Pair of sandstone urns. UPDATE: THE CLOSING BID WAS RECORDED AS 8,000
These impressive sandstone urns, each 220 cm high, come up at Mullen’s timed classic and contemporary interiors sale which runs in Bray until March 13. The ovoid tapering urns, hung with ribbon tied floral festoons, are flanked by figural handles above a waisted sockel with square base. The estimate is 8,000-10,000, making this the most expensively estimated lot in an auction of 656 lots which is on view from March 10. Lot 2, an Arts and Crafts oak hat, coat and stick stand, is modestly estimated at 100-150. The catalogue is online.
Free State Penny (1921-1937) by Roman sculptor Publio Morbiducci (1889-1963)
A rare bronze Irish Free State penny from 1927 made for £17,360 at in a sale of Irish coins, tokens and historical medals at Dix Noonan Webb in London. Designed for a competition by Roman sculptor Publio Morbiducci (1889-1963) it is decorated with a harp, hens and chickens. Never put into circulation it had been estimated at £4,000-£5,000. It was purchased by an Irish collector.
RICHARD AVEDON (1923–2004) Bob Dylan, Folk Singer, New York City, 1963
This gelatin silver print from 1967 of Bob Dylan by Richard Avedon is estimated at $40,000-60,000. It comes up at an online sale of photographs from the collection of actor Richard Gere at Christie’s from March 23 – April 7. The 156-lot sale offers works spanning the entire history of the medium, including 19th century masters Gustave Le Gray and Carleton Watkins, to recognised early 20th century figures such as Edward Weston, Tina Modotti and Alfred Stieglitz, through notable contemporary icons of today including Richard Avedon, Diane Arbus, Irving Penn, Sally Mann, Robert Mapplethorpe and Herb Ritts. Many of the works were acquired directly from the artists, many of whom Mr. Gere counted among his close friends. The sale carries a low estimate of nearly $2 million.
Richard Gere said: “These photographs arrived in my life because I felt something for them. They have real soul, a humanity, a generosity – it doesn’t matter what the technique is. You know, you listen to an early recording of a great opera singer from 1902, when they just started recording – it’s scratchy, it’s trebly. But the quality of that voice, the soul of the voice, it still hits you hard in your heart. Most of the photographers here are not that interested in technique. And the ones that are interested in technique were coming from a deep, personal place, with a point of view, and understanding of the universe.”
GEORGIAN MAHOGANY DWARF LINEN PRESS, UPDATE: THIS WAS UNSOLD
This newly restored dwarf Georgian linen press is lot one at Hegarty’s auction in Bandon on March 6. There is antique furniture, art and jewellery pieces on offer including a yellow snake and moonstone pendant necklace, an Art Deco style diamond and ruby ring and a neatly sized secretaire bookcase with string inlay. The linen press is estimated at 900-1,200. The catalogue is online.
THIS Irish Regency convex mirror within a moulded frame surmounted by a carved eagle above a pierced stylized scallop shell sold for a hammer price of 5,200 at the opening day of Sheppard’s four day sale of contents from Erindale House today. It had been estimated at 5,000-8,000. An antique Irish spinning wheel made 550 at hammer and other hammer prices so far include the following: large gothic panelled peat buckets (1,700), neo classical marble chimney piece (4,200), pair of 19th century brass lamps (1,700), Edwardian Sheraton satinwood inlaid cabinet (1,400), Killarney wood chess set (3,600), Martin Finnin Abstract Study (3,300), large Donegal carpet (2,200), pair of brass bound campaign chests (1,500), 19th century kingwood games table (1,500), 19th century French ormolu clock (2,400), Celtic phoenix pattern runner (1,900) and a pair of brass bound peat buckets (2,600).
A large oak bookcase believed to have been made for the Cork Exhibition. UPDATE: THIS MADE €1,600 AT HAMMER
A large carved oak bookcase believed to have been made for the Cork Exhibition of 1902-03 is a centrepiece at Lynes and Lynes online sale in Carrigtwohill, Co. Cork on March 5. Contents from two house clearances which had been in storage and property from a religious order of nuns feature in this auction. The bookcase, which contained a note saying that it had been purchased by a Sr. Teresa, is estimated at €1,000-€1,500. Another piece almost certainly from the Cork Exhibition is a long oak coffer (€200-€400) with a carved front panel marked 1902.
Late Victorian and Edwardian Cork was eclipsed by the War of Independence and all the horrors it brought but the Great Exhibition of 1902, repeated in 1903, was the most comprehensive show the city ever mounted. Fitzgerald Park is among the legacies it brought to the people of Cork.The auction offers a wide variety of antique furniture, art and collectibles. A circular dining table with a diameter of 6’4″ is estimated at €3,000-€4,000 and there is an estimate of €300-€500 on a pair of reliquary stands believed to be from Mount Mellary. A late 19th century ships washbasin is estimated at €100-€200 and an American rug is expected to make €200-€300. A large 17th century painting of The Madonna and Child in a carved giltwood frame is estimated at €1,000-€2,000, a watercolour by Alexander Williams of Dromana on the River Blackwater is estimated at €100-€200 and a folding triptych with biblical scenes is estimated at just €60-€100. The catalogue is online.
George Mounsey Wheatley Atkinson (1806-1888) – one of a pair of large seascapes of Dutch sailing vessels on rough seas UPDATE: THIS WAS UNSOLD
The impressive four day sale which gets underway at Sheppards on March 1 goes on view in Durrow from today. The sale of the Governey Collection from Erindale House and other important Irish estates offers 1,584 lots with much to tempt collectors at all levels. A pair of Louis XVI gilt console tables is, at €10,000-€14,000, the most expensively estimated furniture lot. The highly ornate c1780 tables have rouge royale demi lune shaped marble tops above a central bell petal cartouche each one is raised on four square tapered and fluted legs. A pair of Edwardian satinwood bookcases is estimated at €10,000-€15,000.
When it comes to top lots these days jewellery tends to trump furniture every time. This sale is no exception. A platinum diamond and sapphire ring (€20,000-€25,000) is the most expensively estimated lot.Undoubtedly there will be Cork interest in a pair of large seascapes by renowned Cobh artist George Mounsey Wheatley Atkinson. Featured are Dutch sailing vessels in rough seas. Lot 1019 is estimated at €5,000-€7,000. Collectors of all things Irish will be interested in a large Dun Emer carpet on a red ground with a circular Celtic cartouche and enclosed by Celtic bird quadrants (€4,000-€6,000). The Dun Emer Guild (1902-1964) was an Irish Arts and Crafts textile studio founded in 1902 by Evelyn Gleeson initially in partnership with Elizabeth and Lily Yeats. They made tapestries for the Honan Chapel in Cork and a carpet presented to Pope Pius XI in 1931 as part of Ireland’s effort to host the 1932 Eucharistic Congress. Another lot of great interest to Irish collectors is a 19th century Killarney arbutus wood chess set. The tallest of the 32 pieces measures 10 cms. Lot 97 is estimated at €2,000-€3,000. Lot 98 is the profusely inlaid Killarney wood chess folding board with backgammon to the interior (€800-€1,200. Sales get underway at 10 am next Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday with over 400 lots on most days.
A Killarney wood chess set UPDATE: THE CHESS SET MADE 3,600 AT HAMMER, THE BOARD 850
Swift (Jonathan) – The Works. UPDATE: THE CLOSING BID WAS 1,500
This set of the quarto edition of the works of Jonathan Swift is lot 576 at Fonsie Mealy’s Rare Book and Collector’s timed auction which goes online from 5 pm today and runs until March 8. The sale includes the libraries of the late Henry “Harry” McDowell, Celbridge Lodge, Kildare and Dr. Nora Liddy of Wexford. There are antiquarian books, literature, travel, military history, directories, sporting, history, economics, Celtic studies, ephemera, periodicals and cinema posters among 700 lots. Lot 576 is estimated at €1,500-€2,000.
BUHL EBONY AND TORTOISESHELL BUREAU PLAT. UPDATE: THIS WAS UNSOLD
This bureau plat with ormolu mounts is lot 22 at Sheppards four day say of contents from Erindale House and other clients on March 1, 2, 3 and 4. Nearly 1,600 lots are to be sold with around 400 coming under the hammer on each day. A wide range of quality antique furniture, silver, art and collectibles is to be sold. The catalogue is online.
Victorian Cast Iron Bench with Hound Motif Arm Supports. UPDATE: THIS MADE 820 AT HAMMER
Spring may not be in the air quite yet but this Victorian cast iron bench, which comes up at Matthews sale of contents from Knockboyne House, Navan, Co. Meath and other clients on February 27, is a welcome reminder of warmer outdoor days to come. It comes up as lot number 2 in a sale of 674 lots which includes antique furniture, mirrors, rugs,, collectibles and silver.
AN INTERIOR VIEW OF KNOCKBOYNE HOUSE. UPDATE: THE TABLE MADE 600 AT HAMMER, THE CHAIRS 500
