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WORLD AUCTION RECORD FOR MING PORCELAIN SET IN HONG KONG

Wednesday, October 5th, 2011

This Ming Vase set a world record for any Ming porcelain at auction in Hong Kong. (Click on image to enlarge).

THERE was a world auction record for Ming Porcelain at Sotheby’s in Hong Kong today. This outstanding blue and white Imperial Vase, Ming Dynasty, Yongle Period – just less than 15 inches high – sold for HK$168,660,000 / £14,032,792/ US$21,623,077 after a ten minute bidding battle on the telephone. It was won by Nicolas Chow, Sotheby’s International Head of Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art, against a Sotheby’s Ceramics Specialist based in Beijing.

Chinese buyers from around the world competed for 32 important pieces from Sotheby’s sale of Part II of Imperial Chinese Porcelains from the Meiyintang Collection which brought HK$560 million /£46.6 million / US$71.8 million in just over an hour. Ming porcelain (1368-1644) has been less sought after in latter times than Qing (1644-1911) wares, though it is older. Ming can be less decorative than Qing, and has not quite matched the taste of new buyers from mainland China.

Tags: Hong Kong, Ming, sotheby's
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LURE OF RHINO HORN BRINGS MAGIC TO MEALY’S

Tuesday, October 4th, 2011

This Chinese carved antique rhino horn made 75,000 at hammer at Mealy's.

THE lure of the rhino horn worked its magic in Castlecomer, Co. Kilkenny today. The sale of an antique horn for 75,000 to a Beijing buyer helped Mealy’s to their most successful day ever. A 19th century massive antique Chinese carved full tip rhonoceros horn “Lotus” libation cup sold for 75,000 on day one of a two day fine and decorative art sale. A Beijing buyer snapped it up. The 15.5 inch high horn, described as probably Qing Dynasty, is in the form of a lotus leaf on a curved stem. Profusely carved, it incorporates typical motifs such as flowers, crabs bats, birds and mythical creatures.

The luck of the Chinese did not end there. An Imperial carved laquer Dragon Vase made 65,000 at the same sale. It went to another Beijing buyer. The seal mark on the vase is inscribed in Chinese and Manchu “Yang Xin Dian” of the Forbidden Palace, Beijing. The Qianlong period red lacquer vase is carved on bronze with four five-clawed dragons in relief against a basket type weave design. The rim is carved with Greek key, leaf scroll and floral design. The vase is flanked with two bronze deer head handles, the body is carved with Chinese emblems and symbols on a circular floral carved foot.

A 19th century tall Chinese full-tip Rhinoceros horn depicting a man and child by a flowering lotus tree with scrolling openwork branches on a lotus carved dome foot made 43,000. With just half of the 1,200 lots on offer sold on day one the sale has already realised around 400,000. This exceeds the internal estimate by Mealy’s for the entire two day sale. The auction continues on October 5.

See post on antiquesandartireland.com for September 26.

A Chinese full-tip Rhinoceros horn carving made 43,000 at hammer at Mealy's.

This Dragon Vase made 65,000 at hammer at Mealy's.

Tags: Irish auctions, mealy's
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ICONIC FASHION DRAWINGS BY RENE GRUAU AT CHRISTIE’S IN OCTOBER

Friday, September 30th, 2011

Rene Gruau The Red Coat, circa 1950 (£3,000-5,000). (Click on images to enlarge). UPDATE: SOLD FOR £15,000.

THE autumn sale of of 20th Century Decorative Art & Design at Christie’s in London on October 25 includes these iconic original fashion drawings by René Gruau (1909-2004) renowned haute couture illustrator who fashioned the style of the forties and fifties. He was favoured by leading fashion houses, including Christian Dior, Balenciaga, Balmain and Lanvin and was commissioned by the American editor Fleur Cowles in the 1950’s for Look and Flair magazines.

UPDATE: THE collection of René Gruau fashion illustrations easily quadrupled its low estimate. Bidding was fierce in the room, on the phone and online, mostly from European collectors and trade.

There is contemporary design, Art Nouveau, Modern and Postmodern works in a sale of over 130 lots expected to realise more than £2 million.

Rene Gruau On the beach, circa 1950 (£3,000-5,000) UPDATE: SOLD FOR £5,000

Rene Gruau The Blue Bows, circa 1950 (£3,000 -5,000). UPDATE: SOLD FOR £9,375

Tags: Christie's, Rene Gruau
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HISTORIC 1978 MUNSTER V. ALL-BLACKS PROGRAMME MAKES RECORD PRICE

Wednesday, September 28th, 2011

The Munster v New Zealand match programme. (Click on image to enlarge)

A detail from the programme. Click to enlarge)

THE historic 1978 game in which Munster beat the All Blacks at Thomond Park in Limerick is part of Irish rugby folklore. A programme for the game signed by the entire Munster team, sold for 2,800 at Mealy’s in Castlecomer on September 28. Munster beat by All-Blacks by 12-0 in front of a crowd of 12,000. Many more people claim to have been present.
This is the only time the All-Blacks lost to any Irish side. The game was played on October 31, 1978. The official Munster RFC match programme , signed in pen on the middle page by the team, had been estimated at 400-500.

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AUTUMN FINE AND DECORATIVE ARTS SALE AT MEALY’S

Monday, September 26th, 2011

There will be more than 1,200 lots at the two day autumn fine and decorative art sale at Mealy’s in Castlecomer, Co. Kilkenny on October 4 and 5. The auction features items from the Lyons Demesne, being sold on the instructions of the estate of Ryanair founder Dr. Tony Ryan, contents from a period home in the south east and a private collection of family crested and other silver.

Here is a small selection: UPDATE: THIS WAS A HIGHLY SUCCESSFUL TWO DAY SALE FOR MEALY’S THAT BROUGHT IN ABOUT 700,000 ON THE HAMMER.

A Carrara George III chimneypiece in the Palladian style (7,000-11,000). UPDATE: IT MADE 13,000 AT HAMMER, BOUGHT BY THE TRADE.

A four panel North African Suzani or wall panel (1,200-1,800). (Click on image to enlarge). UPDATE: THIS WAS UNSOLD

An ebonised and gilt bronze mounted cabinet, probably Italian (2,000-3,000). UPDATE: THIS MADE 3,700

A 19th century carved oak breakfront bookcase, originally from Knocktopher Abbey, Co. Kilkenny (2,500-3,500). UPDATE: THIS MADE 5,200 AT HAMMER.

An early George III armorial salver by Richard Rugg, London, 1770 (700-800). UPDATE: THIS MADE 1,350

A 19th century Sutherland lustre bowl commemorating "Sobriety, Temperance, Freedom and Domestic Comfort" (80-150). UPDATE: THIS WAS UNSOLD

A pair of bronze equestrian groups after Guillaume Coustou (4,800-5,800). UPDATE: THESE WERE UNSOLD.

A set of four Irish cast silver Irish candlesticks by John Walker, Dublin c1773 (15,000-25,000). UPDATE: THEY MADE 20,000 AT HAMMER.

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BASEBALL BAT GIFTED BY BABE RUTH AT IRISH AUCTION

Sunday, September 25th, 2011

Babe Ruth in action.

The Spalding bat. UPDATE: THE BAT WAS WTHDRAWN AT 3,800 AND UNDER ACTIVE NEGOTIATION AFTERWARDS.

A baseball bat gifted by Babe Ruth to an Irishman in 1926 comes under the hammer at Mealy’s Rare Books and Collectors’ sale in Castlecomer, Co. Kilkenny on September 28. The original Spalding B12 baseball bat, the handle grip end stamps 35″ (89cms), was given to Frank McGrath, manager of the first ever Inter-County GAA team from Ireland to visit the US. The Tipperary Time team received a civic reception at the Astor Hotel in New York on May 22, 1926. It was hosted by the then Mayor, Jimmy Walker (‘Beau James’) whose father was from Castlecomer, Co. Kilkenny and the Tipperary Men’s Association of New York. The team went to Yankee Stadium where they met Babe Ruth. Frank McGrath presented a hurley to Babe Ruth and Babe Ruth gave the baseball bat to Frank McGrath. The bat is estimated at 4,000-5,000.

THE hurley signed by Jack Lynch. (Click on image to enlarge). UPDATE: THIS MADE 750.

Jack Lynch’s 1944 All-Ireland hurley features in the sale too. Both sides are signed in black marker by the former Irish Taoiseach. The 34″ hurling stick is reputed to be the one used in the 1944 quadruple All-Ireland for Cork by Jack Lynch. It was gifted to Sam Melrose by Jack Lynch and is estimated at 500-600.

UPDATE: THE TOP LOT AT THIS SALE WAS THE RUGBY PROGRAMME FOR THE HISTORIC MUNSTER VERSUS THE ALL BLACKS GAME AT THOMOND PARK IN 1978 WHICH MUNSTER WON. ESTIMATED AT 400/500 IT SOLD FOR 2,800.

Tags: Babe Ruth, Irish auctions, mealy's
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CHRISTIE’S VIDEO OF THE ELIZABETH TAYLOR COLLECTIONS

Sunday, September 25th, 2011

Christie’s just released a video on The Elizabeth Taylor Collections. It features jewellery, fashion, memorabilia, decorative art and fine art collected by the late Hollywood icon. Catch it here on antiquesandartireland.com See earlier posts for September 7 and June 29 on this website.

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SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE AT SHEPPARDS THREE DAY SALE

Thursday, September 22nd, 2011

The three day Legacy of the Big House sale at Sheppards in Durrow, Co. Laois on September 27, 28 and 29 offers something for everyone. The 1,853 lots on the catalogues would fill a very big house. The sale on September 29 will be devoted entirely to Asian art. (See antiquesandartireland.compost for September 6). The catalogue is on-line. Here is a small selection from what is on offer:

One of a set four topographical prints of Waterford c1880 (140-180) UPDATE: SOLD FOR 160

A George III snap top silver table above a bird-cage undercarriage (2,500 – 3,500) UPDATE: SOLD FOR 2,500

Regency period mahogany long case clock, by John Mountjoy, Cork (2,000 - 3,000) UPDATE: SOLD FOR 1,800

A rare Irish Regency campaign cellaret of sarcophagus form (2,500 - 3,500) UPDATE: SOLD FOR 1,700

An 18th century Irish silver table, (8,000 - 12,000) UPDATE: SOLD FOR 8,000

A c1890 Arts and Crafts Donegal carpet, by Gavin Morton, c1890 (6,000-8,000) UPDATE: THIS MADE 7,000

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MORE FROM SHEPPARDS

Thursday, September 22nd, 2011

Here are some more lots from the three day sale at Sheppardson September 27, 28 and 29.

The catalogue for this large sale is on-line.

Cork Regency mahogany tea poy (1,400 - 1,800) UPDATE: SOLD FOR 1,150

A small George I walnut writing bureau (2,500 - 3,500)George I period walnut wing-backed armchair (3,000 – 5,000) UPDATE: SOLD FOR 3,500

A 19th century Rococo brass fender (1,500 – 2,500) UPDATE: SOLD FOR 1,200

A 19th century mahogany and marquetry sofa table (5,000 - 8,000) UPDATE: SOLD FOR 5,600

An 18th century oak hanging plate rack (400 – 600) UPDATE: THIS MADE 440

A small George III mahogany and marquetry sideboard (2,500 - 3,500) UPDATE: THIS MADE 2,500

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SEPTEMBER JEWELS AT O’REILLY’S, FRANCIS ST., DUBLIN

Wednesday, September 21st, 2011

THE September 28 sale at O’Reilly’s of Francis St., Dublin features 412 lots. It includes diamond and other jewellery, watches, gold sovereigns, silver and a small section on art. Here is a small selection from the auction.

A diamond cluster ring mounted in 18ct gold. Estimated weight of diamonds; 2.50 ct total (3,000-3,500). UPDATE: THIS MADE 3,000.

An 18 carat gold twist rope link bracelet (1,200-1,400). UPDATE: THIS MADE 1,350.

A solitaire diamond ring, brilliant cut, mounted in 18ct white gold. Estimated weight of diamond; 5.01 ct, colour and clarity; J - K, (32,000 - 35,000). UPDATE: THIS WAS UNSOLD.

A panel design Art Deco diamond and sapphire ring mounted in 18ct white gold (4,000-4,500). UPDATE: THIS MADE 4,600

A garnet and diamond bangle mounted in 18ct gold (1,200-1,400) UPDATE: THIS MADE 1,200.

A diamond ring, the large marquise cut diamond with three diamonds on each shoulder, mounted in platinum. Certified; 5.11 ct, colour and clarity; J colour, VS2 clarity €30,000 - 35,000. (Click on image to enlarge). UPDATE: THIS WAS UNSOLD

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Archive for the ‘COLLECTIBLES’ Category

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