A pair of Art Nouveau figures on marble bases UPDATE: THESE MADE 300 AT HAMMER
Lovers of antique furniture, and there are still plenty of them out there, will find plenty of options that are both affordable and attractive, not to mention sustainable, at Marshs sale in Cork on June 12. The selection on offer ranges from an antique Queen Anne walnut bureau bookcase (€2,000-€3,000) and a pair of early Irish Georgian dining chairs (€1,500-€2,000) to an early walnut secretaire campaign chest (€500-€800) and a set of eight Cork dining chairs (€800-€1,000).
There is a choice of card tables led by a Regency marquetry inlaid example (€500-€1,000) as well as a large oval end Victorian dining table with an estimate of just €1,000-€1,500. There are collectible lithographs of Cork Harbour scenes by Robert Stopford and others, some Waterford Crystal and a private collection of around 150 lots of Irish, English and European coins.
A pair of Edwardian knife boxes. UPDATE: THESE MADE 600 AT HAMMER
An oversized bronze of a crab at Victor Mee. UPDATE: THIS MADE 10,000 AT HAMMER
The possibilities seem limitless at two day sales by both Fonsie Mealy in Castlecomer and Victor Mee in Belturbet on May 28 and 29. A 16th century tapestry once in the Rathcormac collection of American actor Hurd Hatfield and the advertising mirrors from the old Clancy’s Bar in Cork city centre give some idea of the breadth and scope of Fonsie Mealy’s two day summer fine art auction with 1,200 lots.
You could opt instead for a seven foot tall bronze sculpture of a crab (€8,000 – €12,000) or a wrought iron Victorian style conservatory with remotely controlled windows (€15,000-€25,000) at Victor Mee’s annual summer garden sale.
Fonsie Mealy will offer art by Montague Dawson, Gerard Dillon, Harry Kernoff, Augustus Burke, Dan O’Neill, Sean Keating and others, quality affordable and decorative furniture, Irish Provincial and Dublin silverware, clocks and jewellery. Lot 723 in this sale is the Ladbrokes Epsom Gold Cup from 1963 (€3,000-€5,000). The Choice of Hercules, the Flemish tapestry from the Hatfield collection is estimated at €10,000-€15,000. The actor was best known for playing the lead in the Oscar winning 1945 film of The Picture of Dorian Gray.
Among the feature lots at Victor Mee are the Victorian bandstand from the famed St. Louis Convent in Co. Monaghan, a 19th century Carrara marble bath, a cast iron statue of a pig, a pair of majestic moulded sandstone lions, a sandstone fountain, a statue of boxing hares, a tree trunk bench and an Art Nouveau style stone figure of a lady along with an array of planters and gates, piers, pillar caps, steps and exterior lighting. Full catalogues for both sales are online.
A mirror advertising Paddy from Clancy’s Bar in Cork at Fonsie Mealy. UPDATE: THIS MADE 2,500 AT HAMMER
Some of the collection in situ at George Farrow’s home in Jersey.
This collectors home in Jersey demonstrates one way to show a wonderful selection. The George Farrow collection containing hundreds of sought after pieces from all over the world including rare art and antiques from China, the Middle East and Europe will come under the hammer at Roseberys in London on June 4. Brought up in South London George Farrow (1916-2001) rose to prominence as one of Britain’s largest private landlords after WWII. Post-retirement, his travels brought him to San Remo and Monte Carlo, but he ultimately longed for a British way of life and returned to his roots with his family. They converted Anne Port, an old farmhouse in Jersey, to house his significant collection of antiques. Farrow, who left school at 16, was inspired by childhood trips to Horniman Museum and the V&A and the literary works of Edgar Wallace and began collecting at the age of 12 or 13.
A 17th century North Italian marble relief of Marcus Curtius (Lot 45), acquired by a British private client for £91,240 against an estimate of £1,000-£1,500.
Highlights include a Berlin chinoiserie tapestry (£100,000-£200,000) showing the Chinese Emperor and other richly attired courtly figures around an elaborate dining table. It is attributed to the workshop of Jean II Barraband and Charles Vigne, after the design of a tapestry from the same series currently held in the collection of the Met. A pair of Chinese fishbowls (£30,000-50,000) exemplifies the zenith of Chinese export porcelain production during the reign of Qianlong. Two voided crimson velvet and silk 17th century catma panels (£20,000-30,000) are woven with repeating floral roundels of tulips, pomegranates and saz leaves and are a rare survival of court quality Ottoman velvets. The catalogue is now live at Roseberys.
UPDATE: THE SALE REALISED £1,071,000.
A fine and rare Berlin Chinoiserie tapestry. UPDATE: THIS WAS UNSOLD
The Eden Vale bottle carrier. UPDATE: THIS MADE 3,800 AT HAMMER
This Irish Provincial bottle carrier comes up as lot 831 at Fonsie Mealy’s summer fine art sale in Castlecomer on May 28 and 29. The piece was commissioned by William Stacpoole, High Sherriff, Co. Clare, for his new residence at Eden Vale, Killone, Ennis, Co. Clare. It was probably made in Limerick around 1780 and arrives at auction by direct family descent. There is a rectangular removable top with shaped and pierced looped carrying slot, over eight compartments. The estimate is €4,000-€6,000.
A pair of giltwood palm tree lights by Maison Jansen. UPDATE: THESE WERE UNSOLD
A gouache by Martin Kippenberger, an Eames chair, a Three Wise Men watercolour by Andre Derain, a blackboard rug and a non conformist armchair both by Eileen Gray are among the many and varied offerings at the Mid-Century Modern auction by James Adam in Dublin on May 21. With just 222 well chosen lots the range of choice is extensive in a sale that reaches many prevailing tastes by reflecting the artistic and creative diversities of the 20th century.
Estimates range from just €100-€200 for a c1960 Italian cut glass bon bon dish with brass detailing to €40,000-€60,000 for Indian Summer, an oil on canvas by Wolfgang Paalen (1905-1959). The Austrian born artist was a key figure in many key 20th century art movements and this work was once in the collection of John Huston at St. Clerans in Co. Galway.
A non conformist armchair by Eileen Gray. UPDATE: THIS MADE 7,000 AT HAMMER
Modern furniture choices cater for many tastes with everything on offer from a c1960 teak oval extending dining table and a set of eight teak dining chairs by the Danish designer Arne Vodder (1926-2009), a Swedish teak boomerang desk of similar vintage, a c1950 Italian mahogany console with three drawers, an Italian rosewood drinks cabinet, a glass nest of tables with brass detailing, a three seater Danish sofa by Ole Wanscher, soft pad and office chairs by Eames produced by Vitra, an Edito armchair and footstool by Roche Bobois, a c1970 French perspex and chrome umbrella stand, cherrywood planters, brass and glass coffee tables, a pair of c1950 rosewood bedside cabinets from Italy, a David Linley mirror, a c1970 Italian burr walnut sideboard and an armchair designed by Philippe Starck for Driade painted by Jack Soro.
Alan Davie (1920-2014) El Secreto No. 2 UPDATE: THIS WAS UNSOLD
The art selection will sit comfortably alongside these choices. Among the Irish and international artists featured are Kaws, Albert Irvin, Felim Egan, Anne Madden, Mark Francis, Andy Warhol, Charles Tyrrell, Gwen O’Dowd, Jannis Kounnelis and Philip Flanagan.
Among other lots is a Wriggle chair by Frank Gehry, a signed ceramic vase by Vivienne Foley, a vintage Missoni rug by T & J Vestor, a pair of green and white wall lights in the style of Stilnovo, Italy, a vintage malachite chessboard, a “Le Mons” floor lamp for Claridges Hotel, London, a c 1970 pair of lamps by Hans-Agne Jakobsson, Sweden, a yellow c1960 vintage vase for Moretti and Nason, Italy, a large Dun Emer hand knotted wool carpet and a pair of giltwood palm tree lights by Maison Jansen, France c1970.
An armchair designed by Philippe Starck and painted by Jack Soro UPDATE: THIS WAS WITHDRAWN
Montague Dawson (1895-1973) – The Clipper Ship Flying Fish c. 1950. UPDATE: THIS WAS UNSOLD
Montague Dawson’s oil on canvas of the Flying Fish is the most expensively estimated lot at Fonsie Mealy’s two day fine art sale in Castlecomer on May 28 and 29. With an estimate of €15,000-€20,000 it shows the clipper ship in full sail. A catalogue note by Peter Murray recounts how after the discovery of gold in California and the opening of the China tea trade to competition in 1849, several clippers, including Flying Fish and Flying Cloud, were built at Donald McKay’s shipyard in Boston. Launched in 1851, Flying Fish made the voyage from Boston to San Francisco, via Cape Horn, in a record-breaking ninety-two days. Owned by Samson and Tappan, the ship had a glorious career. It was one of the fastest every built by McKay, and under the command of Captain Edward Nickels, rounded Cape Horn seven times. It features in several paintings by Dawson, including studies in oil and watercolour. It is, Murray says, one of Montague Dawson’s finest depictions of ships at sea.
The complete bar from Kiely’s of Mount Merrion at Aidan Foley’s sale. UPDATE: THIS MADE 2,600 AT HAMMER
The complete bar from Kiely’s of Mount Merrion or a De Sede white modular sofa first launched in 1972 – the choice is yours at upcoming auctions by Aidan Foley and James Adam this month.
The sofa would have been very much out of place in a traditional setting like Kiely’s but would make itself very much at home in any large luxurious contemporary space. Designed by Eleanoa Peduzzi-Riva, Ueli Berger, Klaus Vogt and Heinz Ulrich it is complete with 22 sections with which multiple compositions can be created. At their Mid Century Modern sale in Dublin on May 21 Adams estimate it at €10,000-€15,000.
The bar at Kiely’s is a real deal throwback, laden with memory. It is a highlight at Aidan Foley’s online auction in conjunction with Niall Mullen at Oldcastle on May 21 and 22. All sorts of pub memorabilia will come under the hammer and the catalogue is online. The estimate on the complete bar is a mere €1,000-€2,000.
DS-600 modular sofa in white leather at James Adam. UPDATE: THIS MADE 14,000 AT HAMMER
A PAIR OF GILT CIRCULAR COCKTAIL TABLES, MADE FOR THE RITZ HOTEL, PARIS. UPDATE: THESE MADE 3,800 AT HAMMER
This pair of gilt circular cocktail tables custom made for the Ritz Hotel in Paris and removed when renovated in 2018 come up as lot 23 at de Veres international Art and Design auction in Dublin on April 30. They are estimated at €1,200-€1,800. The sale features chairs from the Louvre, a Golden Egg chair designed by Arne Jacobsen and Ron Arad designed chairs. The Golden Age of stylish and functional Danish design, from the 1940’s to the 1960’s, is well represented too. It remains popular today as it works in traditional and contemporary spaces. There is art by Pierre Soulages, William Scott, Felim Egan and Barry Flanagan.
A first edition of Lewis Carroll’s Through the Looking Glass, a set of four 18th century armorial hall chairs and a portrait of Thomas Wyndham by the Dutch painter Simon Pietersz Verelst (1644-1721) from Christie’s sale at Adare Manor in 1982 come up at Hegarty’s sale in Bandon on April 30. The auction features The Durrus Collection and includes items from the estate of Major Ian Alexander Dorling Thomson who was awarded a Military Cross in 1953. The jewellery selection includes a yellow gold pink sapphire and diamond floral ring where the central petals revolve (pictured above). UPDATE: THE RING WAS UNSOLD
A woodblock print by Hiroshi Yoshida. UPDATE: THIS MADE 7,000 AT HAMMER
A west Cork collection of 18th century Irish and Oriental artefacts assembled by an investment banker is included in four days of sales with more than 1,800 lots at Sheppards in Durrow next week. Among the lots from west Cork is a set of Japanese woodblock prints from the series Seto inland sea by Hiroshi Yoshida (1876-1950), a pair of 19th century Meissen parakeets and a pair of 19th century Meissen plates.
A 17th century Flemish tapestry, a pair of Chippendale elbow chairs from Malahide Castle, a 17th century silver chalice from the Tim O’Mahony Collection, Kilkenny, an Irish 18th century wake table, four 18th century Chippendale chairs from the estate of Yehudi Menuhin and a long Donegal runner supplied by Robert Kime to Clarence House, home of King Charles and Queen Camilla add considerable interest to this auction.
The Great Irish Interiors sale takes place on April 30 and May 1. Curated jewellery will come under the hammer at Sheppards on May 2 with top brands like Cartier, Boucheron and Dior and the Irish Vernacular sale on May 3 offers a c1880 three wheeled bike, dug out chairs, hedge chairs and a Penal Cross. Viewing for all these sales gets underway in Durrow today and the catalogue is online.
This blue ground with trellis panel Donegal runner at Sheppards was supplied by Robert Kime to Clarence House. UPDATE: THIS WAS UNSOLD
