A question is posed by an online Sotheby’s sale running until August 12. Do you want merely to set the table for dinner or is a creative tablescape more to your taste? If the answer is the latter then “Dining IN” – running as two concurrent auctions in London and New York – is the sale to set your post lockdown celebrations underway. With content ranging from the 19th to the 21st centuries this auction celebrates the dining experience in all its formats. There is a focus on modern silver and ceramics, including Tiffany and Georg Jensen, Meissen and Versace porcelain. From Regency splendour to Victorian whimsy the creative teams involved have brought together a selection of silver, porcelain, glass, furniture and table linen to cater for a variety of tastes. Highlights include a George III silver soup tureen and a Martin Brothers grotesque stoneware spoon warmer from 1881 but there is enough of a selection here to let the imagination run riot.
A pair of silver sculptural candelabra by Patrick Mavros, Zimbabwe 1999 UPDATE: THESE SOLD FOR £10,080
Pair of Georgian flintlock duelling pistols. UPDATE: THESE SOLD FOR €2,800 AT HAMMER
With everything from a Georgian cavalry sabre, a pair of duelling pistols and some very rare Irish whiskey to art ranging from work by Charles Harper to Evie Hone to Grace Henry the summer auction at Dolan’s caters for a wide range of interests. This annual sale, which has been held at Ballyconneely in Connemara for more than a decade now, is taking place online this year. The catalogue is open for viewing and bidding continues until the evening of August 16.Given that Irish auction goers have adapted particularly well to online models this should not be any impediment. Sales can be viewed in comfort and convenience on the computer and Dolan’s will be on hand to help with any queries.On offer is an appetising selection of 20th century and contemporary Irish art as well as antique furniture, silver, rugs, books and collectibles. Specialist collectors will be particularly interested in a group of 17 rare Irish whiskeys and a unique and unspoiled collection of 14 flintlock guns and swords untouched for a century in an Irish country house.The Georgian sabre mentioned above, complete with wire bound grip, Lion’s head pommel and leather and brass mounted scabbard is estimated at €400-€600. A pair of Georgian flintlock duelling pistols by James Richardson, Manchester is estimated at €1,000-€2,000. Included among the antique furniture selection is an early 19th century inlaid longcase clock by Richard Midgley (€2,500-€3,500).
Cherry Blossom by Grace Henry. UPDATE: THIS MADE €5,500 at hammer
Forgotten Landscape by Charles Harper was exhibited in his 2018 retrospective at the RHA and is illustrated in the book published in conjunction with the show. It is estimated at €3,000-€5,000. In a rather different vein is a study in gouache by Evie Hone (1894-1955) Horseman and Hound (€4,500-€5,500) and Cherry Blossom by Grace Henry (1868-1953) with an estimate of €6,000-€8,000. There is a strong self portrait in charcoal by Sean Keating (€7,500-€8,500) and early morning swimmers by Laura Cronin is estimated at €5,000-€7,000). The auction offers no less than seven paintings by the ever popular Mark O’Neill. There is no shortage of art at lower estimates than this including Baby Teddy by Susan Cronin (€750-€950), Currach Men by Douglas Hutton (€800-€1,200) and The Ice Cream Kiosk by John Morris (€800-€1,200).
This Regency rosewood sofa table comes up at Sheppards two day sale of from Woodfield House, Broadford, Co. Clare and other clients on August 17 and 18. There will be viewing at the house from August 14-16. The sale will be online from Castlecomer, Co. Kilkenny. More than 900 lots will come under the hammer in an auction which Sheppards has broken up into four separate sessions for the convenience of bidders. The sofa table is lot 24 and estimated at 1,500-2,500. The catalogue for the sale is online.
From oak barrels with metal banding to sundials, cast iron seats to marble turtles the summer sale online by Victor Mee in Co. Cavan on August 4 offers a selection of no less than 565 lots to enhance and add interest to any garden, large or small. There is sandstone wall capping, a moulded stone fountain and even a pair of rattan rocking chairs on a metal base. Garden auctions have become more numerous and popular, especially over the last 18 months when so many of us have been unwittingly stuck at home. So if you think a cast iron eagle or a moulded stone pair of lions is just what you need then this sale is for you. There are tables, chairs, limestone troughs, planters, pine posts, terracotta planters, Lutyens style benches, a life size model of a raptor in resin, staddle stones and a 19th century cast iron arch in the form of branches. The catalogue is online.
19th century cast iron arch in the form of a branch. UPDATE: THIS MADE 3,400 AT HAMMER
This George III Irish provincial silver-gilt freedom box by Carden Terry & Jane Williams, Cork, 1798 made £7,650 at Bonhams in London on July 28. The Peter Ticher collection of Irish Silver was one of the stars of Bonhams Silver and Objects of Vertu sale in Knightsbridge. The 58 lot collection made a total of £87,678 with only four pieces failing to find a buyer. More pieces from the collection are due to come up at Bonhams next October 19.
A set of four mid-18th century Irish cast silver candlesticks by Michael Fowler, Dublin c1755 made £8,925: a George III Irish silver dish ring by Richard Williams, Dublin 1771 made £3,570; a rare Irish silver scissor wax jack by Thomas Walker, Dublin, c1735 made £5,355and a George II Irish provincial silver bullet teapot by William Clarke of Cork, Dublin 1728 made £5,100.
(See post on antiquesandartireland.com for July 14, 2021)
These William IV limestone gate piers and cast and wrought iron entrance gates are standout lots at Victor Mee’s one day summer garden sale online on August 4. The gate piers are estimated at €1,500-2,000 and so are the gates. This sale of almost 600 lots and will include an array of garden furniture, planters and statuary. A life size bronze model of a giraffe is estimated at €3,000-5,000, there is a copper and brass armillary sundial, a Lutyens bench and a life size moulded statue of a Greek discus thrower included in the sale. UPDATE: THE GATE PIERS MADE 2,800 AT HAMMER, THE GATES MADE 1,600.
THIS summer of auctions is continuing at a brisk pace. A variety of interesting and one off lots will come under the hammer in Ireland over the next few days. More than 600 lots will come under the hammer at Fonsie Mealy’s sale of contents from Osberstown House, Naas on July 27. Osberstown is an elegant country home with all the trappings that make such places special. Hunting through the catalogue you will find everything from a four poster bed and garden statues to antique furniture and rugs, a console mirror and even an Irish silver replica of the Phoenix monument at Phoenix Park. There are comfortable button back leather library armchairs, painting and limited edition prints by Pauline Bewick, a Victorian breakfront wardrobe, a walnut dining suite, an Arts and Crafts five drawer chest, a selection of artworks, a cylinder bureau, a cheval mirror and much more to choose from.Viewing by appointment will be available on Monday. The catalogue is online and the sale will be online only from Castlecomer.
UPDATE: The Osberstown House sale realised over €370,000 on the hammer. The top lot was a massive pair of recumbent Great Danes by Triton 2001 in a limited edition 21/100 which made €5,800 at hammer.
This four poster bed is lot 61 at Fonsie Mealy’s sale. UPDATE: THIS BED WAS WITHDRAWN FROM THE AUCTION
If you picture yourself as a Viking warrior slashing and burning your way through oodles of Covid restrictions and combatting bureaucratic enemies more fearsome and confusing than any ancient dragons then Sean Eacretts auction in Ballybrittas, Co. Laois on July 26 is for you. He is selling MGM props from Vikings and Game of Thrones online on Monday. International interest is guaranteed but estimates are reasonable. A pair of tall metal candleabra from Game of Thrones is estimated at €400-€800 and King Ivor’s throne from Vikings season four is estimated at €300-500. Or you might prefer King Alfred’s throne from season five. There are special tables and boat chairs along with a selection of axes, cabinets and chests in highly decorative hardwood from the Great Hall of Kattegat as filmed in Ashford, Co. Wicklow. The sale features fine art, antiques and collectibles as part one and MGM props as part two.
Meantime Aidan Foley’s summer sale of antiques and interiors online from Kilcolgan, Co. Galway takes place today and tomorrow. There is art by George Gillespie, Maurice Wilks, Graham Knuttel, Arthur Maderson, John Skelton, Colin Middleton and others. The auction offers Persian rugs, antique furniture, silver, Waterford Crystal, a pair of 19th century military epaulettes, old banknotes and garden furniture.The pub section, which is always popular, includes a Bendigo Tobacco mirror from a pub clearance in Ballyhaunis as well s prints, collectibles and glassware. The online sale is on view today in Kilcolgan and the online auction is at 11 am tomorrow and on Monday.
Bill Bowerman’s handmade prototype logo track spikes with waffle sole from the heart of Nike will be a highlight of Sotheby’s Olympic Collection, running online in New York until August 2. When it came to shoe ingenuity and design Nike co-founder Bowerman – obsessed with weight and performance – was one of the greatest innovators of his generation. He made this pair for Canadian track and field sprinter and Olympian Harry Jerome, who set seven world records in his career. Produced in the 1960’s and modified in the 1970’s these shoes are an important milestone in the origin of Nike and feature four prototype logos which resemble the Nike swoosh. The waffle soles under each set of track spikes was the first notable innovation introduced by Nike when they premiered the moon shoe at the 1972 Olympic trials. Not just any old pair they are estimated at $800,000-$1.2 million. The online sale is an assemblage of over 50 lots of memorabilia, sneakers and collectibles related to Olympic athletes.
These handmade Bowerman Nike shoes are estimated at $800,000-$1.2 million. UPDATE: THESE SOLD FOR $315,500
There will be 627 lots at Fonsie Mealy’s sale of contents from Osberstown House, Naas online from Castlecomer on July 27. There is a fine selection of antique furniture, art, lamps, mirrors, garden furniture and a variety of collectibles.
Patricia Jorgensen – Arum Lilies ’94 watercolour (150-250). UPDATE: THIS MADE 520 AT HAMMER
Film props from Vikings and Game of Thrones will go under the hammer in Ireland next week. The online sale by Ballybrittas, Co. Laois based auctioneer Sean Eacrett takes place on July 26. A pair of metal candelabra from Game of Thrones is estimated at 400-600 and there will be wooden thrones up to two metres tall from Vikings which ran for six series and was filmed in Ashford, Co. Wicklow.
King Alfreds thrown from Vikings, season 5 (300-500). UPDATE: THIS SOLD FOR 370 AT HAMMER
