A c1750 Irish silver coffee pot UPDATE: THIS MADE 3,000 AT HAMMER
Irish silver, furniture by renowned Dublin maker Robert Strahan and a white gold diamond flower head cluster ring are among the offerings at Hegarty’s online auction in Bandon on August 5.
The faded and now indecipherable maker’s mark on an ornate c1745 Dublin made Irish silver cream jug with a shaped rim and C scroll handle offers a timely lesson. It is important to preserve hallmarks by keeping a thumb upon them when polishing and shining the silver. The cream jug is estimated at €600-€800.
An elegant George II silver coffee pot made by William Townsend in Dublin c1750 is estimated at €3,500-€4,500. The baluster form pot has an ebonised handle, a domed hinged cover with finial, an acanthus leaf mounted on the spout and a circular spreading foot.
An 18 carat white gold diamond flower head cluster ring features a central round cut diamond surrounded by eight diamonds in a raised setting. The total diamond weight amounts to 1.8 carats and the estimate is €2,500-€3,500.
Lot 128 is a two door side table by Robert Strahan. Just 20 inches deep it would fit in most modern homes. There is a raised gallery back and a carved border, with fleur de lys carving on the two doors. The estimate is a mere €400-€800. The catalogue for the auction is online.
A diamond flower head cluster ring UPDATE: THIS WAS UNSOLD
Johnny Marr’s Rickenbacker 330 Jetglo 1982. Courtesy Christie’s Images Ltd.
Johnny Marr, regarded as the guitar genius of a generation, co-founded the groundbreaking 1980’s band The Smiths at the age of 18 in 1982. Since then the Manchester born Irish musician originally named Maher has been a member of The Pretenders, The The, Electronic, The Healers, Modest House and The Cribs. He has collaborated with a roll call of greats across indie, rock, pop and film including The Pet Shop Boys, Talking Heads, Bryan Ferry, Beck, Hans Zimmer, Oasis, Pearl Jam, Noel Gallagher, Billie Eilish, Blondie, Gorillaz and Franz Ferdinand.
Around 80 guitars along with amps and equipment integral to his extraordinarily wide ranging career will come under the hammer at Marr’s Guitars: The Johnny Marr Collection at Christie’s in London on September 17. A 1960 Cherry Red Gibson ES-355 will lead the sale (£100,000-£150,000) (€117,000-€175,600). His 1982 Rickenbacker 330 Jetglo, for many the guitar most strongly associated with his melodic Smiths era sound, is estimated at £60,000-£80,000 (€70,250-€93,660). Estimates in this auction of 95 lots range from £1,000 tp £150,000 (€1,170-€175,600). Johnny Marr will donate 100% of the sale of ten lots to benefit the Guide Dogs for the Blind Association and The National Autistic Society. In June Marr released “Spin” as the lead single for his album The Age of Everything due to be released in October.
Johnny Marr’s 1960 Cherry Red Gibson ES-355. Courtesy Christie’s Images Ltd.
One of over 200 fireplaces in Aidan Foley’s online sale.
The entire contents of Noble Fireplaces, Pouladuff, Cork will be offered by Aidan Foley as one lot in an online auction next Monday evening (July 27). James O’Driscoll is retiring after many years in business. There are more than 200 marble, slate and cast iron fireplaces including 18th century examples and around 20 pallets of furniture from the old Jury’s Hotel in Ballsbridge. Contents include longcase clocks, furniture, mirrors, lighting and architectural items. Viewing is by appointment and offers in the region of €45,000 are sought.
UPDATE: THIS AUCTION HAS BEEN POSTPONED AND IS NOW DUE TO TAKE PLACE ON AUGUST 10.
World Cup Earthball inscribed by Chris Martin with names of performers at halftime show UPDATE: THIS SOLD FOR $6,050
Fans across the globe can bid on authentic game-used balls, jerseys signed by national teams, and outfits worn by performers in the first-ever FIFA World Cup 2026 Final halftime show at a charity auction online. Christie’s and Global Citizen have an online sale at Christie’s from until July 29. Proceeds will support the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund, an initiative to raise $100 million to expand access to quality education and sports for children in underserved communities, supporting grassroots organisations worldwide. Lots on offer include a ball used during the final on July 19, jerseys signed by Lionel Messi, Carlos Henrique, David Beckham, Santiago Jiminez, the US team and more. There is clothing used by Shakira, Chris Martin, BTS, Madonna and Justin Bieber during the half time show along with lots of World Cup 2026 memorabilia.
GEORGE III SEMI ELLIPTICAL SIDE TABLE UPDATE: THIS MADE 1,200 AT HAMMER
This Georgian side table is lot 38 at Adam’s timed online warehouse auction which runs until July 23. The shaped top is inlaid with a radial sunburst. The compartmented frieze has with burr walnut ovals and is cross banded in satinwood. Standing on squared tapering legs with block feet the table is estimated at just €400-€600. There are 307 lots in the sale, most will be sold without reserve in an estimate range of €80-€500.
Widely regarded as one of the greatest players of all time Zinedine Zidane – who won his World Cup Medal for France in 1998 and Player of the Tournament in the 2006 World Cup – will sell his first personal watch for charity at Christie’s in Geneva on November 9. The Cartier Pasha was the first watch he bought for himself at the beginning of his professional career in Bordeaux nearly 35 years ago and he has worn it ever since. It will be sold in aid of the European Leukodystrophies Association (ELA) as part of a charitable sale of watches. ELA is a non profit organisation which funds medical research, raises public awareness and provides support to families dealing with diseases that destroy the central nervous system.
‘Irish tales collected from the Best authors now extant’, compiled by Matthew Moore Graham in 1835 made a hammer price of €20,000
A manuscript book of Irish tales compiled in 1835 by Matthew Moore Graham made a hammer price of €20,000 at the book sale by Purcell Auctioneers in Birr today. The estimate was €4,000-€6,000. Graham, who was an engineer, is best remembered as a translator of Irish poetry. A Cumann na mBan autograph book from 1922 made €2,500 at hammer over an estimate of €400-800. Antiquarian books, signed limited editions, vintage postcards and Irish botanical publications featured among more than 560 lots.
Discovered in 2021 on a remote ranch in South Dakota Gus became the most expensive T Rex ever sold at Sotheby’s in New York today. It is 67 million years old and made $50.1 million. The bones were excavated over three summers.
(See post on antiquesandartireland.com for July 11, 2026)
A pair of large Italian Tuscany villa gates at Victor Mee. UPDATE: THESE MADE 4,000 AT HAMMER
A fine pair of large forged iron gates from a villa in Tuscany might set the scene nicely now that climate change is upon us. This decorated and atmospheric pair, complete with two side pedestrian entrance gates and scroll design side pillars, is at Victor Mee’s online summer garden sale on July 15 with an estimate of €6,000-€8,000.
An original red telephone box, an 18th century industrial cast iron cider press, 21 square metres of Bert and May reclaimed floor tiles in a geometric Art Deco pattern of predominantly greys and an early 19th century metal three legged pot are among the collectibles at this sale of 733 lots. A large bronze buddha, sandstone troughs, fountains, granite seats, bronze fighting hares, sculpture, stone walls, seated stone lions, urns, gazebos, planters, spheres and staddle stones will come under the hammer.
Reclaimed geometric floor tiles at Victor Mee. UPDATE: THESE WERE UNSOLD
The market for collectibles is strong in Ireland and internationally. The late billionaire Jim Irsay, owner of the Indianapolis Colts, collected all sorts of objects with wealthy discrimination. His collection made more than $100 million over five sales at Christie’s this year, the largest sale total in history for memorabilia. At the last of those sales last week the foundation document for Alcoholics Anonymous made $2.39 million (€2.09 million) with proceeds going to charitable causes. He had amazing stuff, like a signed letter from George Washington to Thomas Jefferson ($2.7 million – €2.36 million) and a pair of used dress circle theatre tickets for the night of Abraham Lincoln’s assassination ($330,000 – €262.17).
In Ireland the market for collectible memorabilia has grown and grown. Everything from old road signs to enamel cigarette advertising panels to petrol pumps and vintage toys are features at auction up and down the country. Uniqueness and rarity add value, but many items can be picked up for a song.
A Shell fibreglass petrol pump globe at Aidan Foley’s sale. UPDATE: THIS MADE 240 AT HAMMER
Pints to Pistons is the title of Aidan Foley’s online evening sales in Doneraile on July 13 and 14. There is a strong focus on pub and motor trade memorabilia with a big selection of enamel signs, oil stands, original petrol pump globes, advertising signs, mirrors and prints. All are highly reflective of an Ireland that was up to quite recently and now is no more.
Without any doubt there will be much interest in lots like an original enamel Paddy Whiskey advertising sign in a wooden frame, a Shell fibreglass petrol pump globe, a Michelin Man ashtray, a Player’s Please jug, a Duckham’s metal forecourt oil display stand and an Esso Extra two litre can. Once ubiquitous items like these have all but disappeared from life in Ireland.
With signs for everything from Agfa Photos and Robin Starch to Capstan cigarettes, St. Bruno Flake and Churchman’s Noted Counter Shag there is plenty here to reminisce about and encourage a trip down memory lane. Catalogues for all sales are online.
An enamel double sided tobacco sign at Aidan Foley’s sale. UPDATE: THIS MADE 190 AT HAMMER AND WENT TO A BUYER IN AUSTRALIA
One of the largest and most complete T Rex specimens ever discovered is set to become the most valuable dinosaur ever at auction at Sotheby’s in New York on July 14. Gus, a 67 million year old Tyrannosaurus Rex, is estimated at $20 million – $30 million (€17.48 million – €26.22 million). Excavated over field seasons in 2021, 2022, and 2023 the fossil was discovered by Thomas Heitkamp and his team on land owned by the late Gary “Gus” Licking, a cattle rancher in Harding County, South Dakota. After years of finding teeth and bone fragments on his land Licking brought in the professionals, who named discovery after him. Gus has a body length of around 38 feet and a height of twelve and a half feet. Photo credit Matthew Sherman.
