Roderic O’Conor, 1860-1940 – Breton Farmstead with Haystack, c1892 (€180,000-220,000). UPDATE: THIS WAS UNSOLD
Breton Farmstead with Haystack, a c1892 work by Roderic O’Conor, will highlight the Outstanding Irish Art evening auction at de Veres in Dublin on November 26. It is one of three oils by the artist in the sale, which also features leading lots by Walter Osborne, Jack B. Yeats, William Leech and Louis le Brocquy. There are important examples of work by Irish female artists Norah McGuinness, Mary Swanzy, Camille Souter, Grace Henry, Rose Barton, Letitia Hamilton, Nano Reid and Anne Madden. This will be the first in-room auction by de Veres since 2019 and it will be live online too.
Mary Swanzy HRHA, 1882-1978 – Cubist Still Life with Yellow Jug (€40,000-60,000). UPDATE: THIS MADE 48,000 AT HAMMER
George I coffee pot with side handle by Thomas Walker, Dublin (1726)
The National Antique Fair at Limerick Racecourse next weekend, magnificent jewels in Geneva and Irish art in London are among upcoming events which will draw large numbers of collectors to the fascinating world of art, antiques and collectibles at all price points this month.
Among the many treasures for which the hunt is hotting up are an antique Irish silver coffee pot, a Georgian officers gorget or throat covering from the Royal Meath Militia, vintage fashion and Irish art and collectibles at the Limerick fair, a Cartier diamond necklace at Christie’s in Geneva on November 12, jewellery from the Royal Court of Bulgaria at Sotheby’s in Geneva on November 13, masterpieces by William Orpen and John Lavery at Sotheby’s Modern British and Irish art evening sale in London on November 14 and a selection of Irish art from Paul Henry, George Mounsey Wheatley Atkinson and Nano Reid to contemporary works by Jack Coulter, Richard Hearns, John Behan, Orla de Bri and more at Sotheby’s day sale in London on November 15.
Eily Henry vintage fashion will feature this headwear at the National Antiques Fair in Limerick
Opening times for the National Antiques, Art and Vintage fair at Limerick Racecourse are from 11 am to 6 on November 16 and 17. There will be 80 dealers from right around Ireland with everything from a pair of vases by Zak Scherzer of Vienna with paintings by Rembrandt at Edwin Mercer, vintage flagons, clocks and collectibles at Dan Hartnett and an exceptional George I coffee pot by Thomas Walker (Dublin 1726) which Weldon’s will display on November 17.
Vintage fashion and jewellery is enduringly popular. Among the choices available are an eyecatching Philip Treacy type hat at Eily Henry and a nine carat yellow gold wide gate bracelet at Bedlam antiques. There is porcelain and glass at Brian Hurley, Irish art at the Purple Onion gallery, militaria including the gorget of Lt. Col. Thomas Pepper of the Royal Meath Militia and selections of antique furniture, jewellery, books and collectibles to inspire and delight.
Art Deco diamond necklace, signed Cartier London, 1935, at Christie’s UPDATE: THIS SOLD FOR US$5,090,571
It is rare to encounter a group of jewels from the 1920’s and ’30’s which have remained in the same family and have not been remodelled. A magnificent Cartier Art Deco Indo-Persian diamond necklace from 1935 will highlight a collection of superb jewels from the Sassoon family at Christie’s in Geneva next Tuesday The bank where they were stored was completely in World War II. A helpful policeman advised the owner at the ruins to check with a local police station. It transpired that her deposit box had been transferred there. Never at auction before the necklace is estimated at US$1 million – $1.5 million (€920,000-€1,380,000). At Sotheby’s in Geneva on the following day more than 100 pieces from Tsar Ferdinand and the Royal Court of Bulgaria will come under the hammer.
Sotheby’s will bring a great selection of Irish art to the international stage at sales in London next Thursday and Friday. A portrait of Mrs. St. George by Orpen and a Venetian scene by Lavery will feature in the evening sale on Thursday. A Cork collection of maritime paintings by George Mounsey Wheatley Atkinson and art and sculpture by Gareth Reid – Sky Portrait Artist of the Decade, 2023 – Tony O’Malley, Rowan Gillespie, Patrick Hennessy, Felim Egan, John Kingerlee and William Conor and others feature at the day sale next Friday.
Still Life with Butterfly by Patrick Hennessy at Sotheby’s. UPDATE: THIS WAS UNSOLD
Regency bird cage wine cooler. UPDATE: THIS MADE €1,050 AT HAMMER
Is it a bird cage? No it is a bird cage wine cooler among the lots at Victor Mee’s two day online sale in Co. Armagh on November 13 and 14 at 6.30 pm on each day. On offer are complete contents from Umgola house and gardens, Monaghan Road, Armagh in conjunction with the retirement sale of Peter Derry, antique dealer of Annaghmore, Portadown. A total of 960 lots will come under the hammer. The wine cooler is lot 153 and estimated at €1,500-€3,000.
A vase designed by Constance Spry. UPDATE: THIS MADE €875 AT HAMMER
Constance Spry is best remembered nowadays as the creator, with Rosemary Hume, of coronation chicken. The spicy, mayonnaise concoction- filling for millions of 21st century airport sandwiches – must have been revolutionary in these latitudes in 1952. Derby born Spry, who lived for a time in Ireland, was a creative independent innovator and ahead of her time businesswoman who ultimatey employed 60 people at her flower decoration shop on South Audley St. in London.
A vase designed by Spry comes up at Hegarty’s Stoneview Collection Part II online sale in Bandon on November 13. The twin fern handled vase on pedestal with unglazed exterior and glazed interior was produced around 1930 at Fulham Pottery. The estimate is €400-€800. The sale offers antique furniture, silver, art, jewellery and collectors items including a Strahan console table and a landscape by William Langley. Highlights from the first part of the collection included a Lusitania life jacket which made €1,050 at hammer over a top estimate of €400 and a pair of George II Irish silver candlesticks which sold for €2,900.
A console table by Robert Strahan. UPDATE: THIS MADE 460 AT HAMMER
19th Century Killarney davenport. UPDATE: THIS WAS UNSOLD
This profusely inlaid 19th century Killarney davenport will highlight Aidan Foley’s three day sale in Killarney on November 25, 26 and 27. Described as a museum quality piece of rare Irish provincial furniture it is estimated at 30,000-50,000. Made of arbutus and yew wood it is inlaid with views of local beauty spots like Muckross Abbey, Ross Castle and Aghadoe, ferns and shamrocks.
It is one of several Killarney furniture pieces in the retirement auction on behalf of Pat O’Connor of Killarney Art and Antiques. More than 1,300 lots will come under the hammer.
Mary Swanzy H.R.H.A. (1882-1978) South of France landscape
Some of the most significant female figures in Modernism in Ireland will feature in The Irish Sale: Vision & Voice online at Bonhams from November 26 to December 5. A collection of 20 works by Norah McGuinness will be offered without reserve and the auction features Mainie Jellett and Mary Swanzy who were among Ireland’s first abstract painters.
All three artists were pioneers of a national avant-garde and were strong supporters of modern art in Ireland. They all studied at Dublin’s Metropolitan School of Art and were widely travelled, influenced by the work of cubism, fauvism, symbolism and many of the modernist movements prevalent at that time. Their works are held in many prestigious collections both in Ireland and the UK. Jellett together with McGuiness co-founded the Irish Exhibition of Living Art in 1944 which was formed in opposition to the dominance of more traditional institutions such as the Royal Hibernian Academy (RHA) and the National College of Art in Ireland.
There is art by Sir John Lavery, Dan O’Neill and John Doherty along with historical artefacts, literature and design.
Kieran O’Boyle, Bonhams Head of Ireland and Northern Ireland commented: “We are delighted to be offering such a rich collection of works. Jellett, Swanzy and McGuiness were pioneers who blazed a trail for female artists and for Modernism in Ireland. Interest among collectors has increased significantly over the last 20 years for Irish women artists, reflecting the long-overdue recognition of their historical and cultural contribution to Irish art.”
PABLO PICASSO (1881-1973) – Femme et jeune garcon nus
A retrospective of Picasso will be among the highlights of next year’s programme at the National Gallery of Ireland. The gallery, in collaboration with the Musée Picasso national-Paris, will present Picasso: From the studio from October 11, 2025 to February 22, 2026. Picasso lived surrounded by his art. His personal life and his work, his homes and his studios were always intimately linked. This exhibition places Picasso in the context of his studios, highlighting the various facets and phases of his art and life. It will explore the key locations that defined him, from his arrival in Paris at the start of the twentieth century to his studio in Villa La Californie (1955-1961) in Cannes. It will feature paintings, sculptures, ceramics, and works on paper, as well as photographic and audio-visual works. Pictured here is a 1969 work on paper entitled Femme et jeune garcon nus which comes up at Christie’s 20th century evening sale in New York on November 19 with an estimate of $1 million – $1.5 million.
JACK BUTLER YEATS, R.H.A. (1871-1957) – O’Connell Bridge. UPDATE: THIS SOLD FOR £882,000
This painting by Yeats is among the highlights of the private collection of Alan and Mary Hobart comes up at Christie’s in London on November 19. The estimate is £400,000-£600,000. Their personal collection — at Farm Street, Mayfair and Cap Ferrat — bears witness to the Hobarts’ highly renowned expertise and discerning taste.
Sir William Orpen – Portrait of Evelyn St. George. UPDATE: THIS SOLD FOR £720,000
A dazzling portrait by an artist dazzled by his subject is among the leading lots at Sotheby’s Modern British and Irish art auctions in London on November 14 and 15.
Sir William Orpen’s portrait of Mrs. Evelyn St. George depicts his lover and the woman he was in love with for much of his life. They met around 1906 through family connections. The artist’s mother, formerly Annie Caulfield, was related to Howard St. George, an Irish land agent. Evelyn was an American millionaire, daughter of George Fisher Baker, president of the National Bank of America. He was considered to be the third richest man in America after Henry Ford and John D Rockefeller.
Evelyn was eight years older than Orpen and a foot taller. Both were married. Their relationship was long and enduring and they became known as little and large. She commissioned a number of portraits of herself. Orpen was known for his brilliant portraits of wealthy and fashionable members of Edwardian society. He was knighted in 1918 for his wartime service as an official war artist. A collection of his work is held at the Imperial War Museum in London.
Sotheby’s describe this painting as one of his greatest masterpieces of portraiture. Estimated at €720,000-€960,000 it is on display today and tomorrow at the RHA in Dublin alongside a collection of Irish artworks to be offered later this month in London.
George Mounsey Wheatley Atkinson – The Steam Yacht Victoria and Albert in Cork Harbour 1849. UPDATE: THIS SOLD FOR £45,600
The exhibit and sale will include maritime paintings by the Atkinson family of Cobh collected by the late Dr. Denis Wilson of Cork. All were exhibited at the Maritime Paintings of Cork exhibition by the Port of Cork at the Crawford Gallery in 2005. The White Squadron in Cork Harbour and The ironclad battleship Alfred in Cork Harbour by George Mounsey Wheatley Atkinson are each estimated at £8,000-£12,000 (€9,600-€14,400); The steam yacht Victoria and Albert in Cork Harbour, 1849 and Two Naval Ships at anchor in Plymouth by George Mounsey Wheatley Atkinson are each estimated at £7,000-£10,000 (€8,400-€12,000) and Three masted barque and two sailing ships at Queenstown by Richard Peterson Atkinson is estimated at £5,000-£7,000 (€6,000-€8,400).
Colin Middleton – The Piano Player UPDATE: THIS WAS UNSOLD
The Bathing Hour, Lido, Venice by Sir John Lavery is estimated at €720,000-€960,000 and the auction will include two works by Gerard Dillon and art by Colin MIddleton, Paul Henry, Nanon Reid, Jack Coulter, Hughie O’Donoghue, Maser, Melissa O’Donnell, Gareth Reid (Sky Portrait artist of the Decade, 2023) Richard Hearns and Blaise Smith. There is sculpture by John Behan, F.E. McWilliam, Patrick O’Reilly, Rowan Gillespie and Orla de Bri.
Friday Fare by Nano Reid is from 1945 and was exhibited at the Venice Biennale in 1950. One of her best known works it is estimated at €24,000-€36,000. There will be a pre-sale exhibition at Sotheby’s on New Bond St. in London from November 9-14.
Nano Reid – Friday Fare, 1945 UPDATE: THIS SOLD FOR £57,600
A French 1970’s cocktail table. UPDATE: THIS MADE 2,800 AT HAMMER
With everything from Norwegian wood to French cocktails the art and design sale at de Veres is for collectors with an eye to design. There are Danish and Italian pieces from the 1960’s and ’70’s and contemporary labels by designers like Philippe Starck, Vittorio Nobili, Eileen Gray, Marcel Breuer, Gianfranco Frattini alongside art by Donald Teskey, Patrick Scott, Conor Harrington, Mark Francis, John Shinnors and many others.
A 1960’s sideboard from Norway. UPDATE: THIS MADE 3,000 AT HAMMER
The rosewood sideboard illustrated here is a Norwegian 1960’s piece by Fredrik Kayser with four cupboard doors, shelves and drawers. The estimate is €3,000-€5,000. A burl walnut coffee table bar by Paul Michel is French from the 1970’s. The sliding hinged top opens to reveal a fitted bar interior on a mirrored base. The estimate is €1,000-€2,000. The catalogue is online and the sale is on view at de Veres on Kildare St. and Buswell’s Hotel on today, tomorrow, Monday and Tuesday.
