antiquesandartireland.com

This panoramic view of Beijing dates from October 1860. UPDATE: THE ALBUM MADE £218,500

THIS 1860 panoramic view of Beijing comes up at Sotheby’s in London on May 14.  The sale of Travel, Atlases, Maps and Natural History  will include some of the earliest photographs of China including views of Dagu (Taku) and Beijing (Peking).  The images were taken by Felice Beato during gut Second Opium War.  These photographs reveal a forgotten China and illustrates landscapes and cityscapes now changed almost beyond recognition.

The panorama of Beijing is the most remarkable of the 18 photographs in this collection. It was taken from the wall of the city on October 24, 1860, revealing the interior and the Forbidden City beyond.  The album includes images of the Imperial Winter Palace and the Imperial Summer Palace.  The photos are estimated at £100,000-200,000.  UPDATE: THE ALBUM MADE £218,500.

The Romany Reading caravan at Mealy’s. UPDATE: THIS MADE 22,000 AND WILL STAY IN IRELAND.

An early gypsy caravan by Dunton and Sons of Reading – possibly the earliest surviving Dunton wagon – is the main lot at Mealy’s pre-summer fine and decorative art sale in Castlecomer, Co. Kilkenny on April 29.  John Barker, author of “Romany Relics the wagon album” dates it to around 1895 as there is no skylight and there are turned pillars in the bed space.  The fireplace is a later addition and the wheels are not original.  The caravan is 13 feet long and 6’8″ wide. It is painted in red and yellow and decorated with stylised flowers.  There is a hay rack and storage cupboard to the rear and three up and down sash windows.  The front and rear porch brackets  have open scrolls and vines and are flanked to each side with lion head gargoyles and two brass and painted metal coach lamps.  The Romany Reading Vardo or gypsy caravan is estimated at 20,000-30,000.

The sale of 650 lots includes period furniture, paintings, Oriental art, ceramics and a Dublin collection of more than 50 pieces of early Irish glass. The catalogue is on-line. Here is a small selection (click on any image to enlarge it):

a 19th century carved oak Gothic throne chair (2,000-3,000). UPDATE: THIS MADE 2,800

A c1800 Irish cut glass urn and cover (350-550). UPDATE: THIS MADE 550

A collection of Royal Doulton toby jugs (200-300). THESE MADE 180.

THE sale of 800 years of Irish Political, Literary and Military history at James Adam in Dublin on April 30 contains much of interest to a wide variety of collectors.  There are 699 lots and the catalogue is on-line. Here is a small selection.

Portrait of Lily Langtry by George Frank Miles (1852-1891) (2,000-4,000). UPDATE: THIS MADE 3,800.

An Irish William IV tea set, Dublin 1834 presented to Patrick J. Smyth under the terms of the will of William Smyth O’Bryan. (6,000-10,000).  UPDATE: THIS WAS UNSOLD

A daguerrotype photo of the Irish author Maria Edgeworth c1841 by Richard Beard of Beards Photographic Institution, 31 King Street and The Royal Polytechnic Institution, London (2,000-3,000) THIS LOT WAS WITHDRAWN

Sinn Fein Rebellion Handbook, Easter 1916 2nd edition (100-150) UPDATE: THIS MADE 200

An album of 18 historic photographs from the 1913-1922 period including a baton charge in O’Connell St. during the Dublin lock out of 1913. (1,000-2,000). UPDATE: THIS ALBUM MADE  3,200

A George III Irish freedom box, Dublin 1816 (15,000-20,000). UPDATE: THIS WAS UNSOLD.

James Joyce reading Anna Livia Plurabelle manufactured by The Gramophone Co. Ltd., Hayes for The Ornithological Institute, Cambridge, [1929]. (200-300). UPDATE: THIS MADE 110

A CELTIC SOLID GOLD BRACELET IRON AGE, CIRCA 1000 B.C. courtesy Christie’s Images Ltd., 2013. (Click on image to enlarge). UPDATE: IT MADE £517,875.

This exquisite solid gold Celtic bracelet originally discovered in Portugal comes up at Christie’s sale of antiquities in South Kensington on May 2.  Measuring three and a quarter inches in diameter the heavy gold bracelet made about 3,000 years ago is believed to be on the only one of its type still in private hands. It weighs 599.5 grams and is on the market for the first time.  The estimate is £40,000-60,000.

The intricate geometic pattern demonstrates the technological advances of the Iron Age.  The new use of iron around 1,000 B.C. brought two huge benefits to goldsmiths, furnaces capable of melting large masses of gold and tools made from iron that allowed more ambitious and bold designs.  A number of museum quality pieces of Celtic craft were discovered in Portugal during the mid 20th century.

Laetitia Delaloye of  Christie’s said; “The gold bracelet from the Iron Age is a special piece and it is extremely rare for us to see such a detailed example of early Iron Age craftsmanship on the market.” The auction features work that embrace the cultures of Egypt, Greece, Rome and the Near East.

UPDATE: IT made £517,875 in an auction which brought in £4,241,775 and was sold 94% by value and 88% by lot.

There will be a wide variety of jewellery on offer at the next auction at O’Reilly’s, Francis St., Dublin on April 24. The catalogue is on-line. Here is a small selection.

An 18ct gold bracelet, signed Greene (1,200 – 1,600)

A lady’s 18ct white gold, diamond-set watch by Patek Phillipe – it comes from the estate of Costelloe Lodge in Connemara – and is brand new, complete with tags, sleeve and boxes, (3,000 – 5,000).

An antique diamond and emerald cluster ring mounted in platinum (1,000-1,400).