THIS is an Irish Georgian economy dining table. Comprised of a fold over tea table, a double drop leaf table and a single drop leaf table it can function three ways. Fully extended it measures three metres in length. Each table is raised on ring turned legs with rounded pad feet. It comes up at Hegarty’s live online auction from Bandon, Co. Cork on October 10 with an estimate of €2,000-€3,000.
According to Christie’s there is an intriguing possibility that this remarkable pair of George II giltwood console tables could be Irish. A closely related pair was supplied to Marcus Beresford, 1st Earl of Tyrone (1694-1763) for his country seat at Curraghamore, Co. Waterford and Thomas Johnsons influential Collection of Designs published in 1798 featured similar tree form consoles. These consoles come up at Christie’s Exceptional Sale in New York on October 13 with an estimate of $100,000-$150,000 (€85,3230-€127,985). UPDATE: THESE SOLD FOR $187,500
AN iconic, private collection of Fabergé masterpieces from the collection of Harry Woolf takes place live at Christie’s in London on November 29 during the Autumn Russian Art sales season. There are 86 pieces from Mr. Woolf’s extraordinary Fabergé collection personally composed over a period of nearly fifty years from the 1970’s until 2019. They range from jewelled hardstone animals and decorative photograph frames, to pill boxes, scent bottles, silver pieces and jewellery. Harry Woolf is recognised for having collected only the very finest examples and has one of the most exemplary Fabergé collections known to have been curated by any private collector in the last fifty years. The study of wild strawberries pictured here is estimated at £200,000-300,000.
More than ten rare pieces from this prestigious collection (not included in Christie’s sale) are included in the forthcoming Fabergé: From Romance to Revolution exhibition at the V&A in London. This opens on November 20.
UPDATE: THE SALE REALISED £5,203,250, MORE THAN DOUBLE THE PRE-SALE LOW ESTIMATE
This is one of a pair of unusual Irish brass bound mahogany turf buckets similar to a bucket housed in Powerscourt House. The pair comes up as lot 92 at Victor Mee’s third annual Palace Collection sale in Co. Cavan today, tomorrow and Thursday. The estimate is €3,000-€6,000. There is an array of hand-picked, rare interiors items from across many periods in this auction of 1,498 lots. This online sale, held at a former Bishops Palace, has been a full year in the making. UPDATE: THESE MADE 3,000 AT HAMMER
This Regency rosewood cased compendium of games comes up at the opening day of Sheppards three day Legacy of the Big House auction today. Made by Leuchars of Piccadilly, London, there is a comprehensive fitted interior with various games. Lot 147 is estimated at €800-€1,200. UPDATE: THIS MADE 900 AT HAMMER
This diamond and ruby bangle – a sleek and sophisticated Cartier reinterpretation of the Art Deco style – was the first anniversary gift the Duchess of Windsor received from her husband, the Duke of Windsor, on June 3, 1938. It comes up at Christie’s in Geneva on November 9 with an estimate of CHF 1 million – CHF 2 million (€920,000-€1.85 million). It is inscribed “For our first anniversary of June third”. At the time the couple were holidaying on the French Riviera in Antibes at the Villa La Croë. In December 1936, Edward VIII famously abdicated the British throne to marry the twice-divorced American Wallis Warfield Simpson. They were married in France at the Château de Candé in June 1937. It comes to auction for the first time since the landmark auction of 1987 Jewels of the Duchess of Windsor,
Anyone looking for a stuffed giraffe? Among the more unlikely lots at Victor Mee’s third annual Palace Collections Sales on September 28, 29 and 30 is a rare shoulder and head taxidermy giraffe. The sale at the former bishops palace at Kilmore, Co. Cavan offers interior items from across many collecting periods. There are two exceptional Irish Georgian fireplaces as well an Irish Georgian giltwood pier mirror and an Irish Georgian longcase clock. A pair of large 18th century Flemish tapestries will arouse international interest as will an oil on canvas of a nobleman by Frans Stampert (1675-1750).
An 18th century Chinese Chippendale table, a set of 19th century painted breakfront shelves, a pair of armorial chairs, Sevres and Oriental porcelain and a neo classical white marble chimney piece are among the many delights at three days of sales by Sheppards of Durrow from September 28-30. The Legacy of the Big House auction includes the collection of the late Patrick Martin of Coolattin Lodge in Co. Wicklow.
This tasty sale of more than 1,000 lots across varying price ranges is broken up into five separate sessions. It offers jewellery, silver, Chinese porcelain pieces, artworks, pairs of armchairs, cabinets, mirrors, lighting, an Anglo-Indian hardwood cabinet and collectibles including a cased model of the Titanic. The catalogue is online and there is viewing in Durrow today, tomorrow and Monday from 10.30 am to 5 pm on each day.
The contents of Lotaville, Lower Glanmire Road, Cork will be included at a live and online three day sale by Aidan Foley in Sixmilebridge, Co. Clare on September 26, 27 and 28. Among them are a watercolour by Joseph Carey of Blackrock Castle, Cork (€400-€600), A View on the Thames by Augustus Burke (€6,000-€10,000), a set of 12 Cork mahogany dining chairs (€3,000-€5,000) and a tennis bracelet (€12,000-€16,000). Viewing gets underway today. The sale of 2,000 lots will include contents from houses in Adare and Nenagh.
This exceptionally fine copy of the Monuments of Egypt and Nubia by Ippolito Rosellini housed in a custom made mahogany case sold for a hammer price of 74,000 at Fonsie Mealy’s sale of the library at Howth Castle today. The first edition of the elephant folio, Pisa, 1832-1834 with plates is inscribed: “Presented by his Grace the Duke of Northumberland K.G.F.R.S. President R.I.,”. The lot came together with a second set in original condition with plates in original wrappers and a complete set of the original text volumes.