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Rare and beautiful porcelain from France and Germany will feature in a sale in London on Novcmber 25.  John Shearer (1924-2010) began forming his collection in the late 1960’s, successfully placing Meissen porcelain alongside pieces of Vincennes and Sèvres. With an eye for exceptional quality, impeccable condition and important provenance, the Shearer Collection unites both the French and German porcelain worlds.  The 49 lot sale is expected to realise around £500,000 at Christie’s.

A SEVRES BLEU CELESTE-GROUND SOUP-PLATE FROM THE CATHERINE THE GREAT SERVICE
1778 (£70,000-100,000). Courtesy Christie’s Images Ltd., 2014.

A MEISSEN SLOP-BOWL
CIRCA 1723-24 (£15,000-20,000). Courtesy Christie’s Images Ltd., 2014

A VINCENNES BALUSTER POT AND A COVER (POT ‘A BOUILLON’ OR ‘MARMITE’)
CIRCA 1746-49, THE CONTEMPORARY COVER POSSIBLY MATCHED (£50,000-80,000). Courtesy Christie’s Images ltd., 2014

A MEISSEN CHINOISERIE SCENT-FLASK AND COVER
CIRCA 1730 (£40,000-60,000). Courtesy, Christies Images Ltd., 2014.

A late 19th century sapphire and diamond brooch leads Christie’s sale of Important Jewels in London on November 26. The sale includes an array of both antique and modern jewellery, signed pieces by the great houses such as Cartier, Chaumet, Dior, Graff, Mauboussin, Tiffany and Van Cleef & Arpels, together with some exceptional coloured stones and diamonds.  The exceptional brooch was once owned by the Hon Evelina Rothschild, and could well have been a wedding present when she married Clive Behrens on December 5, 1899. What makes this brooch so special is the sapphire of Kashmir origin at over 14 carats which bears no indications of heating and is rare in its finely proportioned cut and richly saturated colour. It is estimated at £400,000-500,000.

The sale of 444 lots is expected to achieve in excess of £9 million.

THE 14 CARAT KASHMIRE SAPPHIRE FROM THE BROOCH.

THE LATE 19TH CENTURY SAPPHIRE AND DIAMOND BROOCH (£400,000-500,000).

AN ART DECO NATURAL PEARL AND DIAMOND NECKLACE/CLIP BROOCH (£80,000-100,000).

Two Iron Age carved stone heads will feature at Whyte’s History and Literature auction in Dublin on November 8. Carved respectively from limestone and granite they are representative of the Celts.  Stone carved heads like these are found throughout Europe in areas inhabited by the Celts and are particularly associated with Ireland and Britain.  Each of these heads dates to 500 BC – 500 AD.

A Celtic twisted gold torc, discovered almost a century ago on the banks of the Danube, by a family who subsequently moved to Ireland, will also feature. It dates to between 1200 and 500 BC.  It is being sold by a descendant of the person who discovered it and is estimated at 8,000-10,000.

Celtic Irish stone head, limestone (6,000-8,000). UPDATE: THIS MADE 6,000

Celtic Irish stone head, granite (5,000-7,000).  UPDATE: THIS WAS UNSOLD

Celtic Torc (8,000-10,000).  UPDATE: THIS MADE 8,000

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).