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ALL-IRELAND HURLING CHAMPIONSHIP MEDAL THE TOP LOT AT FONSIE MEALY

Tuesday, July 1st, 2014

“The Son of Cuchulainn – Nicky Rackard”
Medal: G.A.A. Hurling 1955, an attractive 9ct gold Celtic cross pierced Medal, the obverse with Celtic scroll design and inscribed “Cumann luith cleas Gaedheal,” and “Eire” across the middle and a central harp overlay, the reverse inscribed “Craobh Iomana na hEireann 1955 – Loc gCarman – Nicky Rackard,” hall marked J.M. (John Millar).

A catalogue of wild flowers collected by Lady Adare sold for 4,000 at hammer.

THE 1955 All-Ireland Hurling Championship Medal awarded to Wexford’s Nickey Rackard was the top lot at the Fonsie Mealy rare book and collectibles sale in Dublin today. It made 17,500 at hammer over an estimate of 5,000-7,000 in an auction which realised 250,000 at hammer and where 85 per cent of lots were sold.

The nine carat gold medal is in the design of a Celtic Cross. It is engraved with the name Nickey Rackard, widely regarded as one of the greatest hurlers in the history of the game. Wexford beat Galway 3-13 to 2-8 in the final.

A large collection of plant samples each pinned within a paper folder collected by Lady Adare and commenced in 1850 sold for 4,000 at hammer. It had been estimated at 800-1,200.

(See posts on antiquesandartireland.com for June 28 and June 21, 2014).

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RACHEL MELLON COLLECTION TO RAISE OVER $100 MILLION AT SOTHEBY’S

Tuesday, July 1st, 2014

Rachel “Bunny” Mellon and her husband Paul Mellon who died in 1999.

The collection of Rachel Lambert Mellon, one of the most important single owner collections ever to come to market, will come up at Sotheby’s across a series of sales throughout the autumn. Spanning everything from fine art to jewellery and decoration the 2,000 or so items to be sold are expected to realise over $100 million. The collection is drawn from the Mellon’s residences in the US and abroad. Proceeds will benefit the Gerard B. Lambert Foundation, a charity supporting horticultural and educational endeavours established by Mrs. Mellon in memory of her father.

Mrs. Mellon, who died this year aged 103, was born in 1910 in Princeton. Her father made his fortune marketing Listerine, a product invented by his father. In 1948 she married Paul Mellon, the only son of financier Andrew Mellon, uniting two of America’s most affluent families. Her passions were fashion, horses, art, interior design and gardens. She redesigned the White House Rose Garden at the request of her close friend Jacqueline Kennedy in 1961. The Mellons built an extraordinary art collection, generously supporting the National Gallery of Art in Washington D.C. and establishing the Yale Centre for British Art.

UPDATE: In New York on November 10 Sotheby’s sale of masterworks from the collection totals $158.7 million. Two paintings by Mark Rothko together achieved $75.5 million.

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A 15th CENTURY BOOK OF HOURS AT FONSIE MEALY’S AUCTION

Saturday, June 28th, 2014

A 15th century illuminated manuscript at Fonsie Mealy’s sale. UPDATE: THIS SOLD FOR 6,200 AT HAMMER

A 15th century book of hours is a highlight at the Fonsie Mealy rare book and collectors sale in Dublin on July 1. The c1440 illuminated manuscript from Flanders or the Southern Netherlands contains 153 leaves. It is estimated at 4,000-6,000. It bears the signature of one former owner, William Lattan of Wadham College, Oxford who was born c1653.

There is a first edition of Dubliners by James Joyce (2,500-3,500) and a first American edition of Finnegan’s Wake (500-850). A first edition of Wilde’s The Ballad of Reading Gaol is estimated at 250-350. First editions include a signed copy of Down All the Days by Christy Brown, the first Irish language edition of Bram Stoker’s Dracula dating from 1933 and Virginia Woolf’s last book The Years published in 1937. There are works by Yeats, Lady Gregory, Seamus Heaney and even a first edition of Joseph Heller’s Catch 22.

The catalogue is online.

(See post on antiquesandartireland.com for June 21, 2014).

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GOTHIC CHANDELIER AT SOTHEBY’S LIKE THE ONE IN THE ARNOLFINI PORTRAIT

Friday, June 27th, 2014

The Gothic chandelier at Sotheby’s. UPDATE: IT SOLD FOR £314,500

Jan van Eyck, Portrait of Giovanni (?) Arnolfini and his Wife, 1434, © The National Gallery, London

A magnificent gothic chandelier similar to the one in van Eyck’s celebrated painting The Arnolfini Portrait at the National Gallery, London leads Sotheby’s sale of Old Master Sculpture and works of art in London on July 10. It dates to the closing decades of the 15th century. The rare chandelier is estimated at £200,000-300,000. It was probably made in either Dinant, in the Southern Netherlands, or Nuremberg, in Southern Germany, two of the leading centres for metalwork production in Europe at the time. Few 15^th-century examples of this scale survive. When they do they are to be found only in leading museums and private collections including the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York and the Victoria & Albert Museum, London.

UPDATE: IT SOLD FOR £314,500

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BOB DYLAN’S LIKE A ROLLING STONE MAKES AUCTION HISTORY

Tuesday, June 24th, 2014

Dylan, Bob Original working autograph manuscript with corrections, revisions and additions, comprising the essential final draft lyrics for “Like a Rolling Stone.” [June 1965]. 4 long stanzas including lyrical rewordings of the chorus, on 4 pages of Dylan’s holograph with doodles and marginal notes, written in pencil on The Hotel Roger Smith letterhead stationery. From the album Highway 61 Revisited. The only known surviving draft of the final lyrics for this transformative rock anthem, with alternate rhyme schemes for the iconic “How does it feel…” chorus. ($1/2 million)

Dylan, Bob
Final draft lyrics for “Like a Rolling Stone.” [June 1965].

Bob Dylan made auction history at Sotheby’s in New York today when his original handwritten lyrics for Like a Rolling Stone sold for $2,045,000. The 1965 epic topped Rolling Stone Magazine’s list of 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. The original working autograph manuscript was the top lot at Sotheby’s inaugural rock and roll history sale in New York. It came complete with corrections, revisions and additions, written in pencil on Hotel Roger Smith stationary. There are alternate rhyme schemes for the iconic “how does it feel” chorus from the album Highway 61 revisited. Since ushering in a new musical era in the 1960’s Like a Rolling Stone has remained enduringly popular. The song transformed Dylan from a folk singer into a rock icon. The near complete four page working draft was estimated at $1-2 million. The sale totalled over $4 million.

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JIMI HENDRIX PORTRAIT BY JOHN MINIHANE AT O’DRISCOLL ONLINE SALE

Monday, June 23rd, 2014

Jimmy Hendrix photographed in London in 1967 by John Minihane.

Jimi Hendrix photographed in London in 1967 by John Minihane. (400-600). UPDATE: THIS SOLD FOR 380

An artists proof photograph of JimiHendrix by John Minihane is at the Morgan O’Driscoll online auction of Irish art which runs until June 30. The photo, which was taken in London in February 1967, is estimated at 400-600. There is a wide selection of work by Irish artists among 290 works on offer. The catalogue is online. Here is a small selection:

Donegal Cottages by Dan O'Neill 91920-1974) (600-900).

Donegal Cottages by Dan O’Neill (1920-1974) (600-900). UPDATE: THIS SOLD FOR 1,600

Majella O’Neill Collins – Seas 2007 (500-750). UPDATE: THIS SOLD FOR 300

Brian Ballard – Tulips and Iron (800-1,200). UPDATE: THIS MADE 600

George Gillespie – Cottages by the Shore (800-1,200). UDPATE: THIS SOLD FOR 700

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A FAMOUS VICTORY OVER ALL BLACKS RECALLED AT IRISH SALE

Saturday, June 21st, 2014

Sporting memorabilia across a variety of disciplines will feature at the Fonsie Mealy rare books and collectors sale at the Clyde Court Hotel in Dublin on July 1. The memory of a victory against the All-Blacks is always to be cherished and an official team jersey signed by the conquering Munster team who defeated the All-Blacks at Thomond Park in 1978 is among the treasures on offer. This is just one of a number of highly collectible sports related items – ranging from a miniature photographic portrait signed by Pele (80-100) to a hurley signed by the Cork centenary champions of 1984 (150-200) – on offer.

The red jersey, emblazoned with the name of sponsor Toyota, was signed by the team at a later date and is estimated at a relatively modest 450-650. An official FAI team soccer jersey from 2002 signed by Roy Keane, Shay Given, Robbie Keane and others is estimated at 150-200, a Formula One Ferrari baseball cap signed by Michael Schumacher is estimated at 70-90 and a selection of four golf hats signed by Tiger Woods, Padraig Harrington, Darren Clarke, Lee James, Mark O’Meara, David Duval and Billy Casper together with a Ryder Cup 2006 K-Club Pole Flag signed by Paul Casey will be offered as one lot estimated at 120-150.

Whether you are a bibliophile, a banknote collector, a literature buff, an historian or a collector whose taste runs to Irish ecclesiastical architecture there is something for you in this auction of 737 lots.

The signed Munster team jersey from 1978 UPDATE: THIS SOLD FOR 1,000 AT HAMMER

A hurley signed by the Cork Centenary Champions of 1984 UPDATE: THIS SOLD FOR 320 AT HAMMER

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ART, ANTIQUE FURNITURE, SILVER, JEWELLERY AT JAMES ADAM

Friday, June 20th, 2014

Artwork, antique furniture, jewellery, silver and a 6th century BC Greek terracotta model of a horse and rider all feature at the James Adam Sunday Interiors sale in Dublin on June 22. The catalogue is online. Here is a small selection. (See post on antiquesandartireland.com for June 15, 2014),

A GREEK BOEOTIAN SIXTH CENTURY B.C. TERRACOTTA MODEL OF A HORSE AND RIDER, decorated with dark brown painted stripes and spots. 10cm high Provenance: -Collection of Sir Clifford Norton (British Ambassador to Greece, stationed in Athens from 1946-1951) (600-1,000) UPDATE: THIS MADE 900 AT HAMMER

AUGUST VON SIEGEN (GERMAN 1850-1910) Venetian Canal Scene Oil (3,000-5,000) UPDATE: THIS WAS UNSOLD

AN IRISH GEORGE II SILVER BEER JUG (5,000-6,000) UPDATE: THIS WAS UNSOLD

SIR GERALD FESTUS KELLY RHA (1879-1972) Portrait of a Lady Seated Oil (3,000-5,000) UPDATE: THIS WAS UNSOLD

A DIAMOND FOUR STONE RING (8,000-12,000) UPDATE: THIS WAS UNSOLD

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GOBELINS TAPESTRIES AND RUSSIAN ICONS AT BANTRY HOUSE AUCTION

Thursday, June 19th, 2014

The exterior of Bantry House, beautifully located on the shores of Bantry Bay.

Exquisite tapestries will be a feature of the sale of contents from Bantry House in west Cork. The auction, by Edinburgh based Lyon and Turnbull, will be held in Bantry next October 21. Viewing will be on the premises from October 17. Formerly the seat of the Earls of Bantry, who lived here for over 300 years, the auction will include paintings, furniture and books collected by the 2nd Earl. These include 18th century tapestries from the workshops of Gobelin and Aubusson. One of the two Gobelins panels is said to have hung in the Palace of Versailles . There is a particularly beautiful rose-coloured set of Aubussons, said to have been made by order of Louis XV for Marie Antoinette on her marriage to the Dauphin of France.

Lyon & Turnbull director Gavin Strang said: “Lord Bantry’s collection has long been recognised as having great artistic and historical interest. As a young man, Viscount Berehaven, who later became the second Earl, travelled extensively in Europe; visiting countries as far distant as Russia and Poland, seeking out the pieces which were to form his remarkable collection of furniture, tapestries and other works of art that are included in the sale.”

Among the furniture in the sale is a Russian household shrine which contains 15th and 16th Century icons and an impressive pair of William Kent style console tables. The paintings in the collection include a pair of portraits from the studio of Allan Ramsay of George III and Queen Charlotte, presented by King George to the First Earl of Bantry on his elevation to the peerage. Funds raised will be used to secure the future of Bantry House.

The dining room at Bantry House.

An interior view of the house with furnishings and tapestry.

An interior view with furnishings and tapestry.

The hall at Bantry House.

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IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST INSCRIBED BY WILDE MAKES £55,000

Wednesday, June 18th, 2014

The Important of Being Earnest inscribed by Oscar Wilde

A specially printed copy of The Importance of Being Earnest inscribed by Oscar Wilde to Major James Nelson, the Governor of Reading Gaol during the writer’s term of imprisonment there sold for £55,000 at Bonhams Books, Atlases, Manuscripts and Photographs sale in London today. It had been estimated at £40,000 – 60,000

The copy, numbered 13 out of a presentation edition of 100, is inscribed “To Major Nelson: from the author. A trivial recognition of a great and noble kindness. Feb, 99.” Elsewhere the Irish writer and wit was to describe Nelson as: “The most Christlike man I ever met.”

(See post on antiquesandartireland.com for Tuesday, May 13, 2014).

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Archive for the ‘COLLECTIBLES’ Category

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