The most valuable Einstein manuscript ever offered at auction comes up at the Exceptional Sale at Christie’s in Paris on November 23. The 54-page autograph manuscript written by Albert Einstein and Michele Besso between June 1913 and early 1914 documents a crucial stage in the development of the theory of general relativity. This theory re-shaped modern understanding of how the universe works. It is estimated at €2,000,000-3,000,000).
The manuscript is also a particularly valuable record of Einstein’s relationship with Michele Besso, the Swiss engineer who was his collaborator, confidant, and lifelong friend.
Adrien Legendre, Director of the Books and Manuscripts department, commented: “We are delighted that Christie’s will be able to promote this extraordinary manuscript to its international network of collectors for our Exceptional Sale. Einstein’s autographs from this period, and more generally from before 1919, are extremely rare. As one of only two surviving manuscripts documenting the genesis of the General Theory (along with the so-called Zurich notebook from late 1912/early 1913 – now in the Einstein Archive at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem), it provides a remarkable insight into Einstein’s work and a fascinating dive into the mind of the greatest scientist of the 20th century.
ATTRIBUTED TO LAURENT DE LA HYRE (1606-1656) Artemisia at the Mausoleum of Her Husband. UPDATE: THIS MADE 32,000 AT HAMMER
This subject matter of this oil on canvas attributed to Laurent de la Hyre exercised numerous colleagues and friends of Homan Potterton over the years. Artemesia was agreed as the most likely. She was the wife of Mausolus, the Provincial Governor of Caria in Asia Minor. On her husband’s death in 353 B.C. she erected a great elevated tomb and monument to his memory at Halicarnassus, thus providing the origin of the word ‘mausoleum’. The structure was designed by the Greek architects Satyros and Pythius of Priene. It was one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. The painting, which is estimated at €15,000-20,000, comes up at James Adam in Dublin on September 7 at the sale of the late Homan Potterton’s collection of old master paintings, Irish Art, engravings, furniture and silver from his homes in Dublin and in the Gaillac region in France. UPDATE: THIS MADE 32,000 AT HAMMER.
(See post on antiquesandartireland.com for August 22, 2021)
Lovely objects are made to be seen, used and enjoyed according to the English designer Jasper Conran. Now downsizing to a 17th century house in West Dorset – much smaller than its predecessors – Conran is regretfully parting with an amazing collection of art, antique furniture and objects through two sales at Christie’s this September. An online auction with 223 lots gets underway today and will run to September 21. There will be a live auction at Christie’s in London with 213 lots on September 14. These sales offer a window into the magical interiors that Conran created at Flemings Hall, Suffolk: Walpole House, Chiswick; Ven House, Somerset and most recently his six bedroomed apartment at the Palladian mansion that is New Wardour Castle in Wiltshire, one of England’s finest country houses. The castle played a part as the dance school in the film Billy Elliot. UPDATE: THE LIVE SALE REALISED £5,835,500
ROBERT PEAKE (LINCOLNSHIRE 1551-1619 LONDON) Portrait of Cecilia Neville (b.c.1604). Courtesy CHRISTIE’S IMAGES LTD. 2021.UPDATE: THIS SOLD FOR £562,500
Christie’s say the sale of this iconic collection will be a landmark in the history of English taste, and a celebration of the fabulous interiors that Jasper Conran has created over many years. One of Conran’s lifelong passions has been English portraiture and the London sale is led by a portrait of Cecilia Neville by Robert Peake, portrait painter at the Elizabethan and Jacobean court. It is estimated at £500,000-£800,000. The top furniture lot, with an estimate of £200,000-£300,000, is an elegant pair of George III gilt console tables after a design by Thomas Chippendale.
Among the highlights are the magnificent Longleat giltwood chandelier, c1720-30, attributed to Benjamin Goodison, the court cabinet-maker of theday: a George II grey-painted pier mirror c1735-40, in the manner of William Kent; a pair of early George III white-painted simulated bamboo window seats by William Vile and John Cobb, signed by Vile’s nephew the cabinet maker William Strickland, dated 1764 and made for Forde Abbey, Somerset; a George II mahogany serpentine sofa attributed to Paul Saunders, c1755-60; the Rousham wall brackets, a pair of George II mahogany wall brackets designed and supplied by William Kent, c1740 and the late 19th century Medici Vase.
GEORGE III GRAINED-PINE SEMI-ELLIPTICAL SIDE TABLE CIRCA 1780, POSSIBLY IRISH. Courtesy CHRISTIE’S IMAGES LTD. 2021. UPDATE: THIS SOLD FOR £23,750
A number of Irish or possibly Irish lots are included in the main sale. Among them are lot 18, a pair of Irish George II side chairs; lot 107, a George II giltwood mirror; lot 143, an Irish white marble and scagliola Bossi chimneypiece; lot 168, a set of six George II dining chairs; lot 179, a c1760 elliptical side table and lot 194, an Irish brass bound and mahogany wine cooler. Jasper Conran, who had long relationships with the writer Bruce Chatwin and the fashion designer John Galliano has, since 2015, been married to the Irish artist and filmmaker Oisin Byrne. Jasper Conran OBE has designed collections of womens wear, for the home, and productions for the stage in ballet, opera and theatre.
The first auction of Indian master artists who were commissioned by East India Company officials in the 18th and 19th centuries takes place at Sotheby’s in London on October 27. Ranging in their subject matter from individual animal and human studies to complex architectural panoramas these Company School Paintings encapsulate on paper the rich fauna, flora and architecture of the Subcontinent.
They are from the American collector and art dealer Carlton C. Rochell, Jr. Rochell spent the first 18 years of his career at Sotheby’s, where he founded the Indian and Southeast Asian Art Department in 1988. He was on the Board of Directors and served as Managing Director of Sotheby’s Asia. In 2002, Rochell opened his own gallery in New York. Highlights of In an Indian Garden will go on view in Sotheby’s in New York from September 17-20, in Hong Kong from October 7-11 and London from October 22-26.
A Painted Stork Eating a Snail from the Impey Album, Signed by Shaykh Zayn al-Din, Company School, Calcutta, dated 1781 (est. £200,000-300,000) – formerly in the collection of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis
This magnificent Georgian dining table comes up at the Howth Castle sale by Fonsie Mealy on September 8 and 9 next. It is on two quadruple centre pods, and two outer tripod bases each of outsplayed and reeded form. There is one large and two smaller spare leave insets with original hinged clasps. There has been some restoration to one leaf but otherwise the structure is both solid and good. The estimate is €30,000-€40,000. The online sale of around 950 lots offers furniture, paintings, silver, objets d’art, ceramics, clocks, carpets, rugs, light fittings, militaria and collectibles. UPDATE: THE DINING TABLE MADE 29,000 AT HAMMER
The sale of the library takes place on September 22 and 23. Here is a video about the sale:
(See posts on antiquesandartireland.com for August 12 and August 23, 2021)
Reunited pair of George III giltwood console tables c1760 after a design attributed to Thomas Chippendale. courtesy Christie’s Images Ltd., 2021. UPDATE: THESE SOLD FOR £550,000
This elegant pair of George III gilt console tables after a design by Thomas Chippendale, re-united by Jasper Conran, will be among the furniture highlights at Christie’s sales of his collection in September. They are estimated at £200,000-300,000. Conran acquired one from eminent Dorset based antique dealer and interior consultant Edward Hurst in April 2009. By a stroke of sheer serendipity just three months later the second table appeared at an auction, and Jasper was the winning bidder.
An online auction with 223 lots gets underway on September 1 and will run to September 21. There is to be a live auction at Christie’s in London with 213 lots on September 14.
(See post on antiquesandartireland.com for August 18, 2021)
A lifesize metal figure of St. Patrick which is more than six feet tall will feature among the antique furniture and collectibles at Woodwards online sale in Cork on September 4. On offer are contents from Carrigrhu House, a period piece overlooking Cuskinny in Cork Harbour. The St. Patrick figure is estimated at €1,000-€1,500. It was acquired from the late Donal O’Regan, whose antique and arts shops first on Lavitts Quay and then at Fenns Quay in Cork were a mecca for collectors from right around the country. A French comtoise or longcase clock by Abbal Fils at St. Pierre-des-Cas dates to around 1850. It is estimated at €2,000-€3,000. This is one of two period house contents sales that Woodwards plan to conduct in September. A sale of contents from Millboro House, Lee Road is planned for September 25.
More than 380 lots of antique furniture, jewellery, art and collectibles will come under the hammer at Hegarty’s online auction in Bandon, Co. Cork on September 5. On offer is the collection of Anthony and Victoria Bartley of Rosscarbery. A squadron leader with the RAF during the Second World War Anthony Bartley’s first wife was the actress Deborah Kerr with whom he lived in Hollywood for 15 years. He met Victoria in 1964 and they lived for a time in Barbados before moving to west Cork in 1971.
A 1906 18 carat gold London fob watch and chain at Hegarty’s. UPDATE: THIS WAS UNSOLD
The 1937 poster for Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs is the most expensively estimated lot at Sotheby’s online auction of original film posters. This was Walt Disney’s first feature film so it is a prized piece for any collector. It features the full cast with the dreamy castle in the background and is estimated at £12,000-18,000. The sale runs online from August 27 to September 7. The lots on offer demonstrate over 100 years of cinematic history from across the globe. There is promotional materials including posters, lobby cards, production stills and original artworks used to herald some of the world’s most iconic films with estimates from £300 upwards.
An important impressive set of Prehistoric Giant Irish Elk Antlers and Skull (“Megaloceros Giganteus) c. 12000 – 18000 B.C., approx. 262 cms (8’9”) long x 7’5” (226 cms) high with 18 points (some repairs). UPDATE: THESE MADE 23,000 AT HAMMER
This set of Irish Elk antlers comes up at Fonsie Mealy’s two day sale of contents from Howth Castle on September 8 and 9. Irish Elk is the common name for a giant, extinct deer, Megaloceros Giganteus, characterized by enormous antlers. This is the largest deer known to have ever lived. Megaloceros Giganteus appeared for the first time about 400,000 years ago and disappeared about 11,000 years ago. It ranged from Ireland and Great Britain in Western Europe and as far as the Far East as China and Siberia during the Late Pleistocene period. Elk Antlers are a statement item and were placed in many of the big country houses around Ireland. This set is estimated at €12,000-18,000. UPDATE: THESE SOLD FOR 23,000 AT HAMMER.
(See post on antiquesandartireland.com for August 12, 2021)
