An important impressive set of Prehistoric Giant Irish Elk Antlers and Skull (“Megaloceros Giganteus) c. 12000 – 18000 B.C., approx. 262 cms (8’9”) long x 7’5” (226 cms) high with 18 points (some repairs). UPDATE: THESE MADE 23,000 AT HAMMER
This set of Irish Elk antlers comes up at Fonsie Mealy’s two day sale of contents from Howth Castle on September 8 and 9. Irish Elk is the common name for a giant, extinct deer, Megaloceros Giganteus, characterized by enormous antlers. This is the largest deer known to have ever lived. Megaloceros Giganteus appeared for the first time about 400,000 years ago and disappeared about 11,000 years ago. It ranged from Ireland and Great Britain in Western Europe and as far as the Far East as China and Siberia during the Late Pleistocene period. Elk Antlers are a statement item and were placed in many of the big country houses around Ireland. This set is estimated at €12,000-18,000. UPDATE: THESE SOLD FOR 23,000 AT HAMMER.
(See post on antiquesandartireland.com for August 12, 2021)
Selene and the sleeping Endymion attributed to Francesco Trevisani UPDATE: THIS MADE 8,500 AT HAMMER
The lifetime collection of the late Homan Potterton, who in 1980 became the youngest ever director of the National Gallery of Ireland, comes up at James Adam in Dublin on September 7. The online auction will feature Old Master painting, Irish art, engravings, furniture and silver from his homes in Dublin and the Gaillac region in France. Even though his time as director was thwarted by a period of economic austerity in Ireland he is credited with the production of a ground breaking concise catalogue, a definitive catalogue of the Gallery’s Dutch paintings and with the negotiations for a gift of major paintings from the collection of Alfred and Clementine Beit.
He was a specialist in Italian painting of the 17th and 18th centuries and the catalogue of 249 lots lists a number of Italian School paintings. Selene and the Sleeping Endymion attributed to Francesco Trevisani (1656-1746) has an estimate of €10,000-€15,000 while The Choice of Hercules after Pompeo Batoni (1708-1787) is estimated at €12,000-€15,000.The top lot of the sale is an Irish 18th century walnut side table c1740 with a flecked black Kilkenny marble top. The table is listed and illustrated in the Knight of Glin and James Peill’s definitive book on ‘Irish Furniture’, published in 2007. The estimate here is €40,000-€60,000.
Irish c1740 side table with black flecked Kilkenny marble top UPDATE: THIS MADE 34,000 AT HAMMER
The most expensively estimated painting, at €15,000-€25,000, is a portrait by Leo Whelan of Guendolen Wilkinson seated in an elegant interior. Fame decorating Shakespeare’s Tomb, attributed to Angelica Kauffman (1741-1807) is estimated at €8,000-€12,000 and a North Italian School painting of a lady with a table laden fruit is estimated at €8,000-€10,000. Potterton’s collection of Old Master paintings displays his interest in 17th and 18th century European art. These were purchased from dealers and auction-houses in London and New York in the 1980’s and 90’s. ‘Artemisia at the Mausoleum of her Husband’ attributed to Laurent de la Hyre is estimated at €15,000-€20,000. Artemisia is depicted beside a classical building she had built to house the remains of her late husband Mausolus. The word Mausoleum derives from his name. There are five portrait busts in white statuary marble by Irish artists including one of Lord Nelson by Laurence Gahagan (1756-1815) and one of the actor William Farren by Edward Foley (1814-1874). A collection of watercolours by Gahagan reflect the fashion in Britain for Napoleonic memorabilia and design, particularly after the Battle of Waterloo in 1815. They range in date 1817 to 1831 and depict the Coronation of Napoleon Bonaparte, a portrait of him and an attack on his carriage, the equestrian statue of Peter the Great in St Petersburg, a portrait of Alexander Emperor of Russia and a scene of a Donski Cossac leading the Imperial Russian Guard. Each one of the ten watercolours is estimated at €1000-€1500.Among a collection of antique engravings is a series of Kerry views by Jonathan Fisher with an estimate of €5,000-€8,000. Other Irish artists represented in the collection include Martin Mooney, Henry Robertson Craig, John Coyle, Estella Solomons, Derek Hill, Lilian Lucy Davidson, Tom Ryan, Bea Orpen, Liam Belton, Sir William Orpen and Charles Lamb. The catalogue cover is one of a pair of watercolours by Jeremy Williams of Potterton’s residence at 78 Merrion Square and his love of dining and entertaining is represented in a collection of furniture including two dining tables, blue and white porcelain and Irish bright cut silverware. Adams say that his generosity when entertaining is reflected in the fact that his favourite charities will benefit from the proceeds of the auction.
There will be style, design and the English country house in abundance at the sale of Jasper Conran: The Collection at Christie’s in September. The auction is to be in two parts, a live sale at Christie’s in London on September 14 and an online sale open for bidding from September 1-21. Providing a remarkable window in to the purity, simplicity and silence of the magical interiors that Jasper Conran created at Flemings Hall; Walpole House, Chiswick; Ven House, Somerset and most recently New Wardour Castle, the collection is a feast for the eyes. It presents a refined contemporary approach to the best of country house style. There will be more than 430 lots of English Furniture, Old Master Paintings, Chinese and Japanese Works of Art, Indian and Islamic Works of Art, Victorian Paintings, European Furniture and Sculpture. Estimates range from £500 to £500,000.
This Blue John baluster form vase with an estimate of 200-300 made a hammer price of 3,400 at Sheppards sale of Woodfield House, Broadford, Co. Clare today. It is just 13 cms high. The auction continues today and tomorrow live online. The opening session saw competitive bidding for lots like a pair of Chinese Republican vases (2,200 at hammer), a large mahogany peat bucket (2,500), a 19th century gilt framed mirror (2,200), a Regency rosewood sofa table (2,400), a Williams and Gibton centre table (2,200), a Chinese Qing polychrome vase (3,400), an 18th century Irish gilt console table (3,500), an 18th century Irish carved gilt framed mirror (3,400), a large Qing blue and white charger (3,800) and a 19th century Adam side table (2,600).
THIS Renaissance portrait of a young noble, wearing a suite of sapphire and pearl jewellery and a jewel head dress was the most expensive lot of the opening day. The oil on canvas in a carved giltwood frame made 13,000 at hammer.
Big house sales and hidden treasures go hand in hand. The sale next week by Sheppards of Woodfield House, Broadford, Co. Clare – and from other clients too – is no exception.Lot 400 is an oval portrait of a young girl wearing a white dress and floral turban. It is by Thomas Hickey, the Dublin born artist who died in Madras in 1824. The work of this widely travelled artist can be found at the National Gallery of Ireland, the Courtauld in London, the Honolulu Museum of Art and the Tate. There are a number of his sketches in the culturally rich city of Srirangapatna near Mysore.In Ireland in 1797 he was commissioned by the State Physician Dr. Robert Emmet to paint a portrait of his son Robert and daughter Mary. This was the nationalist and patriot Robert Emmet who died on the gallows in 1803 after an impassioned and oft quoted inspirational speech from the dock. The portrait at Sheppards is estimated at €500-€800.
Portrait of a young girl by Thomas Hickey (1741-1824). UPDATE: THIS MADE 1,900 AT HAMMER
The auction of more than 900 lots goes on view in Co. Clare today and it will take place online from Castlecomer on August 17-18. The catalogue is online and the auction will be divided into four sessions.The selection ranges from a pair of large moulded recumbent stone lions (lot 657) to a 19′ lake boat on a trailer (lot 748). Highlights include a neatly sized Chippendale style pedestal desk, a George III mahogany breakfront bookcase, a designer wardrobe and a number of other pieces by Roche Bobois, an 18th century Irish gilt console table, a 19th century bronze figure of Mercury seated and a Waterford Crystal six branch chandelier. The auction kicks off with a George III cased stick barometer. Among many lots of antique furniture is an attractive Regency sofa table, a pair of French Empire armchairs, a Williams and Gibton circular centre table, a 19th century Adam side table, a pair of Dutch marquetry armorial chairs, an Edwardian marquetry cabinet, a George III Chippendale silver table, a satinwood waterfall bookcase, an 18th century Irish gilt console table, a Regency library table, a marquetry bow front cabinet and a large mahogany brass bound peat bucket.
Interior shot of Woodfield House
There is much to choose from in ceramics from Chinese porcelain to Meissen pieces, a Qing blue and white charger, a Sevres plate, an Ottoman polychrome plaque and an 18th century Chinese blue and white plate.Paintings include a landscape attributed to James Arthur O’Connor, an Italian School renaissance portrait, a half length portrait of a young lady by Hugh Douglas Hamilton, a set of three 19th century lacquered and gilded panels and an 18th century Flemish tapestry.This comprehensive auction offers a good selection of garden furniture and sculptural pieces, wines and jewellery, mirrors, Persian and Oriental rugs and a variety of collectible items.
FRANCIS BINDON (c1690-1765) – PORTRAIT OF JONATHAN SWIFT. UPDATE: THIS MADE 234,000 AT HAMMER
This portrait of Jonathan Swift by Francis Bindon has been at Howth Castle since 1735 and will come up at Fonsie Mealy’s sale of contents of the castle on September 8 and 9. A second sale of the library at the castle takes place on September 22 and 23. More than 800 lots will come under the hammer in the fine art and antiques sale.
Howth Castle has been the home of the St. Lawrence family since the Norman Invasion. Since 1919 the castle has been held by the distaff heirs, the Gaisford-St. Lawrence family. In 2018 the family announced their agreement to sell the castle, demesne and Ireland’s Eye to the Tetrach investment group who intend to develop an hotel and luxury resort. A seven acre portion has since been sold to Glenveagh homes who plan to build 200 apartments.
This Qing polychrome dish with poetry inscriptions and the seal mark of Qianlong to the base comes up as lot 36 at Sheppards two day sale of contents from Woodfield House, Broadford, Co. Clare online on August 17-18. More than 900 lots are to be sold in four sessions over two days. The auction will include the entire contents of the house, gardens, stables and outoffices, as well as lots from other clients. There will be viewing at the house in accordance with Covid guidelines from August 14-16. The online sale will take place from Castlecomer and the dish pictured here is estimated at 1,500-2,500. UPDATE: THIS MADE 1,800 AT HAMMER
Pair of Georgian flintlock duelling pistols. UPDATE: THESE SOLD FOR €2,800 AT HAMMER
With everything from a Georgian cavalry sabre, a pair of duelling pistols and some very rare Irish whiskey to art ranging from work by Charles Harper to Evie Hone to Grace Henry the summer auction at Dolan’s caters for a wide range of interests. This annual sale, which has been held at Ballyconneely in Connemara for more than a decade now, is taking place online this year. The catalogue is open for viewing and bidding continues until the evening of August 16.Given that Irish auction goers have adapted particularly well to online models this should not be any impediment. Sales can be viewed in comfort and convenience on the computer and Dolan’s will be on hand to help with any queries.On offer is an appetising selection of 20th century and contemporary Irish art as well as antique furniture, silver, rugs, books and collectibles. Specialist collectors will be particularly interested in a group of 17 rare Irish whiskeys and a unique and unspoiled collection of 14 flintlock guns and swords untouched for a century in an Irish country house.The Georgian sabre mentioned above, complete with wire bound grip, Lion’s head pommel and leather and brass mounted scabbard is estimated at €400-€600. A pair of Georgian flintlock duelling pistols by James Richardson, Manchester is estimated at €1,000-€2,000. Included among the antique furniture selection is an early 19th century inlaid longcase clock by Richard Midgley (€2,500-€3,500).
Cherry Blossom by Grace Henry. UPDATE: THIS MADE €5,500 at hammer
Forgotten Landscape by Charles Harper was exhibited in his 2018 retrospective at the RHA and is illustrated in the book published in conjunction with the show. It is estimated at €3,000-€5,000. In a rather different vein is a study in gouache by Evie Hone (1894-1955) Horseman and Hound (€4,500-€5,500) and Cherry Blossom by Grace Henry (1868-1953) with an estimate of €6,000-€8,000. There is a strong self portrait in charcoal by Sean Keating (€7,500-€8,500) and early morning swimmers by Laura Cronin is estimated at €5,000-€7,000). The auction offers no less than seven paintings by the ever popular Mark O’Neill. There is no shortage of art at lower estimates than this including Baby Teddy by Susan Cronin (€750-€950), Currach Men by Douglas Hutton (€800-€1,200) and The Ice Cream Kiosk by John Morris (€800-€1,200).
This Regency rosewood sofa table comes up at Sheppards two day sale of from Woodfield House, Broadford, Co. Clare and other clients on August 17 and 18. There will be viewing at the house from August 14-16. The sale will be online from Castlecomer, Co. Kilkenny. More than 900 lots will come under the hammer in an auction which Sheppards has broken up into four separate sessions for the convenience of bidders. The sofa table is lot 24 and estimated at 1,500-2,500. The catalogue for the sale is online.
From oak barrels with metal banding to sundials, cast iron seats to marble turtles the summer sale online by Victor Mee in Co. Cavan on August 4 offers a selection of no less than 565 lots to enhance and add interest to any garden, large or small. There is sandstone wall capping, a moulded stone fountain and even a pair of rattan rocking chairs on a metal base. Garden auctions have become more numerous and popular, especially over the last 18 months when so many of us have been unwittingly stuck at home. So if you think a cast iron eagle or a moulded stone pair of lions is just what you need then this sale is for you. There are tables, chairs, limestone troughs, planters, pine posts, terracotta planters, Lutyens style benches, a life size model of a raptor in resin, staddle stones and a 19th century cast iron arch in the form of branches. The catalogue is online.
19th century cast iron arch in the form of a branch. UPDATE: THIS MADE 3,400 AT HAMMER
