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.
The complete bar from Kiely’s of Mount Merrion at Aidan Foley’s sale. UPDATE: THIS MADE 2,600 AT HAMMER
The complete bar from Kiely’s of Mount Merrion or a De Sede white modular sofa first launched in 1972 – the choice is yours at upcoming auctions by Aidan Foley and James Adam this month.
The sofa would have been very much out of place in a traditional setting like Kiely’s but would make itself very much at home in any large luxurious contemporary space. Designed by Eleanoa Peduzzi-Riva, Ueli Berger, Klaus Vogt and Heinz Ulrich it is complete with 22 sections with which multiple compositions can be created. At their Mid Century Modern sale in Dublin on May 21 Adams estimate it at €10,000-€15,000.
The bar at Kiely’s is a real deal throwback, laden with memory. It is a highlight at Aidan Foley’s online auction in conjunction with Niall Mullen at Oldcastle on May 21 and 22. All sorts of pub memorabilia will come under the hammer and the catalogue is online. The estimate on the complete bar is a mere €1,000-€2,000.
DS-600 modular sofa in white leather at James Adam. UPDATE: THIS MADE 14,000 AT HAMMER
The Allnatt, a fancy vivid yellow diamond of 101.29 carats at Sotheby’s, Geneva. UPDATE: THIS WAS NOT SOLD
Kashmir sapphires, Burmese rubies, Colombian emeralds and lots and lots of diamonds – what’s not to like? Traditionally this is the month for sales which bring a global audience of very rich buyers to Geneva for eye watering jewels with all sorts of exotic provenance and stories histories.
The collections of modern and historic jewellery at sales like these are fascinating. Some lots make millions. But passion for fine jewellery is not the exclusive preserve of the super rich. There will be plenty of pickings for the rest of us at sales on May 14 at both James Adam in Dublin and Matthews in Kells and O’Reilly’s in Dublin on May 15 with no shortage of choices across all price levels.
An exceptional pigeon’s blood ruby and diamond ring at Christie’s. The 5.03 carat ruby originated in Burma (Myanmar). UPDATE: THIS MADE 1 MILLION CHF AT HAMMER (€1.02 MILLION)
On the international scene yellow diamonds are the flavour of the month this month. Christie’s will offer The Yellow Rose in Geneva on May 15, an unmounted rare fancy intense yellow pear modified and brilliant cut diamond of 202.18 carats. Like most intense yellow diamonds it is from South Africa where deposits are rich in nitrogen.
Sotheby’s claim to have one of the world’s most significant fancy vivid yellow diamonds as a highlight of their magnificent jewels sale in Geneva on May 14. The Allnatt – named for its first recorded owner Major Alfred Allnatt, renowned British racehorse owner, philanthropist and patron of the arts – weighs in at 101.29 carats and is celebrated for its richly saturated gold colour, older cutting style and elegant 1950’s mounting by Cartier. It too originates in South Africa and the estimate is 5.6 million – 6.5 million Swiss francs (€5.74 million – €6.67 million).
Both sales are distinguished by one of a kind pieces and historic and modern jewellery from houses like Harry Winston, Cartier, Van Cleef & Arpels, Tiffany, JAR and many others.
Turquoise, lapis lazuli and diamond bracelet at Adams. UPDATE: THIS MADE 19,000 AT HAMMER
Meantime in Ireland viewing is underway both in Dublin and in Kells for the jewellery sales on May 14 at Adams and Matthews and the regular monthly jewellery and silver sale at O’Reilly’s of Francis St. in Dublin takes place on Wednesday. Top lots at Adams include a c1960 Serpenti bracelet watch and a ruby and diamond ring both by Bulgari. Each is estimated at €40,000-€60,000. A rare turquoise, lapis lazuli and diamond bracelet by Fred, Paris c1960 is estimated at €20,000-€30,000.
A Trinity bangle by Cartier is estimated at €6,000-€8,000 while a Trinity ring by the same maker (€700-€900) is one of a selection of lots available at under €1,000 in a catalogue with 268 lots in total.
A vintage diamond and enamel ring by David Morris hallmarked London 1975 is the top lot at O’Reilly’s with an estimate of €58,000-€65,000. It comes with a gold rope link and black enamel surround. A total of 234 lots will come under the hammer.
A selection of lots from Matthews
In Kells the auction at Matthews will offer silver and gold from various executor instructions, pawnbrokers unredeemed pledges and lots from private clients. The top lot is a Toi et Moi diamond ring (€12,000-€18,000). There is much to choose from in a wide selection of rings, brooches, bracelets, earrings, pendants and wristwatches. Happy hunting….
The Freedom of the City of Waterford. A Rare Irish gold Freedom Box, William Currie, Dublin, 1752-3. UPDATE: THIS SOLD FOR CHF 19,050 (€19,435)
This gold freedom box from an American family collection comes up at Sotheby’s sale of gold boxes and Faberge in Geneva which runs until May 13. It was one of three gold and one silver-gilt freedom boxes given to Lionel Cranfield Sackville, Duke of Dorset, as follows: Waterford, by William Currie, Dublin, circa 1752, (the current box); Kilkenny, also by Currie, Dublin, 1753; Trinity College, Dublin by David King, Dublin,1733, all gold, and in silver-gilt, Wexford, also by Currie, circa 1755. The arms on the cover are those of the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Lionel Cranfield Sackville, 10th Earl and 1st Duke of Dorset, 1687-1765, K.G., P.C., twice Lord Lieutenant of Ireland (1730-37 and 1751-55). The estimate is 15,000-25,000 CHF (€15,350-€25,580).
A c1838 Cork cream jug with melon body by Richard Garde. UPDATE: THIS MADE 600 AT HAMMER
In Ireland we have a knack for a material that lends grace, style and permanence to all sorts of settings and occasions. So in a fickle era when fashion in antiques and everything else is fast moving it is heartening that silver has retained an enduring appeal.
Special silver sales at Woodwards in Cork, like the one coming up on May 11 are always popular. This one offers some Cork silver – always a draw for serious collectors – along with a selection of Irish flatware, Georgian and Victorian English silverware and plate and the estate of a collector of Royal Irish Silver. Prime lots include a 1970 pair of heavy entree dishes and covers with detachable handles by the Royal Irish Silver Co., Dublin (€2,000-€3,000), a c1775 sugar bowl with scalloped rim by Peter Wills, Cork (€700-€1,000), a c1838 cream jug with melon panelled body by Richard Garde, Cork (€500-€1,000), a pair of 1961 sauce boats (€600-€800) and an Irish butter pail design sugar bowl (€400-€800) both by William Egan and Sons.
A sugar bowl of butter pail design by William Egan & Sons Cork, with Gleninsheen Collar commemorative hallmark for 1973. UPDATE: THIS MADE 850 AT HAMMER
This extremely rare penny from the Reign of King Sitric comes up at Noonan’s in London on May 9. It is part of a selection of 100 Irish coins from the collection of US based Michael McKeever. The penny from the reign of Sitric imitating the English Long Cross coinage, was made by a moneyer named Aelwine and carries an English mint signature although it was struck in Dublin. It is in extremely fine condition. The estimate is £2,000-2,600. Sitric, who died in 927, was King of Dublin and King of Northumbria.
Another highlight is a rare groat (a silver coin worth four pence) from the reign of King Richard III who was on the throne for just two years. Struck at the Dublin mint is estimated at £1,200-1,500. The cover of the catalogue features a very rare example of a Crown Groat from the Dublin mint, struck during the reign of Edward IV (1461-1470). It is estimated at £1,500-2,000.
A PAIR OF GILT CIRCULAR COCKTAIL TABLES, MADE FOR THE RITZ HOTEL, PARIS. UPDATE: THESE MADE 3,800 AT HAMMER
This pair of gilt circular cocktail tables custom made for the Ritz Hotel in Paris and removed when renovated in 2018 come up as lot 23 at de Veres international Art and Design auction in Dublin on April 30. They are estimated at €1,200-€1,800. The sale features chairs from the Louvre, a Golden Egg chair designed by Arne Jacobsen and Ron Arad designed chairs. The Golden Age of stylish and functional Danish design, from the 1940’s to the 1960’s, is well represented too. It remains popular today as it works in traditional and contemporary spaces. There is art by Pierre Soulages, William Scott, Felim Egan and Barry Flanagan.
A first edition of Lewis Carroll’s Through the Looking Glass, a set of four 18th century armorial hall chairs and a portrait of Thomas Wyndham by the Dutch painter Simon Pietersz Verelst (1644-1721) from Christie’s sale at Adare Manor in 1982 come up at Hegarty’s sale in Bandon on April 30. The auction features The Durrus Collection and includes items from the estate of Major Ian Alexander Dorling Thomson who was awarded a Military Cross in 1953. The jewellery selection includes a yellow gold pink sapphire and diamond floral ring where the central petals revolve (pictured above). UPDATE: THE RING WAS UNSOLD
A woodblock print by Hiroshi Yoshida. UPDATE: THIS MADE 7,000 AT HAMMER
A west Cork collection of 18th century Irish and Oriental artefacts assembled by an investment banker is included in four days of sales with more than 1,800 lots at Sheppards in Durrow next week. Among the lots from west Cork is a set of Japanese woodblock prints from the series Seto inland sea by Hiroshi Yoshida (1876-1950), a pair of 19th century Meissen parakeets and a pair of 19th century Meissen plates.
A 17th century Flemish tapestry, a pair of Chippendale elbow chairs from Malahide Castle, a 17th century silver chalice from the Tim O’Mahony Collection, Kilkenny, an Irish 18th century wake table, four 18th century Chippendale chairs from the estate of Yehudi Menuhin and a long Donegal runner supplied by Robert Kime to Clarence House, home of King Charles and Queen Camilla add considerable interest to this auction.
The Great Irish Interiors sale takes place on April 30 and May 1. Curated jewellery will come under the hammer at Sheppards on May 2 with top brands like Cartier, Boucheron and Dior and the Irish Vernacular sale on May 3 offers a c1880 three wheeled bike, dug out chairs, hedge chairs and a Penal Cross. Viewing for all these sales gets underway in Durrow today and the catalogue is online.
This blue ground with trellis panel Donegal runner at Sheppards was supplied by Robert Kime to Clarence House. UPDATE: THIS WAS UNSOLD
