T.E. Lawrence | Seven Pillars of Wisdom, 1926, Cranwell Edition, Col. Pierce Joyce’s copy. UPDATE: THIS SOLD FOR £33,600
This copy of T.E. Lawrence’s Seven Pillars of Wisdom – an autobiographical account of his participation in the Arab Revolt – comes up at Sotheby’s in London on July 11 with an estimate of £26,000-£35,000. It is accompanied by a letter from Lawrence – subject of the film Lawrence of Arabia – to Galway born Colonel Pierce Joyce, expressing his relief that Joyce’s copy of Seven Pillars had reached him, expressing his own feelings about his book’s success, discussing Joyce’s recent retirement as military advisor to King Faisal of Iraq and move home to Ireland, mentioning his own Irish roots (“…We actually come from Killua, in Meath…”).
Col. Pierce Charles Joyce (1878-1965) had joined the Egyptian Army in 1907 and was a key figure in the British support of the Arab Revolt against the Ottomans from its outbreak in 1916. He was commanding officer of Operation Hedgehog, the British military mission to the new Arab army, meaning that for some time Lawrence was nominally under his command. In reality their work ran parallel, with Lawrence advising Emir Feisal – King of Iraq from 1921 to 1933 – on the Bedouin irregulars, and Joyce on the Arab Regulars. Joyce, like Lawrence, led operations against the Hejaz Railway; he also captured the Crusader Castle at Shobak, was responsible for logistical planning for the Allied advance northwards into Palestine, and commanded the armoured cars and artilllery that supported the Arab army in the second half of 1918.
An antique gramophone with wooden horn UPDATE: THIS MADE 420 AT HAMMER
With everything from a fine old Cork clock in need of full restoration and seascapes by Erwin Charles Gunther to an antique oak cased gramophone and a pair of Chinese Foo dogs modelled as lamps the sale at Lynes and Lynes on July 6 is brimful of specialist interest.
Viewing is underway in Carrigtwohill for a 372 lot auction made up of the remaining part of the estate of the late Roma Peare (nee Knox) of Kinsale, a residence at Templenoe, Kenmare, Co. Kerry and a house at Beaumont Avenue in Cork. A collection of old cameras is another feature.
A Cork clock by James Aickin UPDATE: THIS MADDE 360 AT HAMMER
A clock by James Aickin does not come up at auction every day. This longcase brass dial clock by one of the most eminent Cork clockmakers needs much attention and is estimated accordingly at just €300-€500. Aickin was a prominent Freemason active from 1738-1780 at a time when Cork was a major Atlantic port with extensive trade links to many European countries. Among his commissions was “repairing and putting up” the town clock in Youghal in 1777 for which £8 was set aside for him by the Corporation of Youghal. He manufactured both bracket clocks and long case clocks. One of his sons, George, became a clockmaker with premises at James St. adjacent to the Cork Courthouse, a centre for clockmaking in Cork before the advent of mass production. Other clocks include a table clock retailed by Mangan, Cork (€400-€500.), an Irish longcase clock by Robert Fishbourne, Carlow (€1,500-€2,000) and a French painted wood and ormolu Cartel clock (€1,500-€2,000).
A selection of lots on offer
The German artist Erwin Charles Gunther (1864-1927) is known for his seascapes and there are two of them in the sale, each estimated at €600-€1,000. A set of four William Harrington prints of Cork, each signed by the artist , are each estimated at €60-€100.
Collectors will be interested in an antique gramophone on a carved oak case, complete with a rare wooden horn and in full working order (€300-€500). Chinese Foo dogs are both popular and auspicious. Designed in pairs, male and female, they represent yin and yang. The female yin protects those dwelling in the home, the male yang protects the structure. The Foo dog lamps are estimated at €200-€300.
Among the more expensively estimated lots are a set of ten Cork 11-bar chairs (€1,500-€2,000), an old cut glass six branch chandelier (€1,000-€1,500), a set of six Cork 11-bar chairs (€800-€1,200), a Georgian style dining table with satinwood crossbanding
Paul Henry – Hillside Cottages – UPDATE: THIS WAS BID TO 50,000 AND WAS UNSOLD
THIS small oil on board by Paul Henry with a long Cork provenance is the feature lot at Woodwards sale in Cork today. Hillside Cottages has been authenticated by art specialist Dominic Milmo-Penny. It is possibly an untraced work exhibited under another title either at The Fine Art Society in London in 1934 or in New York and Boston in 1930. The painting has aroused significant interest. Woodwards, who last sold it at auction in 1964, say a label on the back indicates it was framed by John Gilbert, Patrick St., Cork in the 1930’s. The name M. Quinlan, 6-8 South Mall is pencilled on the back and the name “Quillivan” is written in chalk. It was acquired by Michael ‘Dick’ Donegan in the 1960’s and thence by descent.
The work is part of a small private collection with paintings by Grace Henry, Alexander Williams, John Faulkner, Joseph Poole Addey and Harry Scully also on offer. The auction gets underway at 10 am today and the catalogue is online.
The watercolour illustration for the first edition of JK Rowling’s Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone has become the most valuable Harry Potter item ever sold. It made $1.9 million at Sotheby’s sale of the library of Dr. Rodney P. Swantko in New York after a four way bidding battle. It had been estimated at $400,000 and $600,000 – the highest pre-sale estimate for a Harry Potter-related work.
The artist Thomas Taylor used concentrated watercolours with black pencil outlines. He was only 23 in 1997 when he made the iconic image of Harry Potter standing in front of the Hogwarts Express and it took him two days.
19th century lead fountain. UPDATE: THIS MADE 340 AT HAMMER
Maybe this is not the best June ever to talk about such garden features but water, as distinct from incessant rain and cool weather, can add interest, tranquility and even a touch of glamour to many gardens. You can take your pick from various ways of introducing decorative water at two days of sales at Sheppards in Durrow where the annual Glantelwe Gardens sale will be held next Tuesday and Wednesday.
The daddy of them all is a large bronze neo-classical fountain (€20,000-€30,000). Among the other choices are moulded stone fountain heads (€250-€350), a large Italianate stone fountain (€2,000-€3,000), a cast iron wall mounted miniature (€100-€150), an 18th century carved stone basin (€800-€1,200), a 19th century lead fountain (€300-€500), a set of Regency cast iron fountain heads (€500-€800), large moulded fountains and some wonderfully weathered offerings.
Nestled along the River Erkina at Durrow Glantelwe – by renowned garden designer Arthur Shackleton – is a superb showcase for a sale which includes statues, lions, urns, sundials, planters, benches, seats, patio set, staddle stones, estate railing and stone troughs. Viewing gets underway today and continues on tomorrow and Monday.
A large Portland stone arch. UPDATE: THIS MADE 3,000 AT HAMMER
The accessories of a Manchu gentleman at Adams. UPDATE: THIS WAS UNSOLD
The embroidered silk accessories of a Manchu gentleman and a fine pair of arts and crafts hanging tapestries or a suite of sapphire, ruby and diamond ring with ear clips and a homage by Harry Kernoff to Francois Boucher’s portrait of Marie Louise O’Murphy, mistress of King Louis XV of France, the choice is yours at sales in Ireland next week.
These unusual lots can be found respectively at a Fine Asian and African art sale at James Adam and Aidan Foley’s online auction of contents from the Convent of St. Joseph of Cluny in Killiney on June 25 and at The Jewellery Box sale at Adams and Morgan O’Driscoll’s online art auction on June 24.
If lot 101 at Adams is any guide the Manchurians dressed to impress. They conquered China in the 17th century, established the Qing Dynasty and ruled for more than 250 years, The 19th century gentleman’s embroidery yellow silk accessories showcase a peacock, three goats representing peace and prosperity and a phoenix surrounded by peonies as part of a set featuring a fan holder, a double gourd betel nut pouch, a wallet and a pocket watch holder. The estimate is a cool €6,000-€8,000. Among 574 lots on offer are Tibetan fabrics, Chinese ceramics, ritual bronze vessels, carved jades, gilt bronze figures, a Japanese lacquered tray, cloisonne, mother of pearl inlaid furniture and even a fetish statue from the Congo.
A pair of Art and Crafts hanging tapestries at Aidan Foley’s sale. UPDATE: THIS LOT MADE 720 AT HAMMER
Nearer home but no less exotic is a pair of Arts and Crafts hanging tapestries (€600-€1,000) at Aidan Foley’s online auction in conjunction with Niall Mullen of contents from the St. Joseph of Cluny convent offers all sorts of choices. There is a selection of antique furniture, a brass and gilded tabernacle, a walnut organ, a collection of linen, kneelers and church pews and ecclesiastical brass items. The sale will be on view at the convent in Killiney from today.
Early 20th century aquamarine and diamond earrings at Adams. UPDATE: THESE MADE 7,000 AT HAMMER
A pair of early 20th century aquamarine and diamond pendant earrings of chandelier design feature among an appetising selection of 289 lots at the Jewellery Box sale at Adams on Monday afternoon. The estimate is €4,000-€5,000, not quite as much as a single stone diamond ring of 3.01 carats graded as G colour which is, at €7,000-€8,000, the most expensively estimated lot of the auction. Other top lots include a diamond and sapphire crossover bangle (€6,500-€7,300), a pair of diamond pendant earrings (€5,000-€7,000) and three c1987 gem set Patrizia rings by Marina B with pink tourmaline, citrine and blue topaz (€5,500-€6,500). There are lots from €50 euro upwards.
Marie Louise O’Murphy after Boucher by Harry Kernoff at Morgan O’Driscoll. UPDATE: THIS MADE 2,000 AT HAMMER
At Morgan O’Driscoll’s online art auction next Monday evening Harry Kernoff’s homage to Marie Louise O’Murphy after Boucher is estimated at €2,000-€3,000. In later years Boucher’s painting was also referenced by Michael Farrell (1940-2000) who produced political versions in a Miss O’Murphy series in the 1970’s and ’80’s. There is a 2024 Famine Ship by John Behan (€15,000-€20,000), a Cubist Still Life by Nano Reid (€500-€700), continental landscapes by Letitia Hamilton (€6,000-€9,000), three offset lithographs from Andy Warhol’s Endangered Species series (1,500-€2,000) and Duffy’s Circus by Barbara Warren (€400-€600) among a particularly wide selection of art. All catalogues are online.
This exceptionally large mirror, probably by Robert Strahan, is lot 270 at Aidan Foley’s online auction of contents from the St. Joseph of Cluny convent in Killiney on June 25. There will be viewing at the convent from June 22. The sale is being held in conjunction with Niall Mullen and there ar e 388 lots on the catalogue, which is online. Subject to removal, the mirror is estimated at 500-1,000. The early shaped Victorian serving table on which it rests is lot 269 and estimated at 1,000-2,000. UPDATE: THE MIRROR MADE 740, THE TABLE 2,100
SEVRES ORMOLU-MOUNTED POWDERED LAVENDER AND GOLD-GROUND VASE c1805-1806 MADE $94,500. Courtesy Christie’s Images Ltd.
There was energetic participation by bidders and buyers from 33 countries at Christie’s online sale of two American collections which brought in $2,157,624. More than 200 lots of mostly 18th and 19th century European decorative arts were from the estates of two passionate collectors, Adolphus and Emily Andrews, San Franciso and Donald Bruce Wilson of Memphis. The top lot of the sale came from the Andrews collection, a rare pair of marquetry table screens made for Joachim Murat, King of Naples, which made $378,000, more than seven times its low estimate. The top lot of the Wilson collection was a Sevres ormolu-mounted powdered lavender and gold-ground vase which made $94,500.
This mosaic mural made with hand cut Venetian tiles is lot 433 at Sheppards Glantelwe gardens auction in Durrow on June 25 and 26. It is a large piece and the estimate is €3,000-€5,000. The catalogue for the online and live in Durrow sale of architural ornaments and garden lots is online and viewing gets underway on June 22. More than 600 lots will come under the hammer. UPDATE: THIS WAS UNSOLD
Guinness for Strength ad by John Gilroy featuring a sculpted man after Henry Moore. UPDATE: THIS MADE 3,000 AT HAMMER
If you frequented Irish pubs in the rare old times the gleaming advertising mirrors that surrounded you then are valuable collectible items now. In terms of cost at auction they trump objects including original artworks by John Gilroy from a valuable Guinness collection which highlights three days of sales by Victor Mee on June 18, 19 and 20.
The English artist John Gilroy (1898-1985) who worked with S.H. Benson – Britain’s largest advertising agency – created the iconic toucan and what is now instantly recognisable art for Guinness featuring the zoo keeper and animals enjoying the black stuff. Such is the global reach of this art that you could safely say that Gilroy was here, there and everywhere as well! His colleagues at Bensons included author Dorothy L Sayers, grand daughter of an emigrant from Tipperary, then a copywriter.
A framed Guinness toucan with a paintbrush pencil sketch by John Gilroy. UPDATE: THIS MADE 2,000 AT HAMMER
The collection of David Hughes, a brewer at Park Royal in London for 16 years, features among almost 1,500 lots at Victor Mee’s sale. He is the author of several books about Guinness including Gilroy was Good for Guinness and The Lost Art of Guinness. “After a long time in the business it’s a treat to come across a private collection of the calibre and esteem that David’s collection brags” auctioneer Victor Mee remarked.
The collection is still growing so Hughes has reluctantly decided to part with some of it. Framed sketches illustrated and signed by Gilroy including a Guinness for Strength ad featuring a sculpted stone man after Henry Moore, a Guinness Toucan with a paintbrush and pencil sketch, a koala on a branch with a Guinness bottle, a sketch of zoo animals running and a 1953 advertising artwork depicting the Guinness sea lion and an ostrich feature. Estimates for all these sketches range between €200 and €1,200.
A ruberoid Guinness penguin is estimated at just €40-€60 and other items from the collection include an ashtray with penguin, a 1920’s round cream plastic calendar, a pottery water jug and a grey stone bulldog.
Rare early 20th century Cork Distilleries advertising mirror. UPDATE: THIS MADE 9,800 AT HAMMER
An early 20th century Paddy Pure Pot Still Ten Years Old Irish Whiskey mirror made by the Dublin glass plate company (€5,000-€8,000), a Schweppes table cordial and cider mirror (€4,000-€8,000) and an early 20th century Hignetts reliable cigarettes dispensing cabinet on reverse painted glass (€4,000-€8,000) are the most expensively estimated lots. These are much sought after by publicans, hoteliers and collectors of memorabilia.
A number of other mirrors, a Shell advertising pump and an advertising clock with central mirrored panel are among the top lots. The most expensively estimated Hughes lot is a Guinness Time wall metal advertising sign depicting Gilroy figures of a seal, an ostrich and a man (€2,000-€4,000). Lot 1252 is a rare advertising showcard for Slattery’s Bacon and Hams, Tralee (€400-€600). The catalogue is online and the sales begin each day at 5.30 pm.
A Slattery’s Bacon and Hams Tralee advertising showcard. UPDATE: THIS MADE 750 AT HAMMER
