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    VARIED OFFERINGS AT AUCTION IN IRELAND THIS WEEK

    Saturday, June 3rd, 2023
    One of a pair of weathered stone lions. UPDATE: THIS LOT MADE 2,700 AT HAMMER

    Weathered stone lions, a wake table, a silver cigarette box and a telescopic brass fender with a hide seat are among the many and varied offerings at auction in Ireland in the coming week. Sales by Woodards in Cork, Hegarty’s in Bandon, Sean Eacrett at the Horse and Jockey Hotel in Co. Tipperary and Mullen’s at Laurel Park in Bray will offer much to keep collectors busy. Choices range from  conversation pieces like an Oriental style Carlton House desk to garden furniture, comfortable couches and a variety of collectibles like an unusual pair of Limerick china figures, The Philospher and The Critic, from Rocklow House in Fethard. Top furniture lots at Woodwards online sale in Cork next Saturday (June 10)  include a set of six Cork 11-bar dining chairs, a Georgian walnut chest on chest  and a seven foot long hunt or wake table.  There is a selection of Georgian, Regency and Edwardian pieces among more than 300 lots.  
    The 19th century stone lions come up at the house contents sale by Sean  Eacrett at the Horse and Jockey Hotel in Co. Tipperary next Tuesday (June 6) of contents from Rocklow House, Fethard. In crouched poses they are, at €3,000-€5,000, among the more expensively estimated offerings in a sale of just over 1,000 lots.  There is a selection of Oriental vases, bowls, jars, along with a private collection of Waterford Crystal including limited edition pieces and a highly collectible pair of 19th century oval Irish mirrors with faceted blue and white decorated frames (€2,000-€4,000). An unusual ebonised Carlton House Desk is estimated at €600-€1,000. There are chandeliers, a 160 piece Spode dinner service, Persian runners and rugs, a Donegal carpet and Meissen figures in a sale which is on view at Fethard from noon to 5 pm on today, tomorrow and Monday.

    A George V silver cigarette box at Hegarty’s. UPDATE: THIS SOLD FOR €80

    A George V silver cigarette box from 1914, engraved with a presentation message in 1934, comes up at Hegarty’s online fine interiors auction next Tuesday (June 6).  The estimate is €300-€400.  Other lots include a triple panel overmantle mirror (€150-€300), a flame mahogany demi lune hall table (€400-€800) and Summer Shade, a colourful oil on canvas by Martin Stone (€700-€900).

    A brass and hide upholstered telescopic fender is among the top lots at Mullen’s timed online auction of 849 lots which runs until 6 pm tomorrow (June 4).  The estimate is €1,800-€2,600. This auction offers more than 300 lots of furniture, Irish, English and European art, lighting and a sextant by Cooke and Co. of Hull in a mahogany case.    Catalogues for all these sales are online.

     An upholstered telescopic club fender at Mullens of Laurel Park

    IRISH ART, WHISKEY AND FURNITURE AT DOLAN’S SALE

    Wednesday, May 24th, 2023
    Mark O’Neill – The Linen Basket. UPDATE: THIS MADE 2,900 AT HAMMER

    A timed online auction of Irish art, whiskeys and antiques by Dolan’s runs until May 29. There is a selection of rare Midleton whiskeys, for which demand is very strong. Lot 2 – a numbered Midleton Very Rare 1986, Irish whiskey in its original box – is estimated at €6,000-€8,000. There are Irish Paintings by artists including Sir William Orpen, Cecil Maguire, Arthur Maderson, Charles Harper RHA, Flora Mitchell, John C. Brobbel, Ernest Hayes RHA, Christopher Campbell RHA and others and some antique furniture. The Linen Basket by Mark O’Neill, illustrated here, is estimated at €3,800-€4,500.

    MUCH TO INTEREST COLLECTORS AT LYNES AND LYNES

    Monday, May 22nd, 2023
    This c1820 sideboard at Lynes and Lynes was at Midleton College and originated at one of the great houses of East Cork.

    With everything from a 12′ long c1820 sideboard once at Midleton College, a carved oak pulpit, the Journals of the Cork Historical and Archaeological Society and an old Hornby train collection the sale by Lynes and Lynes in Carrigtwohill, Co. Cork on May 27 has much to interest all sorts of collectors. Included in the auction is the collection of the late Craig and Mary McKechnie, removed from Lynwood, their residence overlooking Cork Harbour at Rushbrooke. There is a large 19th century mahogany server by Maple and Co. (€600-€1,000), a set of Cork 11-bar dining chairs (€2,500-€3,500) and a selection of Cork furniture including side tables and chests of drawers.

     A chemist shop display cabinet 

      An attractive Regency inlaid linen press (€400-€600)  and a pair of Georgian demi-lune side tables with satinwood crossbanding (€600-€800) will generate much interest. A large collection of 19th century lithographs of Egypt and the Holy Land by David Roberts RA (1796-1864) is to be sold in lots of two with estimates from €100-€300. Lot 59 is a large model of a sailing boat on stand which sat on a marble topped table in the drawing room (€200-€300). Books include Journals of the Cork Historical and Archaeological Society, an old 1895 Cork Almanack including an advertisement for R. & J. McKechnie, books of Cork interest together with a collection of yachting and gardening books.  A silver cream jug and sugar bowl by William Egan dates from 1921-22.
    The large sideboard from Midleton College would originally have been in one of the great houses of East Cork.  The estimate is €1,000-€1,500.  There should also be significant interest in a fine old chemist shop display cabinet (€200-€300). The oak pulpit by Thomas Manning, Bagnalstown, is estimated at €500-€800.  Lot 85 is a collection of First Period Belleek ware (€100-€200).  An old Hornby train collection was last sold by Lynes and Lynes a number of years ago.  This time around the estimate is €500-€800. The catalogue is online and viewing is underway.

    A carved oak pulpit

    DESIGN AND ART AT DE VERES IN DUBLIN

    Saturday, May 20th, 2023
    A set of six tulip chairs by Eero Saarinen. UPDATE: THESE MADE 3,000 AT HAMMER

    Design furniture, lighting and contemporary art will come under the hammer at a timed online auction by de Veres which runs until the evening of May 23.  Classic pieces include a set of six Tulip chairs by renowned Finnish American architect Eero Saarinen and Egg (€3,000-€5,000) and Swan (€600-€900) chairs by Arne Jacobsen, one of the most significant figures in Danish design history. The 150 lot sale features a large selection of carefully chosen art by Charlie Tyrrell, Chung Eon-Mo, Cecil King, le Corbusier, Andy Warhol, William Scott, Mark Francis and many other Irish and international artists whose work will fit easily into a Modernist setting.  There are Danish and Italian pieces from the 1960’s, ’70’s and ’80’s along with contemporary labels like Roche Bobois and Ligne Roset.  The auction is on view at de Veres from today and the catalogue is online.

    Abstract by Chung Eun-Mo. UPDATE: THIS MADE 2,600 AT HAMMER

    SAVE THE PLANET – BUY ANTIQUE FURNITURE

    Sunday, May 14th, 2023
    This fine Regency mahogany and satinwood bureau, possibly a Cork piece, made a below estimate hammer price of just €650 at the James Adam Library Collection sale

    Who would have guessed that the longer term salvation of the antique furniture market might be in salvage. In a world where fast fashion needs to be reconsidered and sustainability is on the up there is more room than ever before for products that are restored and recycled. An antique piece preserves scarce resources and has a long life cycle. Old furniture was created with hand operated tools, glues and dyes from natural sources using the ultimate green practices.  Contrast this with today where around 90% of furniture comes from countries with not much in the way of regulation about water pollution, air pollution or responsible forest management. In the UK it is estimated that around 1.7 tons of furniture waste, which is not recycled, is generated each year.

    This set of six chairs including two carvers made just €22 at a South Dublin Auctions sale 

    A study by carbon clear compared an antique chest of drawers with a newly made version and concluded that antique furniture is likely to have a carbon footprint 16 times lower than modern furniture.  Many people who buy furniture are completely unaware of this even though the majority of buyers will consider sustainability. There is much competition at auction for the best pieces but the market for ordinary antique furniture has been at rock bottom for years.  It is possible to pick up pieces for next to nothing at many sales. Buyers have been looking the other way for so long that many auctioneers will simply refuse to consider taking old tables, chairs, cupboards, wardrobes, even the beautiful  Georgian linen presses that once graced elegant homes to the market.  Given that the cost of cartage is more than many such pieces will actually make at auction it is not too difficult to see where they are coming from. If the heirs don’t want it – as is so often the case – once treasured objects from house clearances end up in the skip.  In a world of diminishing resources  and massive climate change this is nothing short of madness.

    This Edwardian oak gateleg table sold for just €30 at Sheppards

    Brown furniture is lovely.  It isn’t all new and shiny nor should it be.  There is nothing wrong with  signs of wear and tear on a chair or a table that has already given years of service.  Something that is far gone can be restored or re-purposed imaginatively.  It can be repaired, stained, varnished, painted, stencilled or otherwise upcycled.  Processes like this help the planet.Antique and vintage pieces come from an era when things were made to last and expected to give a lifetime of value.  The abhorrent idea of built in obsolescence, widely practiced now, was unheard of then.  So instead of supporting the sort of greedflation rampant these days you might profitably consider making one small change by opting to buy old rather than new.  The opportunity to do so is available at auctions everywhere.  In the process you will help our earth to survive and almost certainly help your own budget as well.  There is some way to go before salvation of the antique furniture market is achieved and the planet is salvaged. 

    This 19th century Irish pine dresser made a hammer price of €210 at Fonsie Mealy’s sale at Borleagh Manor in April.

    AN AUCTION WITH LOTS FROM IRELAND’S FRANCISCAN COMMUNITY

    Saturday, May 13th, 2023
    An Empire design centre table. UPDATE: THIS MADE 500 AT HAMMER

    Temptation beckons in a live online sale of ecclesiastical and decorative items from the Franciscan Community in Ireland and some other clients on May 16-17 at 5 pm on each day.  A variety of paintings, Oriental rugs, statues, garden seating, pedestals, desks, candlesticks and antique furniture among 874 lots. Leading the auction is a 19th century oil on canvas titled The Inquisition, an inlaid marble fire surround in the manner of Pietro Bossi and a marble statue of St. Joseph and Child.  All are estimated at €2,000-€4,000.  Collectibles include an early carved wood Penal cross (€800-€1,200), a baroque oak dome top chest (€600-€1,000), an outdoor limestone font with inscription (€500-€1,000) and a finely made model of a church complete with oak furnishings (€400-€800).  There is a Georgian brass dial long case clock, an early Victorian d-end dining table, a pair of Chippendale style wingback armchairs and an Empire centre table with an amboyna and macassar top and ebonised supports among a good selection of furniture. The auction will be conducted by Aidan Foley in co-ordination with Niall Mullen. It is on view at Cook St., Dublin 8 today, tomorrow and Monday and the catalogue is online.

    An inlaid fire surround in the manner of Pietro Bossi UPDATE: THIS MADE 1,900 AT HAMMER

    CHINESE ARCHAIC BRONZE BELL MAKES €28,000 AT SHEPPARDS

    Wednesday, May 10th, 2023
    PERCY FRENCH (1854 – 1920) – On the road to Falcarragh

    This watercolour by Percy French made a hammer price of €5,000 at the opening day of Sheppards four day sale in Durrow, Co. Laois this week. A set of Royal letters patent from King Charles II dated 1667 made €6,500, a 19th century walnut and marquetry longcase clock made €5,500, a George III automaton striking bracket clock made €4,300, a 19th century Chinese hardwood cabinet on cabinet made €4,200, a pair of 18th century Ottoman flintlock pistols made €2,200, a pair of hide upholstered wingback armchairs made €2,300, an 18th century Irish settee made €2,000, a Killarney cabinet made €1,800, a George III side table made €2,400, a George III inlaid breakfront bookcase made €4,400 and a Chinese archaic bronze bell made €28,000.

    This Chinese archaic bronze bell made €28,000 at hammer.

    EILIS O’CONNELL EXCEEDS ESTIMATE AT ADAMS

    Tuesday, May 9th, 2023
    EILIS O’CONNELL – ALPHA

    Alpha, a cast and fabricated unique bronze by renowned Irish sculptor Eilis O’Connell made a hammer price of €2,400 at the James Adam timed online Mid-Century Modern sale in Dublin today. It had been estimated at €1,200-1,600. The sculpture was used as the invitation image for the 2015 exhibition Eilis O’Connell: Khôra at Hillsboro Fine Art, Dublin, An armchair by Eileen Gray made €3,400, a set of four rosewood chairs by Nils Otto Muller made €2,600, a 2003 oil on canvas, Transverse by Mark Francis, made €13,000, Interior with Wine Jar by Stephen McKenna made €11,000 and a chaise longue by le Corbusier made €2,400.

    VIEWING UNDERWAY AT SHEPPARDS IN DURROW

    Saturday, May 6th, 2023
    Dining table and ten chairs by Joseph Walsh UPDATE: THIS WAS UNSOLD

    A dining suite and a cabinet by Joseph Walsh will lead Sheppards four day sale live and online from Durrow, Co. Laois from next Tuesday to Friday (May 9-12).  Walsh is celebrated globally and there will be international interest in lots 2039 and 2040, the last objects to be offered in this large auction of contents from Pouldrew House, located between Kilmeaden and Portlaw in Co. Waterford, as well as from other sources. The suite comprising a black walnut and silver dining table and ten black walnut chairs with sycamore backs created at the Joseph Walsh Studio in Riverstock in 2001 is estimated at €80,000-€120,000. Walshs cabinet on stand dating from the 2001-2003 period, with a walnut case and sycamore interior, comes with an estimate of €35,000-€55,000.

    Pouldrew House, home from 1992 to the late Dr. Jan Mohamed who came from Singapore to work at Waterford Regional Hospital (now University Hospital, Waterford), was a magical setting for furniture, art and collectibles acquired over the years in Asia and at country house sales in Ireland.  Priscilla Presley and her daughter Lisa-Marie (who died in January) came here several times for acupuncture as a result of a recommendation from the artist Gottfried Helnwein, who lives and works in Ireland and Los Angeles. Given that today is the coronation day of Charles III there might be some extra interest in decorative letters on vellum from Charles II (1630-1685) dated 1667 granting 2,400 acres in seven towns and villages in Waterford to Thomas Brightwell. The estimate is €8,000-€12,000. (Charles I was executed in 1649, but this is an aside).

    Chinese yellow glazed bowl. UPDATE: THIS WAS UNSOLD

    The many Oriental lots are headed by two Chinese Qing Dynasty hardwood palace cabinets, each estimated at €20,000-€30,000. A magnificent Zhengde yellow glazed bowl (€10,000-€15,000), a Qianlong celadon plate (€8,000-€10,000) and a decorated Chinese lacquered 12 panel palace folding screen (€3,000-€5,000)  are feature pieces too.Among many collectibles and conversation pieces is a 19th century Venetian walnut throne chair (€4,000-€6,000), a late 17th century Flemish tapestry (€5,000-€8,000), an 18th century leather panelled sedan chair (€5,000-€8,000), a c1830 monumental American carved wood eagle (€3,000-€5,000) and a signed 1945  World War II war crimes investigation team pewter tankard from Singapore (€500-€800). Leading jewellery lots include a 3.70 carat three stone diamond ring (€20,000-€30,000), a four stone diamond ring (€12,000-€14,000), Colombian emerald and diamond earrings (€8,000-€12,000), a diamond cluster ring (€8,000-€12,000) and an emerald and diamond ring (€6,000-€9,000). The most expensively estimated painting is a Donegal watercolour landscape by Percy French (€5,000-€8,000).  There are two mid 20th century Donegal carpets and a good selection of Oriental rugs, runners and carpets in a sale with much interest for all sorts of collectors.  The auction is on view in Durrow today, tomorrow and Monday. The catalogue is online and around 500 lots will be sold on each day.

    17th century Flemish tapestry. UPDATE: THIS MADE €4,300 AT HAMMER

    MID-CENTURY MODERN SALE AT ADAMS NOW ON VIEW

    Friday, May 5th, 2023
    GAETANO PESCE (B.1939) – ‘Up-5 Donna’ armchair with ‘Up-6 Donna’ ottoman. UPDATE: THIS WAS UNSOLD

    Originally designed in 1969 this arresting armchair and ottoman by Gaetano Pesce comes up as lot 37 at Adams Mid-Century Modern sale on May 9. It is estimated at 4,000-6,000. Viewing for this timed online auction gets underway in Dublin today and continues over the weekend. The catalogue is online.