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    JEWELS AT AUCTION AT TWO SALES IN DUBLIN

    Friday, May 18th, 2012

    THERE is much to choose from in two jewellery sales in Dublin on Wednesday, May 23.  At O’Reilly’s on Francis St. there is a sale of 405 lots of jewellery silver and paintings at 1 p.m.  Over at St. Stephen’s Green James Adam will conduct a sale of jewellery and watches at 6 p.m. Both catalogues are on line.  Here are a few lots to whet the appetite.

    An antique diamond and sapphire panel bracelet at O'Reilly's is estimated at 8,000-9,000.

    An early 20th century gold bracelet with chased foliate quatrefoil motifs estimated at 4,000-6,000 at Adams. UPDATE: THIS MADE 3,800.

    This early 20th century emerald and diamond ring at O'Reilly's is estimated at 4,500-5,000.

    Adams will offer this 8.53 carat certified J colour diamond ring estimated at 85,000-100,000. UPDATE: THIS MADE 85,000.

    A c1910 Ard Deco diamond plaque ring at O'Reilly's is estimated at 12,000-15,000.

    This dress ring with emeralds and sapphires at Adams is estimated at 300-500. UPDATE: THIS MADE 400.

    IRISH AND ENGLISH SILVER AT WOODWARDS

    Wednesday, May 16th, 2012

    A George III Irish provincial soup ladle with shell bowl with the mark of William Ward of Limerick (2,200-2,400). (Click on image to enlarge). UPDATE: THIS MADE 2,000.

    Around 200 lots of Irish and English silver will feature at Woodwards sale of silver and art in Cork on May 23.  The top lot is a George III twin handled soup tureen made in Dublin c1765 by Richard Williams and later fitted with a similar lid by James Scott in Dublin in 1821.  It is estimated at 12,000-14,000. A George III swing handled fruit or bread basket made by James Scott in 1803 has an estimate of 2,800-3,000 and a George III soup ladle with shell bowl by William Ward of Limerick, hallmarked in Dublin in 1772 is estimated at 2,200-2,400.

    A 1970 Royal Irish Silver sugar bowl is estimated at 450-500 and a swing handled bright cut sugar based on pedestal by William Doyle, Dublin 1803 is estimated at 820-880.  A George III sauce ladle with fiddle pattern handle by Samuel Neville, Dublin 1808 is estimated at 120-150 and six George IV forks by Richard Garde, Cork with Dublin hallmarks for 1829 are estimated at 300-350.  There are bone handled dessert services, coasters, tea spoons, sauceboats, bon bon dishes, dressing table jars, cigarette boxes, sugar nips, tea services, mustard pots, vases, salvers, trays and bowls and dish rings.  Artists whose work is in the sale include Arthur Maderson, Markey Robinson, Kenneth Webb, William Perring Hollyer, Carol Anne Waldron, Philip French, Andrew Nicholl, John Bosanquet, Liam Treacy, Cecily Brennan,John Morris, Barbara von Seida and Norah McGuinness.

    Set of six silver bright-cut teaspoons by Carden Terry and Jane Williams, Cork, c1810. (400-600). UPDATE: THESE MADE 500.

    A George III silver serving spoon in the neoclassical style by John Nicholson, Cork, c1770. (200-300). UPDATE: THIS MADE 300.

     

    A silver dish ring with Cork scenes including Blackrock Castle by William Egan is estimated at 1,800-2,200. UPDATE: THIS MADE 2,600

    An Irish George III tureen by Richard Williams, Dublin c1765 with later lid by James Scott, Dublin 1821 is estimated at 12,000-14,000. UPDATE: THIS WAS UNSOLD.

    HISTORIC BEAU SANCY DIAMOND SELLS FOR $9,699,618

    Tuesday, May 15th, 2012

    The Beau Sancy sold for $9,699,618 US dollars. (Click on image to enlarge).

    The Beau Sancy, one of the most important historic diamonds ever to come to auction, sold for $9,699,618 US dollars, almost five times the pre-sale low estimate of $2-4 million at Sotheby’s  in Geneva tonight. It was bought on the telephone by an anonymous bidder. Five bidders competed.

    Worn in her crown by Marie de Medici at her coronation as Queen Consort of Henri IV in 1610 the 34.98 carat modified pear double rose cut diamond has passed down through the Royal Families of France, England, Prussia and the House of Orange.  It has been the witness of 400 years of European history. David Bennett of Sotheby’s commented: “Its supreme historical importance was reflected tonight in the strength of the bidding and the remarkable result realised”.

    The sale realised $108,377,219, a world record for a various owner jewel auction.

    See post on antiquesandartireland.com for February 28, 2012.

    MEISSEN TREASURES AT BONHAMS IN LONDON

    Tuesday, May 15th, 2012

    Meissen Coronation Service dish at Bonhams in London. (Click on image to enlarge). UPDATE: THIS MADE £12,500.

    Yellow ground plate from the only Meissen dinner service known to have a coloured background. (Click on image to enlarge). UPDATE: ONE PLATE SOLD FOR £12,500, THE OTHER MADE £13,125.

    A Meissen treasure, an armorial dish from the ‘Coronation Service’ circa 1733-34, features at Bonhams in London on May 23.   Part of the first Meissen armorial table service it is estimated at  £10,000-15,000. Painted  with the arms of Saxony and Poland – scattered floral sprigs and bound wheat-sheaves –  it was delivered to the Royal collection at the Japanese Palace in Dresden in 1734. The Japanese Palace was built by Augustus the Strong, Elector of Saxony and King of Poland and Lithuania to house his finest porcelain.

    Bonhams sale of a European private collection includes a Meissen yellow-ground plate from the ‘Gelbe Jagdservice’, (Yellow hunting service) circa 1733-34. This is the only Meissen dinner service known to have a coloured background.  The lobed panel in the centre is painted with a phoenix and three sprigs of flowers,  with three quatrelobe panels around the brown-edged rim painted with flowering branches. Ordered around 1730 by Augustus the Strong it too is estimated at £10,000-15,000.

    1913 ULSTER PROCLAMATION AT BONHAMS IN JUNE

    Thursday, May 10th, 2012

    The 1913 Ulster Proclamation at Bonhams. (Click on image to enlarge).  UPDATE: IT MADE £18,750

    The only copy of the 1913 Ulster Proclamation of a Provisional Government known to have survived will be offered by Bonhams  in London on June 12. Dated 24 September 1913 it takes the form of a poster, printed in blue, declaring the formation of a Provisional government with the proviso that it would not take executive power until needed to resist the formation of a Nationalist government in Dublin.

    On the previous day Sir Edward Carson persuaded 500 Ulster Unionist Council delegates to endorse the proclamation.  This was a tactic to secure the exclusion of Ulster from the Irish Home Rule Bill which was enacted but set aside for the duration of the First World War. In 1912  nearly 500,000 people signed the Ulster Solemn League and Covenant in opposition to the Home Rule Bill.

    Eventually in 1921 the Six Counties was separated from the rest of the island of Ireland by partition. The Ulster Proclamation features at Bonhams sale of books, maps, manuscripts and historical photographs.  It is estimated at £20,000-30,000.

    UPDATE:  THIS SOLD FOR £18,750.

    SERVED BY AER LINGUS, SIGNED BY THE BEATLES

    Tuesday, May 8th, 2012

    The menu for the in-flight meal. UPDATE: IT SOLD FOR 5,200.

    Signed by all four of The Beatles. UPDATE: IT SOLD FOR 5,200.

    A menu served by Aer Lingus and signed by The Beatles comes up at Kerry Auction Rooms in Tralee on May 15. The Beatles came to Ireland and performed in Dublin in November 1963. An Aer Lingus stewardess on their flight, who now lives in Kerry, had them sign a menu.  It is now being offered for sale with an estimate of 4,000-6,000.

    Antique furniture includes a Wiliam IV mahogany library table, an Edwardian bureau bookcase, a 19th century fold over card table and four late Victorian side chairs. The sale also features English and Irish silver, coins, bank notes, books and militaria.

     

    UPDATE: THE SIGNED MENU SOLD FOR 5,200.

    ANTIQUE FURNITURE AND SILVER AT HEGARTY’S IN BANDON

    Wednesday, May 2nd, 2012

    Hegarty’s  auction in Bandon, Co. Cork on May 6 features some appetising lots of antique furniture as well as Irish silver, garden statuary, old sheet music  and collectibles.  Here is a small selection (click on any image to enlarge it):

    A Regency Irish foldover tea table (1,500-2,500). Update: This made 1,950.

    An 18th Century Irish silver salver (1,500-2,500). Update: This made 1,550.

    A Georgian card table (2,000-3,000). Update: This made 1,300.

    A pair of 19th century rosewood library chairs (1,500-2,000). Update: these sold for 1,350.

    An Edwardian cheval mirror is estimated at 800-1,200. Update: This sold for 900.

    An 18th century Irish mother of pearl tortoiseshell and silver snuff box. Update: This was unsold.

    CHINESE CERAMICS AND WORKS OF ART AT CHRISTIE’S, HONG KONG

    Sunday, April 29th, 2012

    A pair of magnificent cloisonné enamel caparisoned elephants from the Qianlong period (1736-1795), courtesy Christie's Images Ltd., 2012. (Click on image to enlarge).

    Nearly 400 lots of Chinese ceramics and works of art will come under the hammer at Christie’s, Hong Kong on May 30.  Highlights include cloisonné enamels, important ceramics, jades and textiles, archaic bronzes and a large group of Ming huanghuali furniture.  The Mandel Collection of cloisonné enamel works from mostly Qing dynasty (1644-1911) and the Qianlong period (1736-1795) was assembled by American collectors Dr. Sam and Annette Mandel. A pair of unusually large caparisoned elephants from the Qianlong period (1736-1795), estimated at US$518,000-777,000, is reputed to have been in the collections of Sir Winston Churchill, Aristotle Onassis and Maria Callas.

    The Yongzheng (1723-1735) and Qianlong periods (1736-1795) were reigns when Imperial interest in the arts pushed technical innovation and creative design to new heights.  A rare Yongzheng doucai meiping (doucai is a technique of dovetailing colours, meiping is a plum vase with narrow base, wide body and narrow neck) is estimated at US$1,000,000-1,300,000.  It was acquired from Yamanaka & Company, Inc. in 1943 in New York. A rare carved celadon-glazed vase with a Qianlong six-character seal mark has an estimate of US$3,213,000-4,500,000. There is a pair of huanghuali yoke-back armchairs from Ming dynasty (16th/17th century).  They are estimated at US$380,000-650,000.  Made nearly 500 years ago this pair would have been reserved for the most important guests or members of the household.  They are upright.  Lower ranking members sat on stools.

    A large doucai meiping, Yongzheng period courtesy Christie's Images Ltd., 2012. (Click to enlarge).

    A rare carved celadon-glazed vase with a Qianlong six-character seal mark, courtesy Christie's Images Ltd., 2012. (Click to enlarge).

    A pair of Ming Dynasty huanghuali yoke-back armchairs, courtesy Christie's Images Ltd., 2012. (Click to enlarge).

    TWO DAY SALE AT SHEPPARDS IN DURROW

    Friday, April 27th, 2012

    The two day sale at Sheppards in Durrow, Co. Laois on May 1 and 2 offers something for everyone among 1320 lots, with more than 600 on offer on each day. There is everything from a rare Irish George III snuff horn to a Chippendale revolving pyramid bookstand on tripod.  There will be historic interest in a miniature portrait of Dublin born Rev. William Bruce (1757 – 1841) who became president of the Belfast Reading Society.  An opponent of the United Irishmen he formed a Dublin Chamber of Commerce with Napper Tandy and others in 1782. It has been argued that this was the first national political movement which was ‘non-gentry, urban, part-Catholic, part-Dissenter’. Other lots include an Italian School crucifixion attributed to the circle of Pompeo Batoni (1708-1777).  The catalogue is on-line. Here is a small selection:

    18th century Chippendale library table c1760 with revolving tapered pyramid top (5,000-8,000). Click to enlarge. UPDATE: THIS WAS UNSOLD

    Oval miniature portrait of Rev. William Bruce (800-1,200). Click to enlarge. UPDATE: THIS MADE 1,650

    18th century gold mounted Irish horn snuff box. (800-1,200). Click to enlarge. UPDATE: THIS WAS UNSOLD.

    Circle of Pompeo Batoni 1708-1777, The Crucifixion (3,000-5,000). (Click on image to enlarge). UPDATE: THIS WAS UNSOLD.

    BANNED YEATS PRINTS THE TOP LOT AT MEALY’S

    Thursday, April 26th, 2012

    Kittie's Toys by Jack B. Yeats. (Click on image to enlarge).

    A set of nine hand coloured block prints by Jack B.Yeats banned in Ireland in 1918 by the British censor was the top lot at a sale entitled Ireland’s Struggle at Mealy’s in Dublin on April 25.  Yeats illustrated Kittie’s Toys, a poem by Dora Sigerson Shorter.  The illustrations were never published.  The censor said there was no objection to the illustrations, but banned publication of the poem, even though it had already been published. Sigerson’s poem is an allegory in the style of a child’s song, about young Kittie [Cathleen Ni Houlihan], who envies her friend Marie’s toy soldiers, Gretchen’s flag, and Johnny’s fleet  –  all things that were stolen from Kittie by her rough neighbour Johnny (Bull).  The nine prints – a cover design, a title-page and seven page designs to appear with the seven verses – were estimated at 5,000-6,000.  They sold for 9.500.