This Chinese Tibeto gilt bronze sceptre with an estimate of €3,000-€5,000 sold for a hammer price of €30,000 at the opening session of Sheppards three day auction in Durrow of contents from Grange Manor, Co. Kilkenny and other clients. It contains the six-character reign mark of the Yongle Emperor (1402 – 1424). The makara head is above flowing lotus scrolls over a faceted pierced dorje handle. The Makara is a legendary sea creature in Hindu mythology. The Currach Fishermen by Liam O’Neill made €11,000, the Great Seal of Ireland of Henry VIII made €8,500, a pair of gilt console tables made €5,500, a Mughal hand woven carpet made €5,500, a tree of life carpet made €5,500, a Donegal carpet made €5,500, a pen and ink portrait by Jack B Yeats made €5,000, a gilt, bronze and marble clock garniture made €4,800, a George III inlaid bookcase made €4,000, a portrait of Anna Stewart by Nathanial Hone made €4,000, a large two tier Irish crystal chandelier made €3,800, a pair of 19th century Black Forest bears made €3,000, a 20th century Meissen figure of King Augustus on Horseback made €3,200 and an Irish brass bound peat bucket made €2,800. The sale is ongoing.
A full sized Irish silver replica of the Ardagh Chalice is among the highlights at Matthews two day auction of jewellery and antiques in Kells on November 26 and 27. The Ardagh Chalice is one of the greatest treasures of the early Irish church and represents a high point in early medieval craftsmanship. It was found in Co. Limerick in the 19th century and is on display at the National Museum. This replica by Weir and Sons is hallmarked Dublin 1909 and the estimate is €5,000-€8,000. The Sam Maguire Cup is modelled on the Ardagh Chalice.
19th century Killarney wood breakfast table at Aidan Foley’s sale UPDATE: THIS WAS UNSOLD AND IS UNDER OFFER
With big sales by Aidan Foley in Killarney, Shepperds in Durrow and Lynes and Lynes in Carrigtwohill next week collectors will be spoiled by an array of astonishing and rare choices as the winter selling season reaches it maximum point.
There is much to see and appreciate, from the finest of Irish furniture to a complete apothecary cabinet, a bronze stag, Patek Philippe and Rolex watches and even a Great Seal of Ireland of Henry VIII on vellum dated 1544.
The Killarney furniture including a museum quality davenport at Aidan Foley’s three day sale has aroused international interest. The retirement auction on behalf of Pat O’Connor of Killarney Antiques is now on view at the shop on the Cork road. The in-room and online auction with 1388 lots takes place at the Killarney Heights Hotel next Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday at 2.30 pm on each day.
A Killarney breakfast table, two davenports and a sewing table range in estimate from €3,000 to €50,000. There is a selection of Killarney trinket boxes, games boards, trays and travelling writing boxes on offer as well as antique furniture, a range of artists from Marshall Hutson to Maurice Wilks, Ann Tallentire and Sean O’Connor, mirrors, porcelain and collectibles including a 19th century estate bronze bell and an original Cork Examiner enamel advertising sign.
A pair of Meissen figural candelabras a Sheppards. UPDATE: THESE WERE UNSOLD
At Sheppards a pair of Irish 19th century marquetry side cabinets once in the Long Room at Kilkenny Castle will highlight a three day sale of contents from Grange Manor in Co. Kilkenny and other clients next Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. The estimate for this historically important pair of cabinets sold separately at the dispersal auction at the castle in 1935 is €100,000-€150,000.
The seal of Henry VIII grants various properties around Inistioge including fishing rights on the River Nore to Milo Barron Bishop of Ossory and his brother David. The estimate is €7,000-€9,000. More than 1600 lots will come under the hammer. Viewing gets underway today at Grange Manor, the auction is in Durrow and online.
A Patek Philippe man’s watch with an estimate of €50,000-€80,000 will lead the Lynes and Lynes sale in Carrigtwohill next Saturday (November 30). There are contents from Gurrane House near Fermoy which has been in the Blackley, Grant and Deane families since it was built in 1850. A collection of circus clowns in the auction (€2,500-€3,500) was amassed by a clown at Duffy’s. Circus and is being sold by his nephew. A set of fine Georgian Cork 11-bar chairs (€4,000-€5,000) and a Georgian dining table (€3,000-€4,000) should generate interest.
A going away outfit dating to c1850 at Lynes and Lynes. UPDATE: THIS MADE 460 AT HAMMER
Large old family houses contain hidden treasures. Among the signature pieces from Gurrane is a complete 19th century mahogany apothecary cabinet (€600-€1,000) owned by Dr. Travers Robert Blackley (1801-1876) and an 1850 going away outfit.. This was worn by Mrs Charles Deane (nee Grant), who married Colonel Charles Deane of Gurrane circa 1850. A Spanish School painting of The Virgin and Child distributing the Rosary to Saints and the Royal Family is estimated at €1,000-€1,500. There is a similar estimate on a Plan of the City and Suburbs of Cork drawn in 1832 by Thomas Holt. There will be local interest too in a Robert Stopford engraving of Cork Harbour and a large view of the Cork International Exhibition from 1903. Viewing gets underway in Carrigtwohill today.
The bronze stag is at Aidan Foley’s auction and there is garden furniture on offer at all three sales.
A close up of some of the clown collection at Lynes and Lynes. UPDATE: THE CLOWN COLLECTION MADE 3,100 AT HAMMER
Set of 10 Midleton Very Rare Irish Whiskeys, 2016 to 2024. UPDATE: THIS MADE 5,400 AT HAMMER
This set of ten Midleton Very Rare Irish Whiskeys, all in their original boxes from 2016 to 2024, leads Dolan’s live online auction of Irish paintings, rare whiskeys and antiques which runs until November 25. The estimate is €6,000-8,000. Among the artworks is Horseman and Hound, The Warrior a gouache by Evie Hone with an estimate of €4,800-6,000. There is a sketch by Sir William Orpen and art by Cecil Maguire, Mark O’Neill, Flora Mitchell, Charles Harper, Brian Ballard, Susan Cronin and many more. The catalogue is online.
Evie Hone – Horseman and Hound, The Warrior. UPDATE: THIS WAS UNSOLD
A 19th century Vietnamese Imperial ceremonial sword UPDATE: THIS MADE 370,000 AT HAMMER
An exceptional Imperial ceremonial sword leads the auction of Fine Asian Art at James Adam in Dublin on November 18. Inlaid with rubies and mounted in gold the Vietnamese sword dates to 1840 and is from the reign of Emperor Minh Mang of the Nguyen Dynasty. The estimate is €100,000-€150,000. There are 473 lots on the catalogue including prints, Oriental porcelain, jades, furniture, collectibles. The catalogue is online.
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.
