With 37 online auctions totalling nearly $70 million since March Sotheby’s reports increased collector engagement. An update today from ceo Charles Stewart highlighted their plan to hold evening and day sales of Impressionist, Modern and Contemporary Art in New York the week of June, 29 pending the lifting of certain restrictions and confirmation from the relevant authorities. The Spring sales series in Hong Kong will take place from July 5-11.
Sotheby’s has invested in its “buy now” capability with significant inventory for sale. The Gallery Network launched with some of New York’s most pre-eminent galleries allows galleries make immediate sales through Sotheby’s website. The ceo reports continued demand and competition for rare and iconic works across categories. A Cartier tutti frutti bracelet achieved $1.3 million last week.
Roy Lichtenstein’s White Brushstroke Ifrom 1965 will be a highlight Sotheby’s Contemporary Art evening auction in New York on the week beginning June 29.
With everything from the theatre programme for the first production of The Playboy of the Western World at the Abbey Theatre in 1907 to the poetry of Terence McSwiney to the GAA medals of Leonard McGrath and a cache of old IRA documents from 1924-31 the online Collectors Sale by Fonsie Mealy is brimful of interest.The timed auction of 439 lots runs at The Saleroom until the evening of May 5. It features scare modern literature items, signed copies, limited editions, manuscripts, sporting memorabilia, Republican material, cinema posters, pub memorabilia, rare Irish and Scotch whiskies, bourbon and liqueurs and even some designer handbags, purses and scarves.The Leonard McGrath collection is, at €15,000-20,000, the most expensively estimated lot. He played a starring forward role in Galway’s first All Ireland hurling win in 1923 and also played on the winning 1925 football team. A member of the elite group of 16 players to achieve such a success in both codes the Australian born Galway reared McGrath was, as a member of the winning Galwegians rugby team in the 1926-27 season, expelled from the GAA for playing a foreign sport. The lot includes a large bundle of musical scores signed by Leonard McGrath and used at competitions and various singing events and Feis CeoilsA programme for the 1931 All-Ireland Hurling Final in which Cork drew with Kilkenny is estimated at €500-700. Cork won the replay.Lot 274 is a file of IRA Army Council archives from 1924-25 and 1929-31. It comprises document sent to and issued by the IRA’s Chief of Staff who for much of the period covered was Moss Twomey. More than 300 documents over 500 pages give detailed accounts of activities and internal procedures. The lot is estimated at €1,000-1,500.A scarce 1918 book of poetry by Terence MacSwiney, Battle Cries, in grey printed wrappers with proceeds in aid of the Dependents Fund has an estimate of €150-200. There is no publisher or censor’s approval. The author was elected Lord Mayor of Cork after the murder of Tomas MacCurtain in March of 1920. Arrested later that year and charged with having seditious documents the Lord Mayor of Cork died aged 41 on the 74th day of his hunger strike in Brixton Prison on October 25, 1920.There is a limited edition book of poetry from John Montague. A Fair House: Versions of Irish Poetry was printed in 1972. It is being sold together with another Montague work, The Lost Notebook, with illustrations by John Verling published by the Mercier Press in 1987. The estimate is €100-150. There are first editions by authors ranging from Liam O’Flaherty and Frank O’Connor to Ian Fleming as well as cinema posters and historic rugby programmes.The Abbey Theatre programme for Saturday, 26th January 1907 for seven nights including the first production of The Playboy by Synge is estimated at €200-300. This was one of the most celebrated and controversial productions of the Irish theatre. All lots can be viewed on The Saleroom.
UPDATE: The sale realised in excess of € 120,000 on the hammer with 85% sold. The Leonard McGrath medals made 28,500 at hammer.
Sotheby’s is offering an arresting image of Kate Moss in a torn veil, Marrakesh 1993 by Albert Watson at an online sale entitled Eclectic, London which runs to May 7. It is estimated at £7,000-10,000. Bonhams will offer British and Irish art online on May 12 with Irish lots by artists Cecil Maguire, Graham Knuttel and William Crozier. Meantime the London Original Print Fair, normally held at the Royal Academy, is online this year. It continues for the entire month of May.
Two days of sales by Doneraile based auctioneer Aidan Foley are now underway at Easy Live auctions. Books, music memorabilia and jewellery come under the hammer today. The sale tomorrow will feature rugs, furniture, collectibles, art and jewellery.
The Capuchin Annual 1966 Special Anniversary of Easter Rising comes up today UPDATE: THIS SOLD FOR 30.
Leonard McGrath, the Galway dual player whose medals come up at Fonsie Mealy’s online Collectors sale which runs to May 5, was also a talented singer. Lot 304 of the auction, which contains his amazing medal collection, includes a fine selection of sheet music used by McGrath at singing competitions during various Feis Ceoils and other events. The large bundle of musical scores features favourites like The Rose of Tralee, Down by the Sally Gardens, The Green Hills of Ireland, My Lagan Love and many more. McGrath won All Ireland senior hurling and football medals for Galway and was a talented rugby player, which resulted in his expulsion from the GAA. He was an athlete and, in later life, a golfer. UPDATE: LOT 304 SOLD FOR A HAMMER PRICE OF 28,500 OVER A TOP ESTIMATE OF 20,000.
These scores are mostly inscribed by Leonard McGrath
THIS c1774 map of Kinsale Harbour is among the lots at Hegarty’s of Bandon timed online auction on April 30. The framed chart is by Capt. Grenville Collins and sculpted by J. Harris. The estimate is 100-200. There are 165 lots in this online sale at The Saleroom which runs to 6 p.m. on the day. UPDATE: THE CHART SOLD FOR 360 AT HAMMER
An Irish bible from 1690 comes up at an online sale of English literature, Children’s Books and illustrations running at Sotheby’s London from May 5-12. The pocket edition was published at the expense of the Hon. Robert Boyle and others in Roman letter expressly for the use of the Gaelic-speaking Highlanders of Scotland. The transliteration from Irish letter was made by Robert Kirk, minister of Aberfoyle and author of the metrical Psalter in Gaelic of 1684. It is estimated at £1,000-1,500.
Sotheby’s and Google are coming together virtually to raise much-needed funds for the International Rescue Committee’s (IRC) work to help mitigate and respond to the spread of COVID-19 in vulnerable communities. An online auction of unique experiences to be enjoyed virtually via Google Meet video calls will run from May 1-8. From intimate conversations and ‘virtual’ drinks to lessons and tutorials all will be offered without reserve. The list of experiences continues to grow, but already includes commitments from leading names in music, film, public affairs, art and design and science.
There is a chance to record a song with Sting, coffee with Hillary Rodham Clinton, a Shakespearian acting lesson from Sir Patrick Stewart, a conversation with actor/comedian Sacha Baron Cohen, coffee or tea with Madeleine Albright, a conversation about music will all five members of The Strokes, a virtual art work creation with Marc Quinn, a virtual visit to Highclere Castle with the Earl and Countess of Carnarvon, Downton Abbey writer and creator Julian Fellowes and actors Hugh Bonneville and Elizabeth McGovern and a conversation with David Miliband, former British Foreign Secretary and current President of the IRC.
From distributing meals in New York City to translating public health guidance into numerous languages for refugee and migrant communities across Europe, the IRC response is built on years of experience in supporting people affected by conflict, crisis, and disaster in over 40 countries around the globe. Learn more at www.rescue.org
Hegarty’s, the Bandon auctioneers, had a large March auction in the pipeline when Covid-19 restrictions were introduced. They reduced the catalogue and held their first live online only sale instead. Bidders logged in from all over Ireland, the UK, across Europe and from as far away as Australia and the USA on the night. Working from home with built up catalogued stock they have since put together a small timed online auction of 159 lots of furniture, art, jewellery and collectibles, with free storage available on all items. The auction is now live on The Saleroom and it runs until April 30.
A marble topped console table at Hegarty’s sale (1,000-1,200). UPDATE: THIS MADE 950 AT HAMMER
THIS Tiffany design table lamp, around 18 and a half inches tall, is among the lots at the online sale by Purcell Auctioneers of Birr, Co. Offaly on April 29. It is estimated at 100-180. There are 412 lots in this single owner collection sale of militaria, jewellery, collectibles, porcelain, silver, advertising and musical instruments. The sale is online at Easy Live auctions.
