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    SILVER FROM WELDON’S AT HIBERNIAN ANTIQUES’ KINSALE FAIR

    Friday, August 19th, 2011

    An Irish silver dish ring will be shown at Weldon's when Hibernian Antique Fairs visit Acton's Hotel, Kinsale on Sunday, August 28. (Click to enlarge

    These nine antique silver dessert spoons are by the Cork maker John Toleken. (Click to enlarge)

    These silver pieces will be at Weldon’s stand when Hibernian Antique Fairs visit Acton’s Hotel in Kinsale on Sunday, August 28.   The Irish silver dish ring was made in Dublin in 1939 by Weirs. Dish rings were designed for hot plates, and were the forerunner of the table mat.  In Ireland they are sometimes called potato rings.  When a liner was added, as in this example, they were used for serving potatoes.
    The set of nine dessert spoons are by the Cork maker John Toleken whose workshop was at Grand Parade. He was registered with the Goldsmiths’ Company of Dublin in 1798 and is thought to have been working in the trade as late as 1836.  These dessert spoons are asking 1,250 euro.

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    THE STORY OF AN ANTIQUE MIRROR AT MASTERPIECE FAIR

    Saturday, July 2nd, 2011

    The Linnell overmantle mirror.

    THIS English mirror conceived as a Chinese landscape (see antiquesandartireland.com post for June 30) features at the Masterpiece Fair in London until July 5.  It is being offered by Apter-Fredericks Ltd., who sell fine 18th century English furniture from their shop at Fulham Road, London SW3.

    It was made c1755 by John Linnell, possibly commissioned by Thomas Thynne, 3rd Viscount Weymouth and 1st Marquess of Bath (d. 1796) for his London house in Hill Street, Berkeley Square. It first appears in an 1896 inventory at 48 Berkeley Square following the death of the 4th Marquess of Bath.
    Sold at Sotheby’s in 1940 it became a prized possession of the celebrated Virginian hostess Nancy Tree, later Lancaster, famous for her taste as a London decorator through ownership of Sybil Colefax Ltd. and her partnership with John Fowler.

    The mirror at the tapestry drawing room in Ditchley Park. (Click to enlarge).

    It was following the Trees’ 1933 acquisition of the Georgian mansion of Ditchley Park, Oxford that the mirror was purchased for Mrs Tree’s Sitting Room, where it appeared in a watercolour made by Alexandre Serbriakoff. It travelled to New York with Ronald Tree (d.1976) and his second wife Marietta (d. 1991) and featured in the latter’s New York apartment illustrated in Arthur Schlesinger, Junior’s profile of her as ‘Chair’ of the Citizens Committee for New York City published in the Architectural Digest of March 1984.

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    MAGNIFICENT IRISH PIECES AT MASTERPIECE LONDON FAIR

    Thursday, June 30th, 2011

    THE discriminating (and wealthy) collector can acquire anything from a World War II Spitfire fighter plane to the fourth bible ever printed at the Masterpiece London Fair.  Collectors of Irish pieces have plenty to choose from.  Masterpiece is at the South Grounds, Royal Hospital, Chelsea until July 5.

    Masterpiece was launched in 2010 to fill the gap left by the Grosvenor House Fair. It is a showcase for top quality antiques, art and luxury goods.  The World War II Spitfire, the only surviving fighter used by the RAF in World War II, is a cool £8 million, the bible from 1462 a mere £1 million.

    The eye of antiquesandartireland.com landed on some great rarities.  Here is a selection.

    This George II giltwood mirror c1750 by John Booker of Dublin is distinguished by its scale. It measures eight feet by fifty five and a quarter inches. The asking price? £320,000.

    The wonderful patina of this mid 18th century Irish hunt table shows all the signs of centuries of use. It is 79 inches long and asking £38,000.

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    MORE FROM MASTERPIECE

    Thursday, June 30th, 2011

    This is one of the best examples of a Chippendale style mirror you are ever likely to find. It was made c1755 by John Linnell. Conceived as a Chinese landscape, the mirror plates are intended to represent water and be framed by twisting trees that hang over the water's edge, with cascading water and a bridge with a pagoda sitting above. The asking price is £680,000.

    It looks like a wine cooler but this sarcophagus shaped Regency piece veneered in plum pudding mahogany is actually a plate warmer. Made c1815 it has an Irish look to it and is asking £27,000.

    MORE Collectible pieces and furniture from the Masterpiece Fair in London, now one of the most eagerly anticipated fairs of the year.  It continues until July 5.

    One of a pair of George III satinwood pier tables once in the White House. The asking price is £395,000.

    This c1811 parcel gilt library table was once in Tyrone House in Co. Galway. It is asking £544,000.

    This George III giltwood chimney piece, attributed to Matthias Lock, is estimated at £850,000.

    A portrait of a boy by Nathaniel Hone (1718-1784) is asking £45,000.

    A GEORGE III MAHOGANY CABINET ATTRIBUTED TO WILLIAM VILE CIRCA 1760. There is a definite Irish feel to this piece which is asking £250,000.

    A Centre Table with a Royal Provenance from Windsor Castle, the design firmly attributed to A.W.N. Pugin. It is asking £185,000.

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    MIRO SCULPTURE MAKES $5 MILLION AT TEFAF

    Wednesday, March 23rd, 2011

    Oiseau Lunaire by Miro from 1945.

    A sculpture by the Spanish artist Joan Miró sold within hours of the opening of TEFAF Maastricht for $5 million. Oiseau lunaire, a 30cm high olive wood work dating from 1945, was sold to a private collector.  It was part of an entire room devoted to Miró by Landau Fine Art of Montreal. One of the earliest known sculptures by Miro it has not been seen in public since 1973.

    Dealers reported good sales across all sections of The European Fine Art Fair (TEFAF) with modern and contemporary art, antiquities and Asian art performing particularly well. Over 30,000 people visited for the opening weekend.  No less than 125 private jets landed at Maastricht-Aachen airport. Visitors included the World Chinese Collectors Conference from Shanghai with a group of 21 people, a party from the Museum of Fine Art in Boston, USA, and Wolfgang Heubisch, Minister of Culture in the Bavarian state government in Germany. TEFAF runs until Sunday, March 27.

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    ENID BLYTON’S DIAMONDS AT IRISH ANTIQUE FAIR

    Wednesday, March 23rd, 2011

    Enid Blyton's diamond and emerald necklace.

    Enid Blyton’s emerald and diamond necklace is one feature item at the 12th Irish & International Art & Antiques Fair. Dating from 1880, it contains approximately eight carats of natural Colombian emeralds and 10 carats of old cut diamonds.  The necklace is  set in 18 carat gold and silver and can be found at the stand of London based antique jewellery dealer Saul Greenstein.

    The fair runs at the RDS Dublin from March 25 to March 27.  It is aimed at both the seasoned connoisseur and the new collector.

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    FABULOUS JEWELS AND MORE AT TEFAF MAASTRICHT

    Friday, March 18th, 2011

    THERE are fabulous pieces to be seen in the Haute Joaillerie section at The European Fine Art Fair (TEFAF) in Maastricht.  Here are some to whet the appetite.

    The Graff blue diamond

    The Hemmerle vegetable collection.

    The aster brooch.

    The Chopard owl watch.

    Graff is exhibiting a 20.02 carat blue ice diamond ring.  The fancy deep blue diamond ring has white diamond shoulders. Each diamond pearshape sidestone is exactly one carat. The entire ring is 22.02 carats.
    Hemmerle Jewellers will unveil their new vegetable collection at TEFAF. The brooch illustrated is a white gold pod of five jade peas, speckled with demantoide garnets.
    THE Aster Brooch has a central cushion cut tourmaline supported by flame-shaped griffes bezel in yellow gold. It is contoured by a double circle of petals in white gold and brilliant-cut diamonds. This one-of-a-kind object of rare beauty and simplicity was created by Gianmaria Buccellati.
    At Chopard & Cie S.A. there is an Owl watch.  It is 18 ct white and rose gold set with diamonds (7cts), trapeze-cut diamonds (2cts) and trapeze-cut yellow sapphires (4cts).  It is from the ‘Animal World Collection 150th Anniversary.
    TEFAF 2011 has 260 exhibitors from 16 countries in nine sections. Some 30,000 works of art from the Neolithic Age to the present day are all rigorously vetted by 168 international experts in 29 specialist committees to ensure quality, authenticity and good condition.

    TEFAF Maastricht is launching the TEFAF Mobile Guide, an application for Android and iPhone, at the 2011 Fair. The application has been developed to help visitors get the most out of their visit to TEFAF.  It offers them a virtual tour, videos, an interactive floor plan, an overview of theFair’s sections, exhibitors and restaurants at the Fair and other information. It can be downloaded free at www.tefaf.com/mobile and from the iTunes AppStore and Android Market.

    (See antiquesandartireland.com posts for March 11, January 13 and January 6)

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    A MONET BY RENOIR AT TEFAF

    Friday, March 11th, 2011
    This painting, Femme cueillant des Fleurs (Woman picking flowers) depicts Camille Monet, first wife of Claude Monet, who died young.  The work by Pierre-Auguste Renoir (1841-1919) features at The European Fine Art Fair (TEFAF) at Maastricht. It is being sold through Dickinson by the Sterling and Francine Clark Art Institute in the United States in order to strengthen other areas of its collection.
    Important early Impressionist paintings are increasingly rare on the market. This one is a poignant reminder of a story of fierce jealousy involving Monet’s first and second wives. Camille Doncieux was 18 years old when Monet met her in 1865. She became his lover and the model for a number of  works in these early years. Monet’s father refused to accept her into the family because of her humble origins. Despite this the couple married in 1870.
    The lifelong friendship between Monet and Renoir was at its closest between 1866 and 1875. The two men often painted together. Camille was depicted in a number of their paintings including Femme cueillant des Fleurs, which dates from this period in the development of Impressionism.  A year after Renoir painted this picture, Camille became ill and in 1879 she died aged 32 , her already poor health worsened by the recent birth of her second son Michel.
    Monet’s second wife Alice Hoschedé destroyed all the material that she could find relating to Camille. Only one photograph survived the purge.
    TEFAF runs at Maastricht in The Netherlands from March 18-27.
    See antiquesandartireland.com posts for January 6 and Janaury 13.

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    CORK SILVER FREEDOM BOX AT LIMERICK NATIONAL FAIR

    Tuesday, March 8th, 2011

    The Cork Freedom Box presented to Admiral Whitshed. (click on image to enlarge)

    The inscription on the base. (click on image to enlarge)

    A 200 year old Cork silver freedom box, made by Carden Terry and Jane Williams and presented to Admiral Sir James Hawkins Whitshed, is to be a feature at the Weldon’s stand at  the National Antique and Fine Art Fair in Limerick over the weekend of March 19/20.

    A friend of Lord Nelson, and a pallbearer at his funeral, Whitshed was Commander-in-Chief at Cork between 1807 and 1810, when he was promoted to admiral, and was later Commander-in-Chief, Portsmouth, 1821 to 1824. He became Admiral of the Fleet in 1844.
    Born in 1762 he entered the Navy in 1773 on board the sloop Ranger on the Irish station. He was awarded a gold medal for his conduct at the battle of Cape St.Vincent in 1797. Promoted Rear-Admiral in 1799 he served under Lord St.Vincent in the Mediterranean. In 1803 he was promoted Naval Adviser to the Viceroy of Ireland and Vice-Admiral from 1804. He was responsible for the protection of the Irish coasts, for the building of Martello towers and organising the Sea Fencibles against threat of French invasion and organising the defences of Dublin Bay.
    The rectangular box, which weighs just four ounces, is centred by the arms of the City of Cork.  The inscription on the base reads: The Freedom of the City of Cork was unanimously voted by the Mayor, Sheriffs & common Council to Vice Admiral Whitshed for his great attention to the important duties of his station & their high respect for his public & private character. Thos. Harding Mayor, Josh. Leycester, Geo. S. Waggett Sheriffs, W.James T.Clerk
    The venue for the National Antiques and Art Fair is the South Court Hotel.   Weldons are just one of a number of members of the Irish Antique Dealers Association who will participate in this fair.  There will be more than 70 stands. Opening times are from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on both days.

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    VIP (VIEWING IN PRIVATE) BRINGS ART FAIRS TO EVERYONE

    Saturday, January 22nd, 2011
    CONTEMPORARY art collectors can readily access what major galleries have to offer this week.  The first on-line contemporary art fair opens at 8 a.m. Eastern (New York) time today.  The VIP (Viewing in Private) fair features 140 prestige galleries from around the world with big names like Hauser and Wirth, David Zwirner, Gagosian and White Cube.  This week they are showing 1928 works of art.
    The organisers are spurred on by the knowledge that the internet is growing. No less than 16 per cent of sales at Christie’s last year were carried out on the internet and half of these were new clients.  The idea came from New York dealer James Cohan. The VIP fair is modelled like most big art fairs.  Work is exhibited in booths.  Click on  a gallery and the art works are shown scaled against a human figure. You can use the zoom to see the details.  All this is free.  If you want more detailed information you must get a VIP pass, at a cost of  $100 for the first two days and $20 for the rest of the week.  The private viewer can enjoy tours and access price guides.  The price range is from less than $5,000 to over a million.  You can contact the gallery owner by text, telephone or Skype.  Deals can only be completed offline.
    Whether this works or not remains to be seen.  Even though imaging is very good I would not like to acquire a work of art I had not seen in a real rather than virtual way. The value of the fair for dealers is possibly in establishing contacts and expanding their reach in a global way. And it does not represent a major investment for dealers.  The cost of a booth ranges from $3,000 to $20,000.  The fair runs to January 30.
    As with the traditional fairs passes are being provided to more than 50 international museums for curators and high-level patrons. Participating institutions include the Whitney Museum of American Art, Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, New Museum,
    Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA), Whitechapel Gallery, Art Institute of Chicago, Serpentine Gallery, Kröller-Müller Museum, Mori Art Museum, Tate (American Patrons Group) and the Irish Museum of Modern Art.
    UPDATE:  Overloaded servers and sluggish response times have caused much criticism.  Organisers say problems were due to traffic from visitors from 130 countries.  They say these problems are being addressed.  As of noon on January 25  there has been 291,476 log ons to the fair and artworks artworks have been viewed over 4.3 million times.
    When the fair closed it emerged that artworks on the site were viewed 7.65 million times by visitors from 196 countries.  However the technical problems, particularly on the opening weekend, meant that some galleries found the level of sales disappointing.

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