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    ROMAN 17TH CENTURY BUSTS FROM INCHBALD COLLECTION

    Monday, January 6th, 2014
    A pair of Roman 17th century carved marble busts after the antique of Augustus and Faustina the Younger is a highlight at Christie’s sale of the collection of legendary designer Michael Inchbald in London on January 22.  The busts were formerly part of the collection of the 9th Duke of Roxburghe at Carlton House Terrace in London and are estimated at £100,000-150,000.
    The Inchbald collection of 250 lots of antiquities, clocks, furniture, Old Masters, sculpture, silver, arms and Chinese porcelain is expected to realise around £1.2 million. Christie’s say it provides discerning collectors with a once in a lifetime opportunity to acquire exemplary works.  Michael Inchbald (1920-2013) worked as the interior designer for the headquarters of the Bank of America and in luxury hotels such as the ballroom of the Berkeley Hotel in Knightsbridge, London and the River Room at the Savoy, London.  He designed the First Class saloon for the QE2 and interiors for other liners including Carpathia, Franconia and the Windsor Castle. All images © Christie’s Images Limited 2013

    A pair of Roman 17th century carved marble busts (£100,000-150,000) © Christie’s Images Limited 2013

    A pair of Roman 17th century carved marble busts (£100,000-150,000) © Christie’s Images Limited 2013  UPDATE: THESE MADE £98,500

    A pair of Empire ormolu patinated bronze and black fossil marble candleabra, attributed to Pierre-Phillippe Thomire c1802 (£70,000-100,000).

    A pair of Empire ormolu patinated bronze and black fossil marble candleabra, attributed to Pierre-Phillippe Thomire c1802 (£70,000-100,000).  UPDATE: THIS MADE £434,500

    A pair of Regency patinated bronze tripod tables c1810 (£40,000-60,000).

    A pair of Regency patinated bronze tripod tables c1810 (£40,000-60,000).  UPDATE: THIS LOT MADE £86,500

    A George II silver epergne with the mark of John Edwards, London 1736 (£30,000-50,000).

    A George II silver epergne with the mark of John Edwards, London 1736 (£30,000-50,000)

     

    THE ART OF FOOD AND DRINK AT CHRISTIE’S, SOUTH KEN

    Friday, January 3rd, 2014

    The Art of Food and Drink at Christie’s, South Kensington on January 16  follows successful themed sales like Out of the Ordinary last September and The London Sale in 2012.  This is a one off sale of 180 lots of painting, photography, kitchenalia, posters and tableware. There is everything from still lifes by Old Master to iconic posters, fossilized crustaceans, early tea cannisters, Picasso ceramics and early recipe books. Estimates range from £400 to £60,000. (All images courtesy Christie’s Images Ltd., 2013).

    Andy Warhol (1928-1987) Tomato Soup (Can) aluminium can with label circa 1984 (£1,500-2,500).

    Andy Warhol (1928-1987)
    Tomato Soup (Can)
    aluminium can with label
    circa 1984 (£1,500-2,500).

    Keith Haring (1958-1990) Spirit of Art Coffee Service (£2,000-3,000)

    Keith Haring (1958-1990)
    Spirit of Art Coffee Service (£2,000-3,000)

    A CHRISTIAN DIOR EARTHENWARE BUST 2ND HALF 20TH CENTURY (£1,000-1,500).

    A CHRISTIAN DIOR EARTHENWARE BUST
    2ND HALF 20TH CENTURY (£1,000-1,500).

    AN AUSTRIAN COLD-PAINTED BRONZE MODEL OF A PIG CIRCA 1900 (£1500-2,500).

    AN AUSTRIAN COLD-PAINTED BRONZE MODEL OF A PIG
    CIRCA 1900 (£1500-2,500).

    A GIFT TO MAKE CHRISTMAS AT THE NATIONAL MUSEUM OF IRELAND VERY SPECIAL

    Monday, December 23rd, 2013
    A gift of 107 pieces of antique Irish silver would make Christmas very special for the National Museum of Ireland.  The Museum of Decorative Arts at Collins Barracks in Dublin is seeking a sponsor for a private collection valued at 1.75 million.  It is available to the museum until the end of February 2014.  After that it will be broken up and sold.

    Highights include the earliest known Cork bullet teapot by Thomas Lily (1723); a trowel used to lay the foundation stone for New Geneva in Co. Waterford in 1784, an 18th century project to settle Protestant Swiss craftspeople in this country which never materialised; the John Pennyfather Strawberry Dish of 1717 and a pair of George I Cork tazzae by William Clarke 1715 for Fota House in Co. Cork.  A process exists whereby an Irish taxpayer could offset 80 per cent of the market value of the purchase.   A catalogue of the collection can be seen on the website of silver dealers L and W Duvallier at www.antiqueirishsilver.com

    This contains a letter from the Director of the National Museum of Ireland Dr. Raghnall O Floinn which states that this acquisition would: “Transform the National Museum of Ireland’s Collection into the premier collection of its type, surpassing the Irish silver holdings of rival institutions such as the Victoria and Albert Museum in London and the San Antonio Museum, Texas. Collections of this quality are exceptionally rare and are not normally offered for sale collectively but are usually sold off as individual lots. The dispersal of this collection piecemeal either by private teaty or at auction would represent a great loss to the country”.

    A Cork bullet teapot by Thomas Lily 1723.

    A Cork bullet teapot by Thomas Lily 1723.

    A large Cork gallery tray by John Nicholson.

    A large Cork gallery tray by John Nicholson.

     

    WHY NOT BUY ART, CRAFT, ARTISAN OR ANTIQUE?

    Wednesday, December 18th, 2013

    Why not buy art, craft, artisan or antique? There is plenty of Irish art and craft on offer at a variety of shows in galleries throughout Ireland and even at auctioneering firms, where unsold lots can be purchased. With one week of Christmas gift shopping left it is well worth dropping in to see what is on offer at your local gallery. You might find a gift that is locally made by craftspeople or something by an artist or a sculptor.  No matter where you  go there will be plenty to choose from.  Here is a small selection from the Christmas show now on at the Lavit Gallery on Fr. Matthew St. in Cork.

    Tom Climent - Kite Funnel

    Tom Climent – Kite Funnel

    James McCarthy - Juggler

    James McCarthy – Juggler

    Patrick Cashin - Copper Mine at Allihies.

    Patrick Cashin – Copper Mine at Allihies.

    Martin Gale, Long Gone.

    Martin Gale, Long Gone.

    Imogen Stuart RHA, Mary, Baby Human Child.

    Imogen Stuart RHA, Mary, Baby Human Child.

    RARE EARLY WORK INSCRIBED BY SAMUEL BECKETT SELLS AT MEALY’S

    Thursday, December 12th, 2013
    Samuel Beckett, Whoroscope (poem) published in 1930 together with a photograph sold for 4,200.

    Samuel Beckett, Whoroscope (poem) published in 1930 together with a photograph sold for 4,200.

    Samuel Becketts first separately printed work, Whoroscope, sold for 4,200 at Fonsie Mealy’s rare book sale in Dublin this week.   The first edition, one of just 100 copies, is signed and inscribed by Beckett to his college friend Billy Cunningham.  It is dated December 1930, the year in which the poem was published by The Hours Press, Paris. It was sold with a photograph showing Cunningham, second from left, beside Beckett on a golf links.

    A selection of pen an ink drawings by Brinsley le Fanu for publications by Downey and Company of London also sold for 4,200. A c1508 illuminated Book of Hours printed in Paris sold for 4,000.

    FIRST EDITIONS OF SOMERVILLE AND ROSS IN DEMAND AT FONSIE MEALY

    Wednesday, December 11th, 2013
    A collection of Somerville and Ross first editions sold for 750.

    A collection of Somerville and Ross first editions sold for 750.

    A collection of first editions of Somerville and Ross spanning more than 50 years made 750 at Fonsie Mealy’s rare book auction in Dublin on December 10.  With plain cloth bindings the collection ranged from the publication in 1893 of Through Connemara in a Governess Car to Maria and Some Other Dogs of 1949.  It included their classic Further Experiences of an Irish R.M. in 1908.

    Irish literary figures featured strongly in a sale which realised more than 250,000 at hammer.  A signed copy of Patrick Kavanagh’s Collected Poems made 750, a “Choice” Irish Poetry Anthology including work by Beckett, Heaney,Boland,  Clarke and Kinsella, made 2,700, a first English edition of James Joyce’s Ulysses with errata sold for 1,500 and an original recording of James Joyce reading Anna Livia Plurabelle made 3,000.

    The top lot of the auction related to Tipperary during the Great Famine and comprises an important record of the administration of a Tipperary workhouse during the famine.   The five manuscript volumes of workhouse minute books sold for 4,200 over a top estimate of 1,600.

    DEFINING IMAGE OF JANE AUSTEN EXCEEDS ESTIMATE AT SOTHEBY’S

    Tuesday, December 10th, 2013
    Jane Austen Portait with frame.

    Jane Austen Portait with frame.

    Julia Cameron's portait 'Stella', a study of Mrs Herbert Duckworth (1867)  Cameron's goddaughter   and the mother of Virginia Woolf

    Julia Cameron’s portrait ‘Stella’, a study of Mrs Herbert Duckworth (1867) Cameron’s goddaughter
    and the mother of Virginia Woolf

    THE definitive portrait of Jane Austen made £164,500 at Sotheby’s in London today. An engraving of the watercolour by James Andrews will appear on the Bank of England’s new £10 note from 2017, the author’s bicentenary. It was purchased on the telephone by an anonymous private collector. The top estimate for the work was £150,000.  It was commissioned in 1869 by Jane Austen’s nephew, Rev. James Edward Austen-Leigh to illustrate his Memoir of Jane Austen, the hugely influential first full-length biography which was crucial in transforming her from a novelist into a national figure. 

    Earlier in today’s sale, a previously completely unknown album of photographs by Julia Margaret Cameron sold for £242,500  – establishing a new auction record for an album of photographs by the artist. It is one of only 11 known albums compiled by Cameron who is considered the leading female pioneer of 19th century photography. Alongside carefully chosen portraits of her friends and celebrities of the Victorian era, the album contains two prints which are previously unrecorded and possibly unique.

    (See post on antiquesandartireland.com for November 4, 2013).

    CELTIC REVIVAL VASES AT BANDON AUCTION

    Monday, December 9th, 2013

    Among the more unusual lots at Hegarty’s sale in Bandon, Co. Cork on December 10 is a rare pair of Irish Celtic Revival two handled vases.  They were made in Youghal and are stamped Youghal A.M.W.  The estimate is 1,000-2,000.  Another rarirty is an upholstered black carriage with original fittings.  The sale of over 400 lots is online. Here is a small selection.

    A pair of Irish Celtic Revival two-handled vases, stamped Youghal A.M.W. (1,000-2,000).

    A pair of Irish Celtic Revival two-handled vases, stamped Youghal A.M.W. (1,000-2,000).  UPDATE: UNSOLD AND UNDER NEGOTIATION.

    A black carriage, upholstered in leather, with original fittings

    A black carriage, upholstered in leather, with original fittings UPDATE: WITHDRAWN TO NEXT AUCTION

    Oil on canvas by FELIX ZIEM [French 1821-1911] (5,000-10,000).

    Oil on canvas by FELIX ZIEM [French 1821-1911] (5,000-10,000).  UPDATE: THIS MADE 5,800

    A satinwood display cabinet by Maple and Co.  (3,000-5,000)

    A satinwood display cabinet by Maple and Co. (3,000-5,000)  UPDATE: THIS MADE 3,800

    AUCTION AT O’REILLY’S OF FRANCIS ST., DUBLIN

    Monday, December 9th, 2013

    THE last sale of the year at O’Reilly’s of Francis St. in Dublin takes place on December 11.  At the higher end there is a set of South Sea Pears with diamond clasp and fitted Garrard box and some quality diamonds, like the three stone ring shown here.    There are plenty of potential Christmas presents too.  The catalogue is online.

    A three stone diamond ring (20,000-25,000).

    A three stone diamond ring (20,000-25,000).

    A South Sea Pearls necklace in Garrard case with diamond clip (15,000-16,000).

    A South Sea Pearls necklace in Garrard case with diamond clip (15,000-16,000).

    THE SILVER CHARMS BASED ON HARRY POTTER STORIES

    Tuesday, December 3rd, 2013

    A silver charm bracelet inspired by Harry Potter and based on designs by J.K. Rowling comes up at Sotheby’s in London on December 10.  The Lumos Maxima bracelet comprises 12 charms, 11 of which depict a significant image from the magical world of the Harry Potter series: Harry Potter’s bolt of lightning; glasses and broomstick; a Golden Snitch; Dark Mark skull set with amethyst eyes; Slytherin locket; a winged key; The Tales of Beedle the Bard book; the Sorting Hat; the Deathly Hallows symbol and a wand, which acts as the fastener. The twelfth charm, the butterfly, is the logo of Lumos, the children’s charity J.K. Rowling founded in 2005. Lumos aims to end the systematic institutionalisation of children, a harmful practice that affects 8 million children worldwide.  It is estimated at £15,000-20,000 and will be auctioned in Sotheby’s English Literature, History, Children’s Books & Illustrations sale.  The charms were hand crafted in the silver workshops of Edinburgh jeweller Hamilton & Inches.

    The Lumos Maxima bracelet.

    The Lumos Maxima bracelet.  UPDATE: SOLD FOR £20,000