THIS multi-strand, cultured pearl necklace, with an 18 carat gold clasp designed as a rose flowerhead is one of the more expensively estimated lots at Adams Jewellery Box sale in Dublin on December 17. The estimate is €4,000-€5,000 in a timed online auction where many of the nearly 300 lots are estimated at under €1,000. Among the are a ruby and diamond pendant (€400-€600), an amethyst, diamond and pink sapphire cluster ring (€500-€700), a pair of ruby and sapphire earrings (€500-€700), a silver mesh bib necklace by Elsa Peretti for Tiffany (€400-€600) and a pair of rock crystal and diamond drop earrings (€700-€900). Bidding begins to close at 5 pm on Sunday. UPDATE: THIS WAS UNSOLD
JEAN DUPAS (1882-1964) Set of Three Panels from the ‘Birth of Aphrodite’ Mural from the Grand Salon of The S.S. Normandie, circa 1934
The iconic ‘Birth of Aphrodite’ panels created by Jean Dupas for the Grand Salon of the famed liner S.S. Normandie made $378,000 at Christie’s two day series of Design sales in New York. The results were exceptional. The first sale featured a group of works by leading artists and designers from 1900 through to the present and achieved $11,408,670. The second was a showcase of works by glassmaker Louis Comfort Tiffany and the Tiffany Studio and it brought in $3,676,050. The highest prices were achieved by Les Lalannes, the iconic 20th century artist couple. François-Xavier Lalanne bronzes ‘Singe Alternatif IV’ made $945,000 and a black Bélier made $882,000. The third highest price was made by a ‘Singerie’ armchair by Claude Lalanne. The top lot of the Tiffany sale was a window – ‘Landscape with Magnolias and Irises’ – which made $705,600, three and a half times its low estimate.
TIFFANY STUDIOS ‘LANDSCAPE WITH MAGNOLIAS AND IRISES’ WINDOW, CIRCA 1910
A first edition of the first Harry Potter book. UPDATE: THIS MADE 13,800 AT HAMMER
The online sale by Hegarty’s in Bandon from 5 pm on December 12 will feature a first paperback edition of the first Harry Potter book, one of 5,150 copies in wrappers. Both paperback and hardback editions of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone were published on June 26, 1997. This one is estimated at around €3,000. The sale offers art by Graham Knuttel and a selection of antique furniture, collectibles and jewellery including contents from
John Doyle (1797-1868) – Portrait of Daniel O’Connell holding a pistol.
Daniel O’Connell’s monogrammed leather gun case made a hammer price of €950 at Marshs online sale in Cork today. It had been estimated at €1,000-€1,500. By coincidence a half length portrait of Daniel O’Connell holding a pistol by John Doyle (1797-1868), the Irish artist who was grandfather to Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, came up last week at Bonhams Irish sale. The estimate was just €700-€1,000. It was unsold in an auction where Paul Henry’s Killary Bay, Connemara made €140,500 and a portrait of Harry Clarke by Margaret Clarke made €51,200.
(See post on antiquesandartireland.com for December 3, 2023).
William Hurst Ashpitel’s prizewinning 1805 design for Ormond Bridge, Dublin. UPDATE: THIS MADE 11,000 AT HAMMER
A bound copy of one of the most elaborate 19th century publications on the Near East leads Fonsie Mealy’s two day rare book and collectors sale on December 12 and 13. This brimful of interest sale, being held this year in Castlecomer, offers rarities like the first edition of the first book by the first Irish author to write for a printing press rather than a scriptorum, important 1916 documents, the first Dublin All Ireland Hurling Championships medal from 1889, a lock of Oscar Wilde’s hair and the 1805 design for Ormond Bridge in Dublin (now named O’Donovan Rossa Bridge) by William Hurst Ashpitel (1776-1852). The design for O’Donovan Rossa Bridge near the Four Courts in Dublin is important because it was William Hurst Ashpitel of London who won the design competition in 1805. The bridge as it stands is as shown in his drawing, but the architects had previously been identified only as George Knowles and James Savage. This piece of architectural history is estimated at €5,000-€7,000.
A 1926 All Ireland hurling final programme (won by Cork). UPDATE: THIS MADE 3,000 AT HAMMER
Among more than 1,000 lots are a variety of GAA medals and other sporting memorabilia like a Bloody Sunday match ticket, a set of 26 views of Dublin by James Malton, a collection of Irish literature, travel plates and books and an unpublished letter by Michael Collins dated July 29, 1922 – just three weeks before his death – in which he states: “I am against shooting down unarmed men in any circumstances”. The first three volumes of The Holy Land, Syria, Idumae, Arabia, Egypt and Nubia by David Roberts and George Croly, published in 1842-43, is estimated at €10,000-€15,000. Duns Scotus Joannes by Maurice O’Fihily, Archbishop of Tuam – an edited commentary on the metaphysics of Aristotle believed to be the work of Duns published in Venice in 1497 – has an estimate of €8,000-€12,000.
An original Army issue Blueshirt tunic. UPDATE: THIS MADE 950 AT HAMMER
Among the other top lots are Dublin’s first All-Ireland medal from 1889 (€7,000-€10,000), a collection of 1916 documents including a rare copy of Irish War News printed during the Rising (€6,000-€9,000), Malton’s Dublin views and a lock of Oscar Wilde’s hair, each estimated at €6,000-€8,000. An edition of Bog Poems by Seamus Heaney illustrated by Barrie Cooke is estimated at €4,000-€6,000, as is a facsimile edition of the Book of Kells, and a copy of An Ideal Husband inscribed by Oscar Wilde.
A dummy rifle used in North Cork training during the War of Independence. UPDATE: THIS MADE 280 AT HAMMER
Among many lots of note is an original Army issued Blueshirt tunic (€1,000-€1,500), a rare dummy wooden training rifle used in the early stages of the War of Independence in North Cork (€300-€500) – this lot highlights the lack of basic equipment by those in Ireland who took on the might of the British Empire just over a century ago and won! – and a cheque written in 1920 by Terence MacSwiney during his brief tenure as martyred Lord Mayor of Cork to the Good Shepherd Convent. He disbursed his entire mayoral salary in charitable donations.The auction will take place at the saleroom in Castlecomer and online next Tuesday and Wednesday at 10.30 am on each day. The catalogue is online and viewing continues in Castlecomer tomorrow afternoon and all day on Monday.
A leather L shaped sofa by Fendi (€600-€1,000). UPDATE: THIS WAS UNSOLD
Art by Patrick Scott, Frank McKelvey, Charles Brady and Louis le Brocquy feature in the Christmas art and design sale at de Veres. The timed online auction closes next Tuesday (December 12) and offers 20th century pieces by designers like Charles and Ray Eames, Rolf Benz and Fendi.
Admission Ticket to Croke Park, Great Challenge Match (Football), Tipperary v. Dublin, Bloody Sunday, November 21,1920. UPDATE: THIS MADE 8,000 AT HAMMER
Viewing is now underway in Castlecomer for Fonsie Mealy’s Christmas rare book and collector’s sale on December 12 and 13. This rare Croke Park 1920 admission ticket is highly collectible. The period from 1918 – 1920 was a turbulent and dangerous time in Ireland. It was at this match that British soldiers opened fire on the pitch and crowd, killing a player and twelve spectators. This followed Michael Collins’ operation against British secret service agents earlier that morning, in which fourteen British officers were shot dead. The ticket is estimated at €4,000-€5,000. There are many rare and collectible items on offer in this auction of 1,019 lots which will get underway each day at 10.30 am. The catalogue is online.
Collection of 10 Midleton Very Rare Irish Whiskeys, 2015 to 2023. UPDATE: THIS MADE 6,500 AT HAMMER
This collection of Midleton Very Rare Irish Whiskeys from 2015 to 2023 comes up as lot 7 at Dolan’s timed online December sale with an estimate of €7,000-€9,000. The catalogue for this sale, which features 240 lots of 20th century and contemporary Irish artists along with antiques, collectibles, whiskeys rugs and books, is now live and will run until December 11.
Cecil Maguire RUA – SOME SHEEP FOR INISHLACHEN (€3,000-€5,000). UPDATE: THIS MADE 3,400 AT HAMMER
This Austrian gilt and ruby porcelain stein sold for a hammer price of €7,200 over a top estimate of €500-€800 at Sheppards in Durrow this afternoon. It was made around 1880. The reserve is hand painted with ‘The Triumph of Constantine’ and signed ‘Joeger Pinxt’. There is a leaf cast scroll handle with raised thumb piece and a domed cover on an outset gilt metal foot. The stein carries the Bidenschild mark. A large Regency crystal chandelier made €6,500 and another made €5,500, a walnut four poster bed made €6,000, a 19th century bronze garden sculpture of Mercury made €5,000, a Neoclassical white chimney piece made €4,600 and a marble Neptune fountain made €2,800.
Daniel O’Connell’s gun case. UPDATE: THIS MADE 950 AT HAMMER
Daniel O’Connell’s leather gun case is one of the more unusual lots at Marshs sale in Cork on December 9. The case, stamped with his name and Derrynane Abbey, is estimated at €1,000-€1,500. There is a similar estimate on a rare 19th century watercolour, The Strand at Tivoli, Cork by John E Bosanquet. Antique furniture on offer includes a Georgian four door breakfront bookcase, a four piece ivory inlaid bedroom suite, a set of Cork dining chairs, a Georgian inlaid chest and a French walnut ormolu mounted vitrine. The online only sale will be on view from December 6.
“The Strand at Tivoli Cork” attributed to John E. Bosanquet. UPDATE: THIS MADE 1,500 AT HAMMER
