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What is possibly the rarest Irish Provincial silver mug to come on the market in the last 50 years – by Charles Begheagle whose work represents some of the earliest examples of Cork silver known to have survived – turned up at auction in New York last Sunday.  The exceptionally rare c1693 Cork William III mug was bought by the Irish silver dealer William Crofton of L and W Duvallier, now based at the London Silver Vaults on Chancery Lane.
Mr. Crofton bought the piece for $6,500 dollars, but said he would have been prepared to go much higher. “The only other piece by this maker I have seen is the match to this mug in the National Museum of Ireland”, he said, adding that it would be very difficult to value the piece.
Charles Begheagle, a Huguenot, is believed to have been encouraged to settle in Cork by fellow Huguenot Robert Goble. He became Warden of the Goldsmiths Guild of Cork in 1693 and died in 1697.  Few of his works are known and his name is one that would be recognised by only a small number of specialists. As he favoured repousse chasing it has been suggested that he may have chased the Cork Mace for Robert Goble, now at the Victoria and Albert Museum.
The mug turned up in a lot of antique English hollow ware estimated at $400-600 at Clarke of Larchmont, New York, where it was sold on December 14. The makers mark CB was thought to have possibly been Charles Blair with what might have been the city mark for Edinburgh.

The mug by Charles Begheagle, repousse chased with children representing the Four Seasons.

The maker’s mark CB is clearly visible.

Tiffany – Wisteria Table Lamps. UPDATE: SOLD FOR $1,145,000 AND $2,205,000 RESPECTIVELY.

One of the most important private collections of Tiffany lamps to appear at auction in more than a decade will come up at Sotheby’s, New York on December 17. The group of seven lamps – comprising many of the firm’s most iconic and celebrated designs – was assembled over a period of 30 years by renowned Tiffany collector and dealer Sandra van den Broek, before being acquired by the present owner.  The highlight of the group is two successively numbered Wisteria lamps – an extraordinary, nearly-identical pair whose harmonious coloration suggest that they were cut from the same sheets of glass. They are estimated at US$700,000 – 1 million each.

Jodi Pollack, Head of Sotheby’s 20th Century Design Department in New York, commented: “Every new generation of collectors rediscovers the genius of Tiffany – a testament to the unparalleled innovation, creativity and craftsmanship of the firm’s work. In recent years, it has been thrilling to see global interest in Tiffany from young collectors, who are pairing great works of art by modern and contemporary masters with the firm’s spectacular designs.  The two are a natural fit.”

UPDATE:  The 41 lot sale totalled $6,585,875

Irish silver stole the show at Whyte’s art and collectibles for Christmas auction in Dublin on December 6.  The top lot was a George II Limerick silver cream jug by Joseph Johns. Estimated at 3,000-5,000 it sold for 8,400.  A George III Cork silver snuffer tray by George Hodder sold for  1,700 over a top estimate of 600 and a George II silver coffee pot by London maker Philip Garden made 1,500 over a top estimate of 800.

A George III Cork silver snuffer tray by George Hodder sold for 1,700.

A George II silver cream jug by Joseph Johns, Limerick sold for 8,400.

A George II London silver coffee pot by Philip Garden made 1,500.

A collection of scarce Irish and general medical books, duplicates from the library of the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland, will feature at Fonsie Mealy’s sale at Clyde Court Hotel in Dublin on December 9.  This annual specialist sale of Rare Books, Manuscripts, Literature and Maps will feature coloured plate books, modern first editions and general Irish literature titles. Medical matters covered include the spread of scarletina in Cork in the 17th and 18th century, matters relating to childbirth and cures for bites from mad dogs.  There are First World War recruitment posters, scarce first editions including a first English edition of Ulysses by Joyce, bindings illustrated by Aubrey Beardsley and Faust illustrated by Harry Clarke, and hundreds of lots of general and specialist interest.

Rules for the Governors, Officers and Servants at Mercers Hospital.  UPDATE: THIS MADE 1,550 AT HAMMER

A method of curing the madness caused by the bite of a mad dog.