DIAMOND SINGLE-STONE RING The central marquise-shaped diamond weighing 5.41 carats. UPDATE: THIS WAS UNSOLD
This impressive D coloured diamond ring is lot 116 at the James Adam sale of Fine Jewellery and Watches in Dublin on December 7. The lot is accompanied by a report from the GIA laboratory in America stating that the diamond is internally flawless. With an estimate of €180,000-€220,000 it is the top lot of the sale. The sale of 177 lots features sapphires, rubies, emeralds and other gemstones set in necklaces, earrings, brooches, bangles, watches and pendants. Many different price ranges are catered for. The lot with the lowest estimate is a pair of enamel ‘ATTELAGE BERLINE’ pendant earrings by Hermes. They are estimated at €150-€200.
AN original copy of the 1916 Proclamation of the Irish Republic sold for a hammer price of €130,000 at Matthews online sale from Kells, Co. Meath this evening. Originally the leaders of the 1916 Rising planned to print about 2,000. Only 500 or so were actually produced. A scarcity of paper (the paper used was of the poorest quality, supplied by Saggart Mills), and the metal-type employed,affected its layout and design. The printed copies were run-off a dilapidated Summit Wharfdale Stop Cylinder Press operated by three men: Christopher Brady, the printer, and two compositors, Michael Molly and Liam O Brien. Most were destroyed when the British Army stormed Liberty Hall. The few that remained were pasted up on walls in and around Dublin on Easter Monday morning. Most of these were destroyed soon after being posted. In is now believed that only about 20 or so intact copies survived, with about three in private hands. This particular copy last changed hands at the Adams Independence sale of 2006 when it made a hammer price of €200,000.
An engraved facsimile copy of the American Declaration of Independence at Fonsie Mealy. UPDATE: THIS MADE 48,000 AT HAMMER
An original engraved facsimile copy of the American Declaration of Independence comes up at Fonsie Mealy’s Christmas Book and Collectors sale in Dublin on December 7 and 8. It was issued by Order of Congress in 1823 when it was noted that the ink on the original document was fading. The limited edition of 200 copies on fine parchment was executed by engraver William J. Stone. The copy at Fonsie Mealy’s has direct provenance by family descent to Charles O’Connor, the Irish American Democratic lawyer who in 1872 became the first catholic to be nominated for the US Presidency. It is estimated at €20,000-€30,000.
SIR WILLIAM ORPEN – THE ROSCOMMON FUSILIER. UPDATE: THIS WAS UNSOLD
Among the lots at Dolans auction on November 29 are a drawing by Sir William Orpen of The Roscommon Fusilier. The drawing depicts a young woman, with hand on hip, wearing a militia uniform, complete with military hat and plume. It is sketched on ‘Metropolitan School of Art, Kildare Street, Dublin’ paper. Orpen taught there in the early years of the 20th century. The sitter was Vera Hone and it is estimated at 9,000-12,500. A charcoal study of The Men of Aran by Sean Keating is estimated at 16,000-20,000. UPDATE: THE KEATING MADE €16,000 AT HAMMER.
The timed online sale features a selection of fine Irish whiskeys as well as antique furniture, silver and rugs.
Before settling in Rosscarbery in 1971 the late Anthony Bartley was one of the few to whom so much was owed by so many. The medals of the Battle of Britain fighter ace, once married to the Hollywood actress Deborah Kerr, are to be sold by Dix Noonan Webb in London on December 8. Squadron Leader Bartley, one of the founder members of 92 Squadron, is credited with at least 12 victories, eight damaged, a number of probables and possibles, and countless unclaimed.He cut his teeth over the beaches of Dunkirk, shooting down two enemy aircraft after his first dogfight on May 23, 1940.
On September 15, 1940 at the height of the Battle of Britain he survived against the odds. His description of what happened that day makes exciting reading. ‘I heard a cannon shell explode behind my armour-plated seat back, a bullet whizzed through my helmet, grazing the top of my head and shattering my gun sight, while others punctured my oil and glycol tanks. A 109 flashed by. Fumes then started to fill my cockpit, and I knew without doubt that I had had it, so I threw open my hood, undid my straps and started to climb over the side. As I braced myself to bale out, I saw my enemy preparing for another attack, and knew it meant suicide to jump with him around. Escaping airmen over their own territory were fair game in some combatants’ log book, and a friend of mine had been shot down in his parachute. So, I decided to bluff it out, climbed back into my aircraft, and turned on my attacker.My ruse worked; he didn’t know how hard he’d hit me, but he did know that a Spitfire could turn inside a Messerschmitt, and I fired a random burst to remind him, whereupon he fled for home. By this time I was too low to jump, so I headed for a field and prayed. At a hundred feet, my engine blew up, and I was blinded by oil. I hit the ground, was catapulted out, and landed in a haystack, unharmed”. The seven medals he was awarded come up with an estimate of £100,000-£140,000. After moving to Hollywood he formed European American Productions. He wrote and produced television films for Fireside Theatre, MCA and Douglas Fairbanks Presents. He moved to Rosscarbery in 1971 with his second wife Victoria. Born in India Bartley’s father was Sir Charles Bartley, an Irish judge who served in the Calcutta High Court.
THE 1947 WEDDING BETWEEN ANTHONY BARTLEY AND DEBORAH KERR. image courtesy Dix Noonan Webb
An original copy of the Irish Proclamation. UPDATE: THIS MADE 130,000 AT HAMMER
An original copy of the Proclamation of Independence comes up as lot 937 at Matthews sale of a single owner collection on the evening of November 30. This rare survivor – the most important document in the history of the Irish Nation – was issued by the Irish Volunteers and the Irish Citizen Army and read by Padraig Pearse from the steps of the GPO on O Connell Street, Dublin on Easter Monday 1916. This copy was last sold at Adams in Dublin in 2006. It is estimated at 120,000-€180,000.
A dispute over ownership has led to the withdrawal of the works for Youghal’s Clock Gate Tower from the sale by Lynes and Lynes in Carrigtwohill on November 27. Auctioneer Denis Lynes has now sourced another historic clock instead. On offer are the clockworks for a turret clock made by James Mosley in Waterford. It was originally in the tower of St. Anne’s Church in Cappoquin. It comes up with an estimate of 1,500-2,000. UPDATE: THIS MADE 2,200 AT HAMMER
John Shinnors – Girl and White Umbrella. UPDATE: THIS MADE 3,000 AT HAMMER
Girl and White Umbrella by John Shinnors is lot 56 at Dolan’s November online auction which runs until the evening of November 29. It is estimated at 4,000-6,000. The sale features art by Sean Keating, Sir William Orpen, Kenneth Webb, Mat Grogan, John Morris and many other artists. There is a selection of fine Irish whiskeys as well as antique furniture and collectibles among 252 lots on offer. The catalogue is online.
A military despatch from Michael Collins written on August 19, 1922 comes up as lot 838 at Matthews single owner collection sale on November 30. Just three days later, on August 22, 1922, the Irish revolutionary Commander in Chief was shot dead at Beal na Blath in Co. Cork. Matthews believe this military despatch to be his last written words. From the collection of the late Donall O Morain, former chief executive of Gael Linn and chairman of the RTE Authority It is estimated at €7,000-€12,000. It had been given to him by his uncle Finian Lynch, who served as an assistant secretary to the Treaty Delegation with Michael Collins in London and was Minister for Education in the First Dail. Lot 937 is an original copy of the 1916 Proclamation and is estimated at €120,000-€180,000.
The Military Despatch signed by Michael Collins. UPDATE: THIS MADE 7,100 AT HAMMER
A Cork silver tablespoon by Isaac Solomon. UPDATE: THIS MADE 220 AT HAMMER
More than 400 lots will come under the hammer at the Lynes and Lynes online sale in Carrigtwohill on November 27. The silver section includes a Cork silver tablespoon by Isaac Solomon, a Georgian silver ladle by Richard Sawyer, Dublin and a heavy tray by William Egan of Cork. Victorian pieces include a three door Victorian secretaire, an antique couch and an oak and brass hall stand. A pair of early 19th century porcelain plaques stamped Franz Xaver Thallmaier of Munich have an estimate of €2,000-€3,000. There is a Hornby train collection and comics from the 1950’s include The Dandy, The Beano, The Rover and The Eagle. More than 30 lots of books includes Evelyn Bolster’s History of Cork in four volumes and correspondence between Eamon de Valera and Jenny Dowdall of Cork. There will be interest too in a heavy cast iron water trough, a pair of old iron gates and an early plough by Pierce of Wexford. The catalogue is online.
