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    WHERE THERE IS MUCK THERE IS TUDOR GOLD

    Thursday, December 24th, 2015
    The hoard includes five aglets and two beads.

    The hoard includes five aglets and two beads.

    Where there is much there is brass according to the old saying but in the case of one small section of Thames riverbank that brass is gold. There is not a whole lot of Tudor gold – less than an egg cup full – but it is exquisitely worked. It has been turned up by metal detectorists on the banks of the River Thames for a number of years. No less than eight metal detectorists have harvested the tiny fragments of gold. They are so similar in style that archaeologist Kate Sumnall believes that they came from one garment, possibly a hat blown off by the wind.  They were all found in one area.   The objects include aglets, used for the tips of laces, as well as beads and studs.  The finds are legally classed as treasure and must be declared to officers like Kate Sumnall, who works at the Museum of London.  They all date from the early 16th century.

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    JEWELLERY AND WATCHES AT JAMES ADAM AUCTION

    Friday, December 4th, 2015

    A diamond and sapphire bracelet is the most expensively estimated lot at the James Adam sale of fine jewellery and watches in Dublin on December 8.  The 18 cm bracelet is composed of 10.64 carats of diamonds and 29 carats of graduated oval mixed cut sapphires.  The estimate is 85,000-95,000. There are rings, diamond line bracelets, necklaces and the top watch is a gentleman’s Oyster Rolex with an estimate of  27,000-32,000.  The catalogue with 175 lots is online. Here is a small selection:

    A diamond and sapphire bracelet (85,000-95,000).

    A diamond and sapphire bracelet (85,000-95,000).  UPDATE: THIS WAS UNSOLD

    An Allegra Necklace by Bvlgari (11,000-15,000).

    An Allegra Necklace by Bvlgari (11,000-15,000).  UPDATE: THIS SOLD FOR 11,000

    A pair of silver earrings by Vivianna Torun Bülow-Hübe for Georg Jensen, c1970 (200-400).

    A pair of silver earrings by Vivianna Torun Bülow-Hübe for Georg Jensen, c1970 (200-400).  UPDATE: THESE WERE UNSOLD

    Gentleman's Oyster Perpetual Day-Date wristwatch by Rolex (27,000-32,000).

    Gentleman’s Oyster Perpetual Day-Date wristwatch by Rolex (27,000-32,000).  UPDATE: THIS WAS UNSOLD

    An Art Deco diamond ring (1,500-2,500).

    An Art Deco diamond ring (1,500-2,500). UPDATE: THIS MADE 2,700 AT HAMMER

    An amethyst three stone ring and bar brooch (300-500).

    An amethyst three stone ring and bar brooch (300-500).  UPDATE: THIS WAS UNSOLD

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    A GUN BUILT FOR THE EARL OF SHANNON

    Monday, November 23rd, 2015
    The ejector gun by J. Purdey and Sons (£6,000-8,000).

    The ejector gun by J. Purdey and Sons (£6,000-8,000).

    A 12 bore ejector gun by Purdey built for the Earl of Shannon comes up at Gavin Gardiner’s sale of modern and vintage sporting guns and rifles at Sotheby’s in London on December 1.  J. Purdey and Sons have confirmed that the side lock gun No. 15503 was built in 1896 and replacement barrels were fitted in 1956.  It is estimated at £6,000-8,000.

    The first Earl of Shannon, a title created in 1756, was made Viscount Boyle of Bandon and Baron, Castle Martyr. He was succeeded by his son who was created Baron Carleton of York in 1786 which title gave him and later earls an automatic seat in the British House of Lords. The third earl served as Lord Lieutenant of County Cork and the fourth briefly represented Co. Cork in the House of Commons.  The title is currently held by the ninth earl, a descendant both of the first Earl of Orrery and the first Earl of Cork.

    UPDATE:  THIS SOLD FOR £7,350

     

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    A NEW WORLD RECORD PRICE FOR A DIAMOND

    Thursday, November 12th, 2015
    The 12.03 carat internally flawless fancy vivid blue diamond The Blue Moon of Josephine.

    The 12.03 carat internally flawless fancy vivid blue diamond The Blue Moon of Josephine.

    A Hong Kong private buyer set a new auction record for any diamond when he paid US$48.5 million at Sotheby’s in Geneva last night for a 12.03 carat blue diamond. It was promptly named “The Blue Moon of Josephine”.  This was a record for any diamond of any colour, or any gemstone. The price per carat for this internally flawless stone works out at US$4,028,941.  This is the first time any gemstone has reached over $4 million per carat. The sale last night of magnificent jewels and noble jewels brought in US$139,085,346.

    David Bennet, Sotheby’s chairman of jewellery said: “I am absolutely delighted with this evening’s record result – this show-stopping blue diamond surely is a once-in-a-lifetime stone. I’m also pleased to say that tonight’s sale takes our total in Geneva for this year to an unprecedented 300 million dollars, following our record-breaking sale in May. The star of the evening, the ‘Blue Moon of Josephine’ was discovered at the Cullinan Mine, which is owned by Petra Diamonds, and was polished to perfection by Cora International. It now takes its place among the world’s greatest diamonds.”

    The previous auction record for any diamond was held by The Graff Pink (24.78 carats), which sold for US$46.2 million at Sotheby’s Geneva in 2010.

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    BONHAMS TO HOLD VALUATIONS IN WATERFORD

    Friday, October 30th, 2015
    This first edition of Ulysses was sold at Bonhams, they are hoping to find something similar in Waterford.

    This first edition of Ulysses was sold at Bonhams, they are hoping to find something similar in Waterford.

    Specialists from Bonhams will be at the Medieval Museum, Waterford on Thursday November 5 to value paintings, works of art, books and ephemera.  Proceeds of the day will go to the Waterford Treasures Museum conservation fund. Bonhams book specialist Luke Batterham will give a short talk at 11.30am on book collecting and some of the highlights he has discovered during his life as a book specialist.  There will be a question and answer session about the current global art market and the auction world in the afternoon.

    Jane Beattie head of the Bonhams Dublin office commented: ‘Ireland’s oldest city is bound to throw up some remarkable and extraordinary surprise items, we are excited that the Museum invited us to Waterford for this one-off event’.

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    RARE DANIEL PARKER VIOLIN AT INGLES AND HAYDAY

    Tuesday, October 27th, 2015
    THE DANIEL PARKER VIOLIN.

    THE DANIEL PARKER VIOLIN.  UPDATE: THIS SOLD FOR £42,000

    A rare violin by Daniel Parker – known as the English Stradivarius – comes up at Ingles and Hayday in London on November 3.  The 1716 instrument has a distinctive Italian sound. Daniel Parker worked in the shadows of St Paul’s Cathedral as it was being completed, making instruments in the early decades of the 1700s.  St Paul’s was formally completed in 1711, five years before this particular instrument, and Sir Christopher Wren died in 1717.  This period in London’s instrument-making history sees luthiers making sophisticated instruments informed by the innovations of Italian makers, with Daniel Parker producing some of the very best instruments.  Musical life in London was thriving at this time and Handel settled permanently in the city in 1712.

    Violinist Fritz Kreisler played a Daniel Parker as his regular concert instrument which subsequently became know as the ‘Kreisler Parker’.  The Ingles and Hayday auction  at Sotheby’s includes a particularly fine selection of English bows.

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    ONE OF THE WORLD’S MOST HISTORIC SPORTS RACING CARS

    Wednesday, October 21st, 2015
    Photo Credit: Tim Scott ©2015 Courtesy of RM Sotheby's

    Photo Credit: Tim Scott ©2015 Courtesy of RM Sotheby’s  UPDATE: IT SOLD FOR $28 MILLION

    One of the worlds most historic sports racing cars – the ex-Fangio ex works Ferrari 290 by Scaglietti – will come up at RM Sotheby’s in New York on December 10.  In the history of motor racing, it is hard to imagine two names with greater stature than Ferrari and Juan Manuel Fangio, the enigmatic five-time Formula One World Champion. To find a car which so closely connects these two great motor racing legends is the Holy Grail for car collectors and aficionados the world over.  This car was built for Fangio to compete in the 1956 Mille Miglia and it was first overall in the 1957 World Championship Buenos Aires 1,000 km.  It is fully documented and has never been crashed.

    Meanwhile Christie’s is to offer Steve McQueen’s Porsche at the Exceptional Sale in Paris on November 4 with an estimate of 250,000-350,000. This is the car used in the 1971 film Le Mans.  UPDATE: THE PORSCHE FAILED TO SELL.

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    A BRACE OF JEWELLERY AUCTIONS IN DUBLIN THIS WEEK

    Monday, October 19th, 2015

    A 19th century sapphire or diamond brooch at Adams or a five carat diamond ring at O’Reilly’s of Francis St.?  Dublin jewellery auction goers will have choices to make this week with sales at James Adam on October 20 and at O’Reilly’s of Francis St. on October 21.  Catalogues for each of the sales are online.   The brooch at Adams, lot 76, is estimated at 800-1,200.  The brilliant cut diamond solitaire weighs in at a more hefty estimate of 45,000-50,000.  Each sale offers a big selection of antique and vintage jewellery and watches.

    A 19th century sapphire and diamond brooch at James Adam.

    A 19th century sapphire and diamond brooch at James Adam.

    A five carat diamond solitaire at O'Reilly's.

    A five carat diamond solitaire at O’Reilly’s.

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    FRENCH CROWN JEWELS ANYONE?

    Thursday, September 10th, 2015
    The Dowager Countess of Harcourt diamond necklace of about 65 carats. (US$1.3-1.9 million).

    The Dowager Countess of Harcourt diamond necklace of about 65 carats. (US$1.3-1.9 million).  UPDATE: TIFFANY PURCHASED THIS FOR US$1,548,718

    The Dowager Viscountess Harcourt diamond necklace incorporating 28 diamonds from the landmark 1887 auction of the French Crown Jewels will come up at Sotheby’s in Hong Kong on October 7.  The necklace is accompanied by thorough documentation of its passage through various notable owners over more than a century.  After the Third Republic of France was formed the Ministry of Finance decided to sell the once exclusive property of kings and queens in a public auction in 1887. Jewellers from Europe, North Africa and the United States flocked to the sale, along with European aristocrats and wealthy Americans.  Tiffany was rumoured to have purchased about one third of the lots including 28 mine cut old diamonds from the Great Comb a Pampilles.  They were sold a week later to Junius Morgan of the English banking family. They were passed to his young grand daughter Mary Burns who became Viscountess Harcourt in 1899.  The first Viscount Harcourt had the diamond chains remounted into the present necklace around 1900.  It is estimated at US$1.3-1.9 million.

    The sale offers a selection of superb natural coloured gemstones, diamonds, jadeite and jewels from the most coveted brands worldwide, including iconic designs from Cartier from the 1920s to the present. Among these is a ‘Panther’ ring featuring a 10.62-carat natural Burmese ruby.

    Pride of place goes to the Cowdray Pearls, one of the finest and rarest grey pearl necklaces known (US$4.5 – 7 million).  Formerly in the collection of Viscountess Cowdray, Lady Pearson (1860 – 1932), a distinguished connoisseur and collector, this magnificent necklace strung and mounted by Cartier comprises 42 extremely rare and superb natural grey saltwater pearls well-matched in lustre, shape and size. They are accompanied by a pair of natural grey pearl earrings with mounts by Cartier London.

    The Cowdray Pearls (US$4.5 – 7 million).

    The Cowdray Pearls (US$4.5 – 7 million).  UPDATE: THEY SOLD FOR US$5,266,667

    A 10.62 carat Burmese Mogok ruby, onyx and diamond ring. (|US$2.3-3.2 million).

    A 10.62 carat Burmese Mogok ruby, onyx and diamond ring. (|US$2.3-3.2 million).

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    EILEEN GRAY: THE FIRST UK EXHIBITION IN OCTOBER

    Thursday, August 13th, 2015
    Eileen Gray in a 1926 photo.

    Eileen Gray in a 1926 photo.

    The first UK exhibition of Irish designer and architect Eileen Gray (1878-1976) will be held at the Osborne Samuel Gallery in Mayfair, London from October 13 to November 7. It will feature over 60 paintings and photographs from the 1920’s to the 1960’s, personal effects and furniture and it will include some of her personal ephemera and letters.  Among these are her architect’s work table and a plan chest she designed in 1926.

    Eileen Gray is widely regarded as one of the most influential architects and designers of the 20th century.   The exhibition will coincide with the publication of Eileen Gray:  The Private Painter written by Andrew Lambirth. The exhibition is timely in that it coincides with the reopening of her E1027 villa in the south of France.  An upcoming film on Gray, The Price of Desire, is based on her relationship with Le Corbuser.  There is a permanent exhibition of Grey’s work at the Decorative Arts and History Museum at Collins Barracks in Dublin.

    A c1925 architectural plan chest by Eileen Gray

    A c1925 architectural plan chest by Eileen Gray

    Eileen Gray's Art Noir, Study for a Rug from 1922

    Eileen Gray’s Art Noir, Study for a Rug from 1922

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