antiquesandartireland.com

Information about Art, Antiques and Auctions in Ireland and around the world
  • ABOUT
  • About Des
  • Contact

    • Archive for the ‘AUCTIONS’ Category

    A COLLECTION OF MORE THAN 1,000 HISTORIC AUTOGRAPHS IN SUSSEX

    Tuesday, January 10th, 2017

    A collection of more than a 1,000 signatures from historical figures from from Charles Dickens to the Duke of Wellington to the First Men on the Moon to Buffalo Bill and Harry Houdini will be offered by the Sussex auctioneers Campbells on January 24 in Worthing. Amassed by the late John Evans, who was passionate about politics and was one of the first Anti-Vivisection campaigners, the signatures are either framed or in albums.

    Auctioneer Paul Campbell said: “It’s been such a privilege to turn the pages of one man’s life and passion and to see and consider the history he brought together. The Dalai Lama is next to Spencer Perceval, the Prime Minister who was murdered inside the House of Commons in 1812.” Estimates range from £50 to £1,000, with the earliest signature dating from 1697 from the 1st Duke of Marlborough. Literary names include J.M Barrie; Rudyard Kipling; William Wordsworth; Arthur Conan Doyle and John Ruskin.  Most Prime Ministers from Robert Walpole to Winston Churchill through to Tony Blair are featured along with explorer Sir Edmund Hillary and Lord Hunt – who led the successful 1953 expedition to Mount Everest; photographs taken on the moon that were later signed by the first men on the moon including Neil Armstrong; Buzz Aldrin and Charlie Duke as well as artists including Pablo Picasso; Dante Gabriel Rosetti and Dame Laura Knight.

    A letter from Lady Hamilton

    A letter from the Duke of Wellington.

    Tags: , ,
    Posted in AUCTIONS, COLLECTIBLES | No Comments »

    EYEWITNESS ACCOUNT OF FAILED FRENCH INVASION OF IRELAND AT WHYTE’S

    Sunday, January 8th, 2017

    An eyewitness account of the failed French invasion at Bantry dated December 31, 1796 comes up at Whyte’s Eclectic Collector sale in Dublin on January 21.  A three page letter written by Colonel Thomas Balfour of the North Lowland Fencibles to his wife in Orkey reads:  “We have been marched here in consequence of an alarm spread by a French fleet appearing off Bantry Bay … one officer and four seamen … landed and have been made prisoners”.

    “Expedition d’Irlande” was a 15,000 strong invasion force gathered by the French Directory for landing in Ireland in December 1796. The fleet left France on December 15 and the operation was abandoned in Bantry on December 29.  The letter is estimated at 200-300.  The auction will include maps, historical manuscripts, medals, militaria, sports memorabilia, advertising, travel, coins and banknotes.

    UPDATE: THE EYEWITNESS ACCOUNT SOLD FOR 380 AT HAMMER.

     

    Tags: , ,
    Posted in AUCTIONS, COLLECTIBLES | No Comments »

    MORE ONLINE BIDDING AND NEW YOUNGER BUYERS

    Saturday, December 31st, 2016
    Red Earth VI by Hughie O'Donoghue sold for a hammer price of 28,000 at Morgan O'Drsicoll

    Red Earth VI by Hughie O’Donoghue sold for a hammer price of 28,000 at Morgan O’Drsicoll

    In 2016 the most notable antique and art market trends are an increasing use of online bidding and a growth in younger, wealthy buyers.  This will impact on taste in the year to come.

    In Ireland younger buyers new to a market are that has been dominated for what seems like forever by Yeats, Henry, Orpen, Lavery et al are more likely to opt for more cutting edge contemporary work into the future.  The most expensive artwork sold in the winter season of Dublin art sales was a pastel on paper entitled 1.6.92 by Sean Scully which made 165,000 at hammer at de Veres.
    Research by art and antiques search engine aggregator Barnebys – covering 1,600 auction houses carrying half a million objects at any one time – shows that about 35% of bids now come in over the internet.  Millennials are logging on to buy, instead of searching the high street. Growth by younger buyers is anticipated. The environmental aspect of buying at auction – upmarket recycling – appeals in particular to this segment. Another consequence of the internet is that auctioneers are making huge savings by cutting back on the number of catalogues they print, using online catalogues instead.
    This year the market performed strongly at the top. Auctioneers are increasingly focused on the middle and lower markets. Unique items – think of Marilyn Monroe’s Happy Birthday Mr. President dress making $4 million on the hammer at Juliens – are achieving prices not seen since 1990 and before the 2008 crash.  The middle market is struggling but the lower end is growing, thanks to the internet.
    The real excitement for new investors in emerging art markets is in contemporary African and Indian art, Latin American art and Cuban art. Barneby’s predicts that there will be an increasing focus on African art, and this will include sculpture. In terms of auction results right now artists from South Africa, Nigeria and Ghana are leading the pack.
    Globally the hunt is on for female artists.  Gallery owners, dealers and museums will place great emphasis on finding new artists and the best works by artists like Georgia O’Keeffe, Louise Bourgeois, Irma Stern and Frida Kahlo. These four already enjoy high profiles and achieve strong prices at auction.
    Another growth area is 20th century design.  Demand has been growing since the late 1990’s and it is expected that this will continue.

    Tags: , ,
    Posted in ART, AUCTIONS | No Comments »

    A SALE IN OLDCASTLE ON DECEMBER 30

    Friday, December 23rd, 2016

    With everything from a cased taxidermy pheasant to a selection of mirrors, antique furniture, Waterford Crystal, jewellery and a variety of collectibles the sale by Matthews of Oldcastle on December 30 offers something from everyone in the immediate aftermath of Christmas.  The catalogue, which is online, lists 588 lots, but Matthews say that viewing is advisable as there is likely to be late entries.  Here is a small selection:

    Silver Condiment Set with Bristol Blue Liners (90-120)

    Silver Condiment Set with Bristol Blue Liners (90-120)

    Antique Giltwood Carved Mirror (600-900)

    Antique Giltwood Carved Mirror (600-900)

    Regency Crossbanded Fold Over Games Table (400-700)

    Regency Crossbanded Fold Over Games Table (400-700)

    Cased Taxidermy Pheasant (150-250)

    Cased Taxidermy Pheasant (150-250)

    Tags: ,
    Posted in AUCTIONS, COLLECTIBLES, FURNITURE | No Comments »

    FOX HEAD STIRRUP CUPS AT CORK AUCTION ROOMS

    Friday, December 23rd, 2016

    home5a_tA collection of four Fox head stirrup cups will be a feature at the sale at Cork Auction Rooms on December 28.  Such cups are rare and of interest to specialist collectors.  One sold for 1,500 at Cork Auction Rooms two years ago. On offer this time is a pair of  Fox Head form stirrup cups and a  pair of Victorian Staffordshire stirrup cups in the form of fox hounds.  Each pair is estimated at 600-1,200.  A pair of Jack B. Yeats pen and ink cartoons and letters to his sister Susan  – “Two Dublin debutants exercising themselves close by O’ Connell Bridge” and “The turnip sculptor” – are estimated at 6,000-8,000.  A c1835 Georgian Irish mahogany sideboard with acanthus leaf decoration on barley twist supports is estimated at 1,800-2,500 and the sale will feature a selection miniature portraits and silhouettes.

    Tags: ,
    Posted in ART, AUCTIONS, COLLECTIBLES | No Comments »

    THE TOP TEN LOTS AT SOTHEBY’S IN 2016

    Tuesday, December 20th, 2016
    The most expensive lot at Sotheby's in 2016 was Picasso's Femme Assise

    The most expensive lot at Sotheby’s in 2016 was Picasso’s Femme Assise

    A heady list of art and diamonds make up Sotheby’s top ten lots in 2016.  Picasso, Modigliani, Munch, Twombly, Bacon, Daqian, Richter and Gentileschi in that order accounted for the top art works, a blue diamond and a pink diamond made up the balance.

    Picasso’s  Femme Assise, 1909 which sold for £43,269,000 ($63,631,391) in London in June topped the list.  Next came Amedeo Modigliani with Jeanne Hébuterne (Au Foulard), 1919 which sold for £38,509,000 ($56,631,335): Edvard Munch, Pikene på broen (Girls on the Bridge), 1902 which sold for $54,487,500: Cy Twombly, Untitled (New York City), 1968 sold for $36,650,000: Francis Bacon, Two Studies For A Self-Portrait, 1970 sold for $34,970,000: Zhang Daqian, Peach Blossom Spring, 1982 sold for HKD $270,680,000 (US$ 34,702,564) and Gerhard Richter, A.B., Still, 1986 sold for $33,987,500.
    Number eight on the list was the De Beers Millennium Jewel 4 which sold for HK$248,280,000 ($32,013,223). Ninth came the Unique Pink, a fancy vivid diamond ring which sold for CHF 30,826,000 (US$31,561,200) and Orazio Gentileschi, Danaë, 1621 which sold for $30,490,000 was tenth.

    Tags: , , ,
    Posted in ART, AUCTIONS, COLLECTIBLES | No Comments »

    THE IRISH ART MARKET NOW

    Monday, December 19th, 2016
    The big winter Irish art sales – by de Veres, Whytes, Morgan O’Driscoll and James Adam – grossed almost five million euro. This figure suggests that market for Irish art is in a state of rude good health.  The real story is more complex.  Bidding is brisk, turnover is up and the market has its problems. All auctioneers are finding it difficult to source top quality works.  “What incentive is there to sell when you can get no interest on your money” one asked.
    Right now this remains very much a buyer’s market. Prices are deflated and a correction upwards is long overdue.  The view is that this has to happen, the only question is when.  Meantime prices are far from stratospheric across all levels and ranges. Todays art buyer has become both discriminating and picky and there is a price above which they will not venture.
    The market in 2016 was unpredictable and threw up some surprising results.  Adams failed to get their main Yeats away at the latest sale but still grossed 1.35 million with 76% of lots on offer finding buyers. Morgan O’Driscoll capped off what he described as an unbelievable year with a Dublin sale that drew bidders from 12 countries and grossed over a million this month. The September sale at Whyte’s was the most successful since 2008 and a small west of Ireland landscape by Paul Henry made a hammer price of 87,000 at their latest sale. A large pastel by Sean Scully sold for 165,000 at the late November auction by de Veres, which grossed around 1.6 million. And Sean Keating’s Aran Woman and her Children sold for 130,000 at hammer a Mealy’s this month – the first time since 2008 that a Keating sold for a six figure sum. Sell through rates of around 75%-80% are being reported from most sales.

    The Bronze Horses of St. Marks by Patrick Hennessy made a hammer price of 32,000 at James Adam.

    The Bronze Horses of St. Marks by Patrick Hennessy made a hammer price of 32,000 at James Adam.

    Garden at Night by William Crozier sold for a hammer price of 19,000 at Whyte's

    Garden at Night by William Crozier sold for a hammer price of 19,000 at Whyte’s

    Tags: , , , ,
    Posted in ART, AUCTIONS | No Comments »

    A WORLD RECORD FOR A PRINTED SCIENTIFIC BOOK

    Thursday, December 15th, 2016
    Sir Isaac Newton’s (1642-1727) Philosophiae naturalis principia mathematica

    Sir Isaac Newton’s (1642-1727) Philosophiae naturalis principia mathematica

    Sir Isaac Newton’s Principia made a world record for a world record for a printed scientific book when it sold for $3,719,500 at Christie’s in New York on December 14. It had been estimated at $1-1.5 million.  One of the most important books in the history of science Sir Isaac Newton’s (1642-1727, knighted 1705) Philosophiae naturalis principia mathematica  was described by Einstein as  “perhaps the greatest intellectual stride that it has ever been granted to any man to make”.

    This was a First edition, Continental issue bound in full inlaid morocco for presentation by the publisher/bookseller Samuel Smith. Two apparently concurrent issues can be distinguished, identified by their title in uncancelled or cancelled state. One was distributed by Edmond Halley and Newton themselves through a number of unnamed booksellers, the other was largely turned over to Samuel Smith for distribution on the Continent (as here). This Continental issue is considerably rarer.

    The fine books and manuscripts sale totaled $9,433,063, with 82% sold by lot and 91% sold by value.  This was the highest total for a various owner sale of Books & Manuscripts at Christie’s. There was active in-room, phone, and online participation from institutions, established collectors, and new buyers with registered bidders from over 25 countries.

    Tags: ,
    Posted in AUCTIONS, COLLECTIBLES | No Comments »

    A MAJOR PIECE OF HARRY POTTER HISTORY

    Tuesday, December 13th, 2016
    The Tales of Beedle the Bard

    The Tales of Beedle the Bard

    A major piece of Harry Potter history, a rare presentation copy of The Tales of Beedle the Bard created, hand-written and illustrated by J.K. Rowling sold for £368,750 to an anonymous buyer bidding on the telephone at Sotheby’s in London this afternoon. With a personal inscription by the author the copy, number 3 of the 7 that J.K Rowling produced, was presented to British publisher Barry Cunningham who famously accepted the first Harry Potter book for publication.  Cunningham played an instrumental role in launching J.K Rowling’s career as an international best-selling author. In a dedication written in the front of the book, JK Rowling wrote: “To Barry, the man who thought an overlong novel about a boy wizard in glasses might just sell… THANK YOU”.

    Cunningham recalls the experience of receiving the copy in December 2007 as ‘unreal’, becoming ‘progressively more exciting’ as he opened a white jiffy envelope to reveal a beautiful, cloth-wrapped manuscript book, adorned with semi-precious stones and a sterling silver mounted skull. The original packaging, in which the copy was delivered, is included as part of the lot. Originally presented as a personal gift to ‘those most closely connected to the Harry Potter books’, the manuscript of wizarding tales is one of only seven unique copies produced for the most important people in Rowling’s life during this time. In 2007, a seventh copy produced specifically for sale at auction to raise money for J.K Rowling’s charity Lumos, was sold at Sotheby’s for a record-breaking £1.95 million. Bound in brown morocco leather, the manuscript carries seven unique mounted rhodochrosite stones. At the end of the volume, the author notes that these semi-precious stones are ‘traditionally associated with love, balance and joy in daily life.’ The exterior is additionally embellished with hallmarked sterling silver ornaments, centred by an ominous skull.

    The Tales of Beedle the Bard

    The Tales of Beedle the Bard

    The Tales of Beedle the Bard

    The Tales of Beedle the Bard

    Tags: , , ,
    Posted in AUCTIONS | No Comments »

    MUCH TO INTEREST COLLECTORS AT FONSIE MEALY’S DUBLIN AUCTION

    Saturday, December 10th, 2016
    THERE is much to stimulate the interest of collectors and seekers of once off and distinctive Christmas presents at Fonsie Mealy’s rare book sale at the Gresham Hotel in Dublin on December 13. There are rare Irish books, fine duplicates, early printings, 17th century travel, Americana, science and religion, the Edith Somerville and Coghill family archives and a private collection of modern Irish literature, are to be sold.
    Among the highlights are a signed volume from the library of Dean Swift, a rare volume printed by Benjamin Franklin, Philadelphia 1744, the first printing of Shakespeare’s works outside of London and Lt. Cresswell’s “North West Passage” atlas folio from 1854 with eight plates.
    Edith Somerville of Castletownsend – author with her cousin Violet Martin of the Irish RM series –  studied painting London and in Dusseldorf and Paris with another cousin and future brother in law Egerton Coghill. Lot 765 is an outstanding portrait of her then seven year old nephew and godson Patrick Coghill and the sale includes a number of drawings, watercolours and sketches by her with west Cork scenes and including some of her original drawings for the Irish RM.  There is a collection of typescripts and manuscripts by Brendan Behan, photographs by Sir Jocelyn Coghill, the first secretary of the Dublin Photographic Society and a selection of Cuala Press broadsides. The original volume from Dean Swift’s library, signed “Jon Swift”  has an estimate of 10,000–15,000. A spectacular early coloured view of the North West Passage with a series of eight sketches in colour and a coloured map of the route by Lt. Cresswell is estimated at 15,000-20,000.
    UPDATE:  The volume from Dean Swift’s library sold for 9,000 at hammer, the Benjamin Franklin imprint made 12,000 at hammer, the first printing of Shakespeare’s works outside of London failed to sell and the North West Passage folio sold for 24,000.  The sale brought in 410,000 euro on the hammer.

    (See post on antiquesandartireland.com for December 7, 2016)

    One of a series of eight sketches in colour of the North West Passage by Lt. S.G. Cresswell published in 1854

    One of a series of eight sketches in colour of the North West Passage by Lt. S.G. Cresswell published in 1854 UPDATE: THIS SOLD FOR 24,000 AT HAMMER.

    One of a series of eight sketches in colour of the North West Passage by Lt. S.G. Cresswell published in 1854

    One of a series of eight sketches in colour of the North West Passage by Lt. S.G. Cresswell published in 1854  UPDATE: THIS LOT SOLD FOR 24,000 AT HAMMER

    Spring in Co. Cork by Edith Somerville (1858-1949)

    Spring in Co. Cork by Edith Somerville (1858-1949) UPDATE: THIS MADE 500 AT HAMMER

    A Co. Cork album of Irish and other military figures, one dated 1864

    A Co. Cork album of Irish and other military figures, one dated 1864  UPDATE: THIS MADE 540 AT HAMMER

    Tags: , , ,
    Posted in ART, AUCTIONS, COLLECTIBLES | No Comments »

    « Older Entries
    Newer Entries »