A Mamluk enamelled glass mosque lamp made for Chief of Corps Saif ad-din Sarghitmish (d.1358) Egypt or Syria, 1351-1358 AD.
There was a new world record for a glass object at auction at Bonham’s in London when an example of Islamic glass sold for £5,130,400. The Mamluk enamelled glass mosque lamp made for Chief of Corps Saif ad-din Sarghitmish (d.1358) Egypt or Syria, 1351-1358 AD is the highest priced glass object ever sold at auction. It had an estimate of £600,000-1,000,000.
The lamp was consigned by a descendant of Egypt’s first Prime Minister, Nubar Pasha, having been in the family for more than a century. It had been regarded by the family as a decorative piece – it had been used as a vase for dried flowers. Mosque lamps are considered some of the most technically accomplished examples of medieval glassware anywhere in the world. The technique of simultaneously gilding and enamelling glass was almost unique to the Mamluk court, where they were produced in the 13th and 14th centuries for decoration and provision of light in Mosques.
George I coffee pot with side handle by Thomas Walker, Dublin (1726)
The National Antique Fair at Limerick Racecourse next weekend, magnificent jewels in Geneva and Irish art in London are among upcoming events which will draw large numbers of collectors to the fascinating world of art, antiques and collectibles at all price points this month.
Among the many treasures for which the hunt is hotting up are an antique Irish silver coffee pot, a Georgian officers gorget or throat covering from the Royal Meath Militia, vintage fashion and Irish art and collectibles at the Limerick fair, a Cartier diamond necklace at Christie’s in Geneva on November 12, jewellery from the Royal Court of Bulgaria at Sotheby’s in Geneva on November 13, masterpieces by William Orpen and John Lavery at Sotheby’s Modern British and Irish art evening sale in London on November 14 and a selection of Irish art from Paul Henry, George Mounsey Wheatley Atkinson and Nano Reid to contemporary works by Jack Coulter, Richard Hearns, John Behan, Orla de Bri and more at Sotheby’s day sale in London on November 15.
Eily Henry vintage fashion will feature this headwear at the National Antiques Fair in Limerick
Opening times for the National Antiques, Art and Vintage fair at Limerick Racecourse are from 11 am to 6 on November 16 and 17. There will be 80 dealers from right around Ireland with everything from a pair of vases by Zak Scherzer of Vienna with paintings by Rembrandt at Edwin Mercer, vintage flagons, clocks and collectibles at Dan Hartnett and an exceptional George I coffee pot by Thomas Walker (Dublin 1726) which Weldon’s will display on November 17.
Vintage fashion and jewellery is enduringly popular. Among the choices available are an eyecatching Philip Treacy type hat at Eily Henry and a nine carat yellow gold wide gate bracelet at Bedlam antiques. There is porcelain and glass at Brian Hurley, Irish art at the Purple Onion gallery, militaria including the gorget of Lt. Col. Thomas Pepper of the Royal Meath Militia and selections of antique furniture, jewellery, books and collectibles to inspire and delight.
Art Deco diamond necklace, signed Cartier London, 1935, at Christie’s UPDATE: THIS SOLD FOR US$5,090,571
It is rare to encounter a group of jewels from the 1920’s and ’30’s which have remained in the same family and have not been remodelled. A magnificent Cartier Art Deco Indo-Persian diamond necklace from 1935 will highlight a collection of superb jewels from the Sassoon family at Christie’s in Geneva next Tuesday The bank where they were stored was completely in World War II. A helpful policeman advised the owner at the ruins to check with a local police station. It transpired that her deposit box had been transferred there. Never at auction before the necklace is estimated at US$1 million – $1.5 million (€920,000-€1,380,000). At Sotheby’s in Geneva on the following day more than 100 pieces from Tsar Ferdinand and the Royal Court of Bulgaria will come under the hammer.
Sotheby’s will bring a great selection of Irish art to the international stage at sales in London next Thursday and Friday. A portrait of Mrs. St. George by Orpen and a Venetian scene by Lavery will feature in the evening sale on Thursday. A Cork collection of maritime paintings by George Mounsey Wheatley Atkinson and art and sculpture by Gareth Reid – Sky Portrait Artist of the Decade, 2023 – Tony O’Malley, Rowan Gillespie, Patrick Hennessy, Felim Egan, John Kingerlee and William Conor and others feature at the day sale next Friday.
Still Life with Butterfly by Patrick Hennessy at Sotheby’s. UPDATE: THIS WAS UNSOLD
Regency bird cage wine cooler. UPDATE: THIS MADE €1,050 AT HAMMER
Is it a bird cage? No it is a bird cage wine cooler among the lots at Victor Mee’s two day online sale in Co. Armagh on November 13 and 14 at 6.30 pm on each day. On offer are complete contents from Umgola house and gardens, Monaghan Road, Armagh in conjunction with the retirement sale of Peter Derry, antique dealer of Annaghmore, Portadown. A total of 960 lots will come under the hammer. The wine cooler is lot 153 and estimated at €1,500-€3,000.
A vase designed by Constance Spry. UPDATE: THIS MADE €875 AT HAMMER
Constance Spry is best remembered nowadays as the creator, with Rosemary Hume, of coronation chicken. The spicy, mayonnaise concoction- filling for millions of 21st century airport sandwiches – must have been revolutionary in these latitudes in 1952. Derby born Spry, who lived for a time in Ireland, was a creative independent innovator and ahead of her time businesswoman who ultimatey employed 60 people at her flower decoration shop on South Audley St. in London.
A vase designed by Spry comes up at Hegarty’s Stoneview Collection Part II online sale in Bandon on November 13. The twin fern handled vase on pedestal with unglazed exterior and glazed interior was produced around 1930 at Fulham Pottery. The estimate is €400-€800. The sale offers antique furniture, silver, art, jewellery and collectors items including a Strahan console table and a landscape by William Langley. Highlights from the first part of the collection included a Lusitania life jacket which made €1,050 at hammer over a top estimate of €400 and a pair of George II Irish silver candlesticks which sold for €2,900.
A console table by Robert Strahan. UPDATE: THIS MADE 460 AT HAMMER
19th Century Killarney davenport. UPDATE: THIS WAS UNSOLD
This profusely inlaid 19th century Killarney davenport will highlight Aidan Foley’s three day sale in Killarney on November 25, 26 and 27. Described as a museum quality piece of rare Irish provincial furniture it is estimated at 30,000-50,000. Made of arbutus and yew wood it is inlaid with views of local beauty spots like Muckross Abbey, Ross Castle and Aghadoe, ferns and shamrocks.
It is one of several Killarney furniture pieces in the retirement auction on behalf of Pat O’Connor of Killarney Art and Antiques. More than 1,300 lots will come under the hammer.
A French 1970’s cocktail table. UPDATE: THIS MADE 2,800 AT HAMMER
With everything from Norwegian wood to French cocktails the art and design sale at de Veres is for collectors with an eye to design. There are Danish and Italian pieces from the 1960’s and ’70’s and contemporary labels by designers like Philippe Starck, Vittorio Nobili, Eileen Gray, Marcel Breuer, Gianfranco Frattini alongside art by Donald Teskey, Patrick Scott, Conor Harrington, Mark Francis, John Shinnors and many others.
A 1960’s sideboard from Norway. UPDATE: THIS MADE 3,000 AT HAMMER
The rosewood sideboard illustrated here is a Norwegian 1960’s piece by Fredrik Kayser with four cupboard doors, shelves and drawers. The estimate is €3,000-€5,000. A burl walnut coffee table bar by Paul Michel is French from the 1970’s. The sliding hinged top opens to reveal a fitted bar interior on a mirrored base. The estimate is €1,000-€2,000. The catalogue is online and the sale is on view at de Veres on Kildare St. and Buswell’s Hotel on today, tomorrow, Monday and Tuesday.
A framed partial life jacket made from cork and covered with canvas from the Lusitania, torpedoed off Cork in 1915, comes up at Hegarty’s sale in Bandon on October 30. Only one complete version of this type of lifejacket from Lusitania has survived and is held at the Merseyside Maritime Museum. The estimate is €200-€400. Antique furniture, jewellery and silver is on offer including a pair of George II Irish silver candlesticks by Isaac D’Olier, Dublin c1750 (€3,000-€4,000). UPDATE: The candlesticks made €2,900.
A model of a currach at Aidan Foley’s sale in Kilcolgan. UPDATE: THIS MADE 660 AT HAMMER
Art, contents from two bars including a model of a currach, Irish vernacular furniture, a collection of Hummel figures and two vintage tractors will be included in Aidan Foley’s online sale from Kilcolgan tomorrow and Monday at 4 pm on each day. More than 1,000 lots are on offer with art by Mark O’Neill, George Gillespie, Maurice Wilks, Jack Butler Yeats, Elizabeth Brophy, Geraldine O’Brien, Norman McCaig and many more Irish artists. The sale is on view in Kilcolgan today and the catalogue is online.
Aidan Foley’s collections sale in September was in association with de Veres of Dublin who will hold an Irish art and design auction on November 5. A feature of this upcoming sale is a selection of statement art works including large oils by Donald Teskey, John Shinnors, Barrie Cooke and Felim Egan with tapestries by Louis le Brocquy and Mainie Jellett. The auction will be on view at Kildare St., Dublin from November 2 and the catalogue is online now.
Mainie Jellett No. 3 is the title of this handwoven Ceadogan Rug at de Veres. UPDATE: THIS MADE 6,000 AT HAMMER
UPDATE: THIS SOLD FOR CHF 7,765,000 – US$8,859,865
A brooch commissioned by Prince Aga Khan at Cartier Paris in 1960 and shortly after gifted to his wife, Nina Dyer (1930-1969) comes up at Christie’s in Geneva on November 12, 55 years after it was last auctioned in the Swiss city. It was sold for $75,000 at the inaugural Magnificent Jewellery sale at Hotel Richemond in Geneva on May 1, 1969. This time round the estimate is $6 million – $8 million. It is adorned with a 37.00 carat emerald and accentuated by a row of diamonds, epitomizing the elegance and sophistication of its era. Like many of the beautiful jewels commissioned by The Aga Khan for Nina Dyer, she wore this exceptional piece at numerous prominent events.
At the Hotel Richemond in 1969 40 lots were offered, most of which belonged to Nina Dyer. The sale was a huge success, with the jewels selling for more than twice the estimates and the entire collection achieved over CHF 12.7 million. Dyer’s will stipulated that the proceeds from the sale of her jewels would benefit animal welfare causes in Africa, Asia, and Europe. This auction also marked the beginning of Christie’s long-standing tradition in Geneva, where auctions continue to thrive today, drawing collectors from around the globe.
A brick lacquered screen designed by Eileen Grey. UPDATE: THIS MADE 16,000 AT HAMMER
A black lacquered brick screen by Eileen Gray or an Italian oval dining table by Angelo Mangiarotti on two brass bases with a marble top? The essential designer look from back then is yours for the taking at the James Adam Mid Century Modern sale in Dublin on October 22.
Stylish sales like this have developed a loyal audience of specialist collectors. This one encompasses everything from artwork by Felim Egan, Patrick Graham, Bridget Reilly and Mark Francis to a transat (short for Transatlantic) chair by Eileen Gray, lounge chairs in the style of Gio Ponti, a chair and footstool by Charles and Ray Eames, ceiling, floor and wall lights, a maple two door side cabinet by Zelouf and Bell, Missoni rugs, Italian mirrors, Murano glass, coffee tables and drinks trolleys. This timed online auction is on view now at Adams, St. Stephen’s Green, Dublin.
An oval dining table by Angelo Mangiarotti UPDATE: THIS WAS UNSOLD
