATE: THIS SOLD FOR 12,500

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AN ACQUISITION OF JAMES BARRY PRINTS

Wednesday, February 18th, 2015

James Barry (Irish, 1741–1806), The Phoenix or The Resurrection of Freedom,

A total of 28 prints by the Irish artist James Barry has been acquired by the Snite Museum at the University of Notre Dame near South Bend, Indiana. The acquisition will enhance the university’s position as a centre for Irish 18th century, art historical and transatlantic studies.

The collection was built over four decades by William and Nancy Pressly. William Pressly is Professor Emeritus of 18th and 19th century European art at the University of Maryland. Born in Cork James Barry (1741-1806) produced over 40 prints during his career. He was an activist artist whose historical, mythological and biblical subjects were thinly veiled critiques of the British government. He became a professor at the Royal Academy but was eventually expelled.

Included in the portfolio are King Lear and Cordelia, The Temptation of Adam from Milton’s Paradise Lost, two different states of the Birth of Venus, a unique impression of Blessed Exegesis, and the monumental Resurrection of Freedom, celebrating the birth of a new democratic republic in North America. Chief among the cache is Lear (1803), which was included in the first portfolio of artists’ lithographs published in England.

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ON LINE AUCTION OF IRISH ART AT MORGAN O’DRISCOLL

Monday, February 16th, 2015

More than 300 lots of affordable art are on offer at Morgan O’Driscoll’s current “Off the Wall” on line art auction. It will run until February 23. The catalogue is on-line and bidding is underway. Here is a small selection: