This 19th century carved limestone entrance staircase is at Victor Mee’s annual summer garden sale on May 28 and 29. With its sweeping sides, five steps and pillared planters it is estimated at €5,000-€8,000. More than 1,000 lots will come under the hammer on consecutive evenings and the catalogue is online. UPDATE: THIS MADE 8,200 AT HAMMER
The Eden Vale bottle carrier. UPDATE: THIS MADE 3,800 AT HAMMER
This Irish Provincial bottle carrier comes up as lot 831 at Fonsie Mealy’s summer fine art sale in Castlecomer on May 28 and 29. The piece was commissioned by William Stacpoole, High Sherriff, Co. Clare, for his new residence at Eden Vale, Killone, Ennis, Co. Clare. It was probably made in Limerick around 1780 and arrives at auction by direct family descent. There is a rectangular removable top with shaped and pierced looped carrying slot, over eight compartments. The estimate is €4,000-€6,000.
A pair of giltwood palm tree lights by Maison Jansen. UPDATE: THESE WERE UNSOLD
A gouache by Martin Kippenberger, an Eames chair, a Three Wise Men watercolour by Andre Derain, a blackboard rug and a non conformist armchair both by Eileen Gray are among the many and varied offerings at the Mid-Century Modern auction by James Adam in Dublin on May 21. With just 222 well chosen lots the range of choice is extensive in a sale that reaches many prevailing tastes by reflecting the artistic and creative diversities of the 20th century.
Estimates range from just €100-€200 for a c1960 Italian cut glass bon bon dish with brass detailing to €40,000-€60,000 for Indian Summer, an oil on canvas by Wolfgang Paalen (1905-1959). The Austrian born artist was a key figure in many key 20th century art movements and this work was once in the collection of John Huston at St. Clerans in Co. Galway.
A non conformist armchair by Eileen Gray. UPDATE: THIS MADE 7,000 AT HAMMER
Modern furniture choices cater for many tastes with everything on offer from a c1960 teak oval extending dining table and a set of eight teak dining chairs by the Danish designer Arne Vodder (1926-2009), a Swedish teak boomerang desk of similar vintage, a c1950 Italian mahogany console with three drawers, an Italian rosewood drinks cabinet, a glass nest of tables with brass detailing, a three seater Danish sofa by Ole Wanscher, soft pad and office chairs by Eames produced by Vitra, an Edito armchair and footstool by Roche Bobois, a c1970 French perspex and chrome umbrella stand, cherrywood planters, brass and glass coffee tables, a pair of c1950 rosewood bedside cabinets from Italy, a David Linley mirror, a c1970 Italian burr walnut sideboard and an armchair designed by Philippe Starck for Driade painted by Jack Soro.
Alan Davie (1920-2014) El Secreto No. 2 UPDATE: THIS WAS UNSOLD
The art selection will sit comfortably alongside these choices. Among the Irish and international artists featured are Kaws, Albert Irvin, Felim Egan, Anne Madden, Mark Francis, Andy Warhol, Charles Tyrrell, Gwen O’Dowd, Jannis Kounnelis and Philip Flanagan.
Among other lots is a Wriggle chair by Frank Gehry, a signed ceramic vase by Vivienne Foley, a vintage Missoni rug by T & J Vestor, a pair of green and white wall lights in the style of Stilnovo, Italy, a vintage malachite chessboard, a “Le Mons” floor lamp for Claridges Hotel, London, a c 1970 pair of lamps by Hans-Agne Jakobsson, Sweden, a yellow c1960 vintage vase for Moretti and Nason, Italy, a large Dun Emer hand knotted wool carpet and a pair of giltwood palm tree lights by Maison Jansen, France c1970.
An armchair designed by Philippe Starck and painted by Jack Soro UPDATE: THIS WAS WITHDRAWN
DEREK HILL (1916-2000) – INTERIOR. UPDATE: THIS MADE 750 AT HAMMER
Interior, an oil on board by Derek Hill, comes up as lot 205 at Morgan O’Driscoll’s current Irish art online auctions which runs until May 20. Measuring 15.5 by 12.6 inches it is estimated at 500-750 in a sale which offers an extensive choice of art and artists. The catalogue is online
ANDY WARHOL (1928-1987) – FLOWERS WHICH SOLD FOR $35.5 MILLION
Flowers, a 1964 work by Andy Warhol, was the top lot at Christie’s evening sale in New York on May 16. It made $35.5 million in a sale with global participation which totalled $413.3 million. Other top lots included Vincent Van Gogh’s Coin de jardin avec papillons, which realised $33.2 million, David Hockney’s A Lawn Being Sprinkled, which made $28.6 million and Alberto Giacometti’s sculpture, Femme Leoni, which brought $22.3 million. Of the 58 works sold, 15 achieved prices above $10 million, with Georgia O’Keeffe and Joan Mitchell counted among the top ten.
Richard Hearns, The Living Mountain. Installation shot, Cadogan Gallery, 2024. Photo: Pietra Studio. Courtesy: Cadogan Gallery.
There is a little bit of the Burren on view in Milan right now thanks to Irish Lebanese artist Richard Hearns and the Cadogan Gallery. The Living Mountain is an unprecedented series of works inspired by the wild landscapes of the Burren where he has been living for some time. Hearns is inspired by the concept of genius loci, associating it with Lebanon and Ireland, the places that most influenced his biography. My dual heritage has greatly influenced and inspired my paintings – says the artist. The Irish have always had an outward looking perspective and a unique identity in the world. Likewise, throughout history, the Lebanese people have covered great expanses in order to explore, learn, trade and grow.
The exhibition title The Living Mountain is borrowed from the name of one of the artist’s latest paintings: the landscape pictured above fragmented into five large canvases. It is an homage to Turlough Mountain. The exhibition continues until July 27.
Richard Hearns – Verdigris 2024
Rowan Gillespie – Reclining Bodyscape 9/9. UPDATE: THIS MADE 12,000 AT HAMMER
This signed and dated 2023 patinated and polished bronze Reclining Bodyscape by Rowan Gillespie comes up as lot 85 at de Veres Outstanding Irish Art and Sculpture timed sale in Dublin. It is is the final and largest piece from the edition of 9 maquettes for Reclining Bodyscape, first conceived in 1994. Two life-size casts are in private collections. The estimate is €8,000-€12,000. The timed online auction runs until May 28 and there will be viewing at Kildare St. from May 24-28.
Montague Dawson (1895-1973) – The Clipper Ship Flying Fish c. 1950. UPDATE: THIS WAS UNSOLD
Montague Dawson’s oil on canvas of the Flying Fish is the most expensively estimated lot at Fonsie Mealy’s two day fine art sale in Castlecomer on May 28 and 29. With an estimate of €15,000-€20,000 it shows the clipper ship in full sail. A catalogue note by Peter Murray recounts how after the discovery of gold in California and the opening of the China tea trade to competition in 1849, several clippers, including Flying Fish and Flying Cloud, were built at Donald McKay’s shipyard in Boston. Launched in 1851, Flying Fish made the voyage from Boston to San Francisco, via Cape Horn, in a record-breaking ninety-two days. Owned by Samson and Tappan, the ship had a glorious career. It was one of the fastest every built by McKay, and under the command of Captain Edward Nickels, rounded Cape Horn seven times. It features in several paintings by Dawson, including studies in oil and watercolour. It is, Murray says, one of Montague Dawson’s finest depictions of ships at sea.
George Stubbs – Mares and Foals in an extensive landscape
One of the largest pictures that George Stubbs painted – Mares and Foals in an extensive landscape – will be a highlight at Christie’s Old Masters sale in London on July 2. Stubbs was the most revered animal painter in the history of European Art and this work is one of the last two on this scale of any subject to remain in private hands. Dated to circa 1769, this monumental canvas is the artist’s grandest statement on the theme of Mares and Foals, the series of paintings executed in the 1760’s. The picture is believed to have been painted for the Prime Minister of Britain from 1768-1770, Augustus Fitzroy, 3rd Duke of Grafton (1735-1811), who was part of the closely-connected nexus of ‘Whig’ statesmen that provided Stubbs with his most important patronage during this career-defining period. Estimated at £7. – £10 million this painting last appeared on the market in 1976, since when it has been part of an important private collection in Illinois, U.S.A.
The complete bar from Kiely’s of Mount Merrion at Aidan Foley’s sale. UPDATE: THIS MADE 2,600 AT HAMMER
The complete bar from Kiely’s of Mount Merrion or a De Sede white modular sofa first launched in 1972 – the choice is yours at upcoming auctions by Aidan Foley and James Adam this month.
The sofa would have been very much out of place in a traditional setting like Kiely’s but would make itself very much at home in any large luxurious contemporary space. Designed by Eleanoa Peduzzi-Riva, Ueli Berger, Klaus Vogt and Heinz Ulrich it is complete with 22 sections with which multiple compositions can be created. At their Mid Century Modern sale in Dublin on May 21 Adams estimate it at €10,000-€15,000.
The bar at Kiely’s is a real deal throwback, laden with memory. It is a highlight at Aidan Foley’s online auction in conjunction with Niall Mullen at Oldcastle on May 21 and 22. All sorts of pub memorabilia will come under the hammer and the catalogue is online. The estimate on the complete bar is a mere €1,000-€2,000.
DS-600 modular sofa in white leather at James Adam. UPDATE: THIS MADE 14,000 AT HAMMER