An important Irish Provincial 18th Century two handled Loving Cup, by Joseph Johns, Limerick c. 1760’s
Irish silver made its mark at Fonsie Mealy’s Chatsworth two day summer fine art sale which got underway today. This two handled Limerick loving cup by Joseph Johns made €4,000 at hammer over a top estimate of €2,500. Other hammer prices included the following: an 18th century rococo style Irish silver coffee pot by William Reynolds, Cork (€3,800); An 18th century soup ladle by George Halloran, Limerick (€3,100); a c1770 provincial soup ladle by George Moore, Limerick (€3,000); a c1919 Dublin presentation salver by West (€2,600); a pair of 1770’s basting spoons by Phillip Walshe, Limerick (€2,500); a pair of c1750’s serving spoons by Joseph Johns, Limerick (€2,300); a c1740-50 pair of Irish table spoons by George Moore, Limerick (€2,200); a mid Victorian silver claret jug in the form of an Armada jug by Richard Martin and Ebenezer Hall (€2,100); a c1780’s Irish silver coffee pot by William Thompson and Michael Cormick (€2,000) and an 1841 tea and coffee service by William Hunter (€1,900).
18th Century Irish rococo Provincial Coffee Pot by William Reynolds, Cork
An oversized bronze of a crab at Victor Mee. UPDATE: THIS MADE 10,000 AT HAMMER
The possibilities seem limitless at two day sales by both Fonsie Mealy in Castlecomer and Victor Mee in Belturbet on May 28 and 29. A 16th century tapestry once in the Rathcormac collection of American actor Hurd Hatfield and the advertising mirrors from the old Clancy’s Bar in Cork city centre give some idea of the breadth and scope of Fonsie Mealy’s two day summer fine art auction with 1,200 lots.
You could opt instead for a seven foot tall bronze sculpture of a crab (€8,000 – €12,000) or a wrought iron Victorian style conservatory with remotely controlled windows (€15,000-€25,000) at Victor Mee’s annual summer garden sale.
Fonsie Mealy will offer art by Montague Dawson, Gerard Dillon, Harry Kernoff, Augustus Burke, Dan O’Neill, Sean Keating and others, quality affordable and decorative furniture, Irish Provincial and Dublin silverware, clocks and jewellery. Lot 723 in this sale is the Ladbrokes Epsom Gold Cup from 1963 (€3,000-€5,000). The Choice of Hercules, the Flemish tapestry from the Hatfield collection is estimated at €10,000-€15,000. The actor was best known for playing the lead in the Oscar winning 1945 film of The Picture of Dorian Gray.
Among the feature lots at Victor Mee are the Victorian bandstand from the famed St. Louis Convent in Co. Monaghan, a 19th century Carrara marble bath, a cast iron statue of a pig, a pair of majestic moulded sandstone lions, a sandstone fountain, a statue of boxing hares, a tree trunk bench and an Art Nouveau style stone figure of a lady along with an array of planters and gates, piers, pillar caps, steps and exterior lighting. Full catalogues for both sales are online.
A mirror advertising Paddy from Clancy’s Bar in Cork at Fonsie Mealy. UPDATE: THIS MADE 2,500 AT HAMMER
Some of the collection in situ at George Farrow’s home in Jersey.
This collectors home in Jersey demonstrates one way to show a wonderful selection. The George Farrow collection containing hundreds of sought after pieces from all over the world including rare art and antiques from China, the Middle East and Europe will come under the hammer at Roseberys in London on June 4. Brought up in South London George Farrow (1916-2001) rose to prominence as one of Britain’s largest private landlords after WWII. Post-retirement, his travels brought him to San Remo and Monte Carlo, but he ultimately longed for a British way of life and returned to his roots with his family. They converted Anne Port, an old farmhouse in Jersey, to house his significant collection of antiques. Farrow, who left school at 16, was inspired by childhood trips to Horniman Museum and the V&A and the literary works of Edgar Wallace and began collecting at the age of 12 or 13.
A 17th century North Italian marble relief of Marcus Curtius (Lot 45), acquired by a British private client for £91,240 against an estimate of £1,000-£1,500.
Highlights include a Berlin chinoiserie tapestry (£100,000-£200,000) showing the Chinese Emperor and other richly attired courtly figures around an elaborate dining table. It is attributed to the workshop of Jean II Barraband and Charles Vigne, after the design of a tapestry from the same series currently held in the collection of the Met. A pair of Chinese fishbowls (£30,000-50,000) exemplifies the zenith of Chinese export porcelain production during the reign of Qianlong. Two voided crimson velvet and silk 17th century catma panels (£20,000-30,000) are woven with repeating floral roundels of tulips, pomegranates and saz leaves and are a rare survival of court quality Ottoman velvets. The catalogue is now live at Roseberys.
UPDATE: THE SALE REALISED £1,071,000.
A fine and rare Berlin Chinoiserie tapestry. UPDATE: THIS WAS UNSOLD
1809 (21 June). Letter from Emperor Napoleon to General Lauriston. UPDATE: THIS WAS UNSOLD
A rare 1809 letter dictated and signed by Napoleon comes up at Whyte’s Eclectic Collector online timed auction which runs until June 7. Napoleon writes from Schonbrunn ordering Lauriston to move 80 carriages of munitions to Vienna and to return other munitions he may have back to the corps they belong to, as well as returning the out of service cannon to be restored in Vienna. The letter was dictated to and written by a secretary and clearly signed by the Emperor. This very rare Napoleonic letter in the midst of his conquests is framed with a translation of the letter into English, and an Archives de France export permit. The estimate is €5,000-€7,000. The auction of 582 lots includes historical artefacts, manuscripts, documents, photographs, books, militaria and medals, weapons, memorabilia including advertising, sport and entertainment, coins and banknotes.
This 19th century carved limestone entrance staircase is at Victor Mee’s annual summer garden sale on May 28 and 29. With its sweeping sides, five steps and pillared planters it is estimated at €5,000-€8,000. More than 1,000 lots will come under the hammer on consecutive evenings and the catalogue is online. UPDATE: THIS MADE 8,200 AT HAMMER
The Eden Vale bottle carrier. UPDATE: THIS MADE 3,800 AT HAMMER
This Irish Provincial bottle carrier comes up as lot 831 at Fonsie Mealy’s summer fine art sale in Castlecomer on May 28 and 29. The piece was commissioned by William Stacpoole, High Sherriff, Co. Clare, for his new residence at Eden Vale, Killone, Ennis, Co. Clare. It was probably made in Limerick around 1780 and arrives at auction by direct family descent. There is a rectangular removable top with shaped and pierced looped carrying slot, over eight compartments. The estimate is €4,000-€6,000.
A pair of giltwood palm tree lights by Maison Jansen. UPDATE: THESE WERE UNSOLD
A gouache by Martin Kippenberger, an Eames chair, a Three Wise Men watercolour by Andre Derain, a blackboard rug and a non conformist armchair both by Eileen Gray are among the many and varied offerings at the Mid-Century Modern auction by James Adam in Dublin on May 21. With just 222 well chosen lots the range of choice is extensive in a sale that reaches many prevailing tastes by reflecting the artistic and creative diversities of the 20th century.
Estimates range from just €100-€200 for a c1960 Italian cut glass bon bon dish with brass detailing to €40,000-€60,000 for Indian Summer, an oil on canvas by Wolfgang Paalen (1905-1959). The Austrian born artist was a key figure in many key 20th century art movements and this work was once in the collection of John Huston at St. Clerans in Co. Galway.
A non conformist armchair by Eileen Gray. UPDATE: THIS MADE 7,000 AT HAMMER
Modern furniture choices cater for many tastes with everything on offer from a c1960 teak oval extending dining table and a set of eight teak dining chairs by the Danish designer Arne Vodder (1926-2009), a Swedish teak boomerang desk of similar vintage, a c1950 Italian mahogany console with three drawers, an Italian rosewood drinks cabinet, a glass nest of tables with brass detailing, a three seater Danish sofa by Ole Wanscher, soft pad and office chairs by Eames produced by Vitra, an Edito armchair and footstool by Roche Bobois, a c1970 French perspex and chrome umbrella stand, cherrywood planters, brass and glass coffee tables, a pair of c1950 rosewood bedside cabinets from Italy, a David Linley mirror, a c1970 Italian burr walnut sideboard and an armchair designed by Philippe Starck for Driade painted by Jack Soro.
Alan Davie (1920-2014) El Secreto No. 2 UPDATE: THIS WAS UNSOLD
The art selection will sit comfortably alongside these choices. Among the Irish and international artists featured are Kaws, Albert Irvin, Felim Egan, Anne Madden, Mark Francis, Andy Warhol, Charles Tyrrell, Gwen O’Dowd, Jannis Kounnelis and Philip Flanagan.
Among other lots is a Wriggle chair by Frank Gehry, a signed ceramic vase by Vivienne Foley, a vintage Missoni rug by T & J Vestor, a pair of green and white wall lights in the style of Stilnovo, Italy, a vintage malachite chessboard, a “Le Mons” floor lamp for Claridges Hotel, London, a c 1970 pair of lamps by Hans-Agne Jakobsson, Sweden, a yellow c1960 vintage vase for Moretti and Nason, Italy, a large Dun Emer hand knotted wool carpet and a pair of giltwood palm tree lights by Maison Jansen, France c1970.
An armchair designed by Philippe Starck and painted by Jack Soro UPDATE: THIS WAS WITHDRAWN
Princess Diana’s elegance and a Royal Collection – the largest curated collection of Princess Diana’s items since her historic 1997 auction – will come up at Julien’s Auctions in Los Angeles on June 27. Before that sale highlights will be on view at the Museum of Style Icons and Newbridge, Co. Kildare from June 11 – 27. Fifteen spectacular lots from this dazzling collection will be showcased at an exclusive private exhibition at The Carlyle, A Rosewood Hotel in New York–the collection’s only North American preview–before the auction. A breathtaking constellation of Princess Diana’s highly glamorous gowns, dresses, suits, shoes, and accessories used in her most photographed appearances and most iconic style moments will be featured at her favourite hotel in New York. Diana was often photographed here and became part of the hotel’s storied history in the now legendary Carlyle elevator ride shared by Princess Diana, Michael Jackson and Steve Jobs when she sang “Beat It.”
On offer are Diana’s most iconic fashion statements such as a Murray Arbeid midnight blue strapless tulle Diamante Star gown with a fitted bodice worn twice in 1986, at the Phantom of the Opera premiere, at a dinner at Claridge’s for King Constantine of Greece and photographed by Lord Snowdon wearing the gown in 1997 for her charity auction ($200,000-$400,000); Diana’s off-the-shoulder Spanish flamenco-style magenta silk and lace evening dress designed by Victor Edelstein worn in London and in Hamburg in 1987 ($200,000-$400,000); ensembles designed by Diana’s favourite designer Catherine Walker including a pink floral shirt dress designed by Walker for her clothing label The Chelsea Design Company ($100,000-$200,000), a Victorian revival evening gown not worn in public ($100,000-$200,000), and Walker’s two-piece yellow and navy skirt suit Diana was photographed wearing in 1989 in Hong Kong during a visit to Tamar, a British Forces shore base and when Diana gave a speech and awarded the Gopaul family the award for Family of the Year in London in 1990 ($30,000-$50,000).
This 202 carat Yellow Rose diamond sold for CHF6,095,000 /US$6,710,595, the second highest price ever paid for a yellow stone above 200cts at Christie’s.
The Magnificent Jewels auction at Christie’s in Geneva today totalled CHF49,242,200 / US$54,215,662, with deep bidding from a full saleroom, on the phones and online. Led by the Yellow Rose diamond of 202 carats the auction was 97% sold by lot and 98% sold by value. Max Fawcett, Head of Jewels Europe commented: “There is nothing better as an auctioneer than a full and engaged sale room, and to achieve such strong results – 97% by lot and 140% of the low estimate – is remarkable. The market for coloured gemstones and signed jewellery is on fire and I could not think of a better way to start the 2024 season. We now look forward to Hong Kong, New York, Paris and London.”
Montague Dawson (1895-1973) – The Clipper Ship Flying Fish c. 1950. UPDATE: THIS WAS UNSOLD
Montague Dawson’s oil on canvas of the Flying Fish is the most expensively estimated lot at Fonsie Mealy’s two day fine art sale in Castlecomer on May 28 and 29. With an estimate of €15,000-€20,000 it shows the clipper ship in full sail. A catalogue note by Peter Murray recounts how after the discovery of gold in California and the opening of the China tea trade to competition in 1849, several clippers, including Flying Fish and Flying Cloud, were built at Donald McKay’s shipyard in Boston. Launched in 1851, Flying Fish made the voyage from Boston to San Francisco, via Cape Horn, in a record-breaking ninety-two days. Owned by Samson and Tappan, the ship had a glorious career. It was one of the fastest every built by McKay, and under the command of Captain Edward Nickels, rounded Cape Horn seven times. It features in several paintings by Dawson, including studies in oil and watercolour. It is, Murray says, one of Montague Dawson’s finest depictions of ships at sea.
