You never know what you might come across at an auction of house contents. Which is why they are brimful of interest. This copper deep sea divers helmet with the insignia of the US Navy Mark V full size is one of the more unusual collectibles at Matthews sale of contents of Rath House, Dundalk on March 20. There are 1,117 lots including antiques, art, silver and collectibles. The helmet is lot 47 and is estimated at just 120-180.
The first highlights from the collection of Hubert de Givenchy were unveiled by Christie’s today. They include Woman Walking by Alberto Giacometti (€20-30 million); Passage of the Migratory Bird by Joan Miro (€2.5 – €3.5 million) and Faun with a Spear by Pablo Picasso (€1.5 – 2 million). With over 1,200 lots dating from the 17th to the 20th century, this collection features a remarkable gathering of nearly 800 pieces of French and European furniture, including many masterpieces of classical furniture from the French Regency period to the Neoclassical period and onwards.
In the decoration of his homes, Hubert de Givenchy always considered the furniture in constant dialogue with the works of art, both ancient and modern. Alongside numerous major sculptures and paintings by old masters such as Hubert Robert, the collection includes several masterpieces of modern art: from the couturier’s friend and collaborator Alberto Giacometti’s Woman Walking, a key painting by Joan Miró never before presented on the market, several works by Alberto’s brother, Diego Giacometti and more contemporary works by Claudio Bravo and François-Xavier Lalanne.
Already underway in Palm Beach, a selection of works from the collection will be previewed in several cities including New York, Los Angeles and Hong Kong. Sales will take place in Paris from June 14-17 and online from June 8-23.
(See post on antiquesandartireland.com for February 2, 2022)
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.
This Irish 19th century provincial pine dresser made a hammer price of 1,900 at Hegarty’s in Bandon on March 6. Decorated at the top with dentil moulding and open heart shaped fretwork it was described as a rare and fine example of 19th century Irish woodwork and cabinet making.
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 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.
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.
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.
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.
