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The Irish Hospitals Sweeps silver model made 4,400.

The silver presentation cup marking the defence of Trinity College, Dublin during the 1916 Rising was the top silver lot at the opening day of Mealy’s three day sale in Castlecomer this week.  Made by West and Son and hallmarked 1916 it sold for a hammer price of 6,600.  The rare cups were awarded  to people who defended Trinity at the locked gates and from the roof shortly after firing began on Monday, April 24, 1916. The college was defended throughout the week without any indication that the rebels planned to invade it.  The cup had been estimated at 2,000-3,000.

The second most expensive silver lot, at 4,400, was the silver model of a blindfolded woman over an Irish Hospital Sweepstake rotating drum. It had been estimated at 2,000-3,000.  The plaque on the base is inscribed:  “To Joe McGrath from one of the Drummers 1932.”  A George II two handled silver cup and cover by John Wilme, 1736 sold for 3,000, an 1896 Sheffield silver presentation tray sold for 2,800 and a canteen of Irish silver flatware by J. Smith, Dublin 1860 made 2,500.

In Francis St., centre of the Dublin antique trade, O’Reillys will offer a variety of mostly Art Deco, Edwardian, Georgian and Victorian jewellery with some  silver at auction at auction on October 22.  The catalogue is online. Here is a small selection:

A pink diamond and sapphire cluster pendant (12,000-14,000).

A diamond and tanzanite cluster ring (4,000-5,000).

An autumn online auction dedicated to the master French glass-maker René Lalique is up and running at Christie’s from now until October 30.  The sale comprises 73 lots and offers an array of vases – in clear and frosted, opalescent, bold colours and subtle hues – alongside iconic lighting, table wares, perfume bottles and jewellery. Starting bids range from just £700 up to £12,000 and highlights include a vivid amber Archers Vase (starting at £6,000) and an electric blue Poissons Vase (starting at £6,000).

ARCHERS VASE, NO. 893
designed 1921, Courtesy Christie’s Images Ltd., 2014.

POISSONS VASE, NO. 925
designed 1921, electric blue. Courtesy Christie’s Images Ltd., 2014

DANS LA NUIT, WORTH
designed 1924, clear and blue painted. Courtesy Christie’s Images Ltd., 2014

SUZANNE STATUETT E, NO. 833
designed 1925, opalescent, with illuminating patinated bronze base. Courtesy Christie’s Images Ltd., 2014.

Lots 191 to 199 at Mealy’s three day sale in Castlecomer on October 21, 22 and 23 comprise contemporary Irish Tribal Art by Patrick Coffey, gilder, woodcarver and artist. The Cork based artist uses native woods.  Having completed his apprenticeship in carving and gilding in London he worked predominantly for dealers in antiques and art around Bond St. and carved patterns for gold and silversmiths like Aspreys, Garrards and Mappin and Webb. He returned to Ireland in the 1990’s.  Estimates for the pieces at Mealy’s range from 150 to 2,500 and more pieces are available at Mealy’s private online art gallery.  Here are some examples:

The Wren Boy costume for Samhain (1,500-2,500).

St. Patrick (800-1,200).

A Cyclops mask used at Halloween to scare off evil spirits (150-250).

This Kesi Silk Woven Viridity Robe sold for 8,700.

A Qing Dynasty robe made more than ten times its lower estimate at the first day of the James Adam Country House collections auction at Slane Castle today.  The pale green ground 19th century Qing Dynasty kesi woven silk robe was estimated at 800-1,200 and sold at hammer for 8,700.

A large 19th century Chinese porcelain Monteith sold for 8,500 over a top estimate of 1,500, a pair of Victorian cast iron urns sold for 9,000 over an estimate of 3,000-4,000 and a pair of Coalbrookdale garden seats sold for 6,500..  Garden furniture attracted strong interest and many items went above estimate.    The first day of the sale brought in around 340,000 on the hammer.  The auction continues on October 13 with fine antique furniture, paintings, porcelain and some highly collectible lots.

A PAIR OF VICTORIAN BLACK PAINTED CAST IRON GARDEN URNS

A LARGE 19TH CENTURY CHINESE PORCELAIN MONTEITH OF OVAL BALUSTER FORM

The book of poems given by Dylan Thomas to Sam Hanna Bell.

An inscribed copy of 18 Poems presented by Dylan Thomas to the Northern Irish broadcaster and novelist, Sam Hanna Bell will be sold at Bonhams in London on November 12.  It comes up in a sale of Fine Books, Atlases, Manuscripts and Photographs and is estimated at £1,500-2,500. Born in Glasgow in 1909, Sam Hanna Bell moved to County Down at the age of seven following the death of his father.  By 1921 he was living in Belfast working as a manual labourer while trying to build a literary career.  In 1945 he was recruited to work for the BBC by the Irish poet Louis MacNeice who also recruited Bell’s fellow writer W.R. Rodgers. MacNeice was a close friend and drinking companion of Dylan Thomas and the four men were also connected by their association with the BBC Third Programme (now Radio Three).  18 Poems is inscribed “for Sam Hanna Bell from Dylan Thomas 1950”. Originally published in 1934, it was the poet’s first book and was reprinted in 1942.

Bell’s best known novel, December Bride was published in 1951 to great acclaim and is still highly regarded by readers and critics today. A film adaptation in 1990 won the novel new admirers. The main theme of Ulster rural life is echoed in Bell’s famous and innovative radio feature of 1949, An Ulster Journey, which used music, poetry and narration to paint a picture of the daily lives of ordinary people in the province.