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TODAY IS THE CENTENARY OF THE SINKING OF THE LUSITANIA

Thursday, May 7th, 2015

Lusitania.

Today marks the centenary of the sinking of the Lusitania, which was torpedoed by a German U-boat and sunk off the coast of Cork on May 7, 1915. This caused the deaths of 1,198 passengers and crew. There are commemorations of the loss of the Cunard Liner in various locations in County Cork today, including lifeboat stations and at Cobh, where many of the survivors were taken. Cobh, then Queenstown, was an important transatlantic port and recovered bodies were brought ashore and buried in a mass grave here. Lifeboats powered only by oarsmen set out for the site of the sinking eleven miles off the southern coast and within sight of the Old Head of Kinsale. She had left New York for Liverpool on May 1, but sank within eighteen minutes of being torpedoed following a second, internal explosion. Among those who died was Sir Hugh Lane, the art dealer, collector and gallery director. He is best known for establishing Dublin’s Municipal Gallery of Modern Art – now the Hugh Lane – the first known public gallery of modern art in the world.

Tags: Lusitania, U-boats
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A TRICK OF THE LIGHT FINGERED SILVER SCAMMER

Friday, April 17th, 2015

Later chased Dublin George I 1714 teapot no maker’s mark.

Buyers of more valuable pieces of Irish silver ought to be aware of a trick used by light fingered scammers. It revolves around the perfectly legal practice of de-chasing. In Victorian times repousse (embossed) decoration was fashionable. The Victorians chased older pieces – such as a plain, classical Queen Anne piece, in pursuit of fashion. Why? Because it was cheaper to decorate an existing piece than get a new one made. Consequently the integrity of the piece was devalued.

The very small supply of Irish silver creates a constant hunt by international dealers to find later chased pieces and dechase them. This practice adds huge value of perhaps up to ten times the original cost. International standards dictate that when a piece is dechased it has to be labelled as such. These pieces are not permitted to be offered for sale at top international antique fairs. Sadly this practice has not been enforced in Ireland. Buyers of significant plain pre 1750 Irish pieces do need to be aware that collectibles like bullet shaped teapots, bowls, beer jugs and coffee pots may have been dechased and not labelled as such.

Later chased Cork George II inverted pear shape teapot by George Hodder 1745

It is profitable for the unscrupulous to do this when silver work is early and has good hallmarks. Dechasing can degenerate into downright deception when crests, weights and shapes are changed. It is illegal to add a new piece of silver such as a spout without having the new addition hallmarked. One Irish silver dealer, outraged at the practice, said that anyone with any doubts about a piece should have it vetted by the English plate committee as they possess the experience and knowledge to detect alterations. The vast majority of dechasing is carried out by British silversmiths.

Sadly in the world of antiques, art and collectibles anything valuable will have been forged, imitated and copied. The difference between restoration and re-construction is blurred and causes problems in in many fields. The old adage “caveat emptor” – buyer beware – always applies. Examples of the sort of silver which might be dechased are illustrated.

Later chased Dublin Geo II Coffee Pot by William Williamson 1745.

Large Cork George III Later chased Cup by John Whitney 1780

Tags: antique silver, Irish silver, silver scam
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RUSSBOROUGH EVENT FOR NATIONAL ANTIQUES WEEK

Wednesday, April 15th, 2015

A pair of antique 18ct gold turquoise and diamond earrings circa 1900 from Courtville Antiques (2,995).

A two day event at the Palladian Russborough House in Co. Wicklow on April 18 and 19 will kick off National Antiques Week 2015 in Ireland. From noon to five o clock each day members of the Irish Antique Dealers Association (IADA) will be on hand to provide valuations. There will also be a series of lectures and guided tours.

The impetus for the Russborough event is to share the knowledge and passion of IADA members and hopefully to open up the world of antiques to a new audience. The IADA is striving to get people excited about antiques. This is a year of celebration for the IADA which celebrates its 50th anniversary. Full details can be found on the IADA website.

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ANTIQUESANDARTIRELAND.COM CONTINUES TO GROW

Friday, March 20th, 2015

This website continues to grow. The latest figures indicate that it achieves around 1.5 million hits around the world each month. There are regular readers in Ireland, Britain, the US, Europe and throughout the world. Here is a image from Google’s Webmaster Tools showing the latest results. You can click on the image to enlarge it.

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IRELAND AT THE ART INSTITUTE OF CHICAGO

Thursday, March 19th, 2015

Here is a short video from the Art Institute of Chicago about the major Irish exhibition underway. Ireland: Crossroads of Art and Design 1690-1840 continues until Sunday June 7. (See posts on antiquesandartireland.com for January 11, February 20 and March 17, 2015).

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TAD SMITH IS NEW SOTHEBY’S CEO

Monday, March 16th, 2015

Tad Smith, new ceo at Sotheby’s.

Tad Smith has been named as new President and Chief Executive Officer at Sotheby’s. The 49 year old has been President of the Madison Square Garden Company – a leader in building sports, media and entertainment brands – since February 2014. In this role he oversaw strategy and day to day development at MSG Sports, MSG Media and MSG Entertainment. With a track record of driving revenue and profit growth the new President is said to have a passion for art and collectibles.

Smith replaces William Ruprecht, who served as ceo since 2000. Ruprecht had been under pressure from billionaire activist investor Daniel Loeb last year to cut costs and increase shareholder value. Record auction volumes which brought sales last year to $6.1 million have not returned higher profits, and expenses have increased.

Domenico De Sole, Sotheby’s lead independent director, is replacing Ruprecht as chairman of the board of directors. Smith will also join Sotheby’s board.

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KING WILLIAM AND QUEEN MARY TO RETURN TO HOLLAND

Thursday, February 26th, 2015

Queen Mary and King William.

The Gemeentemuseum in The Hague has acquired two Delft blue and white statues of King William and Queen Mary made around 1690 and displayed at The Winter Antiques Show in New York last month.

They were brought to New York by Aronson Antiquaire of Amsterdam, which had re-united the couple last year in a coup described by Robert Aronson as the most exciting event of his 25 years in the antiques business. The queen was found a year ago, the king surfaced last May in an auction house in France. The story of how they were re-united has already been reported on this website.

At the Winter Antiques Show the asking price was $950,000. Benno Temple of the Gemeentemuseum refused to say the amount paid, but added that there had been a museum discount. They will be displayed in a gallery devoted to Delft Wares at the Gemeentemuseum this spring.

(See post on antiquesandartireland.com for January 22, 2015)

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ALL THINGS IRISH AT CHICAGO’S ART INSTITUTE

Friday, February 20th, 2015

What promises to be a fascinating exhibition of all things Irish opens at the Art Institute of Chicago on St. Patrick’s Day. Ireland: Crossroads of Art and Design 1690-1840 – billed as the first exhibition to explore the rich and complex art and culture of Ireland during the 18th century – runs from March 17 to June 7. The show will bring together an Irish selection drawn from right across North America.

The programme of events and lectures around the exhibition will include a concert at Fullerton Hall on March 22 where musicians from the Chicago Symphony Orchestra will perform chamber music works by composers who found inspiration in Irish folk tunes and travel in Ireland. Here is a tiny flavour of what is to come. (See post on antiquesandartireland.com for January 11, 2015).

Unknown maker. Armchair, c. 1750. Ireland. Private collection. Photo: Dara McGrath.

John Kirkhoffer. Secretary Cabinet, 1732. Dublin, Ireland. Art Institute of Chicago, Gift of Robert Allerton.

Probably made by the Downshire Pottery,Belfast, Ireland. “Stag” Plate with Harp and Shamrock Border, c. 1800–06. Private collection. Photo: jamesfennell.com.

Adam Buck. The Artist and his Family, 1813. Yale Center for British Art, Paul Mellon Collection.

Robert Woffington (movement). William Moore (probably, casework). Upright Piano, c. 1790. Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, Gift of the New England Conservatory of Music.

Thomas Roberts. The Sheet of Water at Carton, with the Duke and Duchess of Leinster about to Board a Rowing Boat, 1775–76. Private collection.

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SOTHEBY’S TAKES 25% STAKE IN RM AUCTIONS

Thursday, February 19th, 2015

This 1929 Duesenberg Model J Sport Sedan with coachwork by the Walter M. Murphy Co. made $792,000 at Hersey in Pennsylvania in 2012. Photo Credit Darin Schnabel Courtesy of RM Auctions.

Sotheby’s has taken a 25% stake in RM Auctions, the world’s foremost collector car auctioneer. It will be known as RM Sotheby’s. The investment comes as the more than $2 billion market for the finest automobiles continues to grow. The two companies have collaborated on a number of successful sales in both the United States and Europe.

The first RM Sotheby’s sale will take place in Amelia Island, Florida on March 14, and sales in Fort Worth, Texas, Lake Como, Italy, Monterey, California, London and New York among others scheduled this year.

“Sotheby’s is thrilled to join the clear market leader in this field,” commented Bill Ruprecht, Sotheby’s President, Chairman, and CEO. “RM has established a formidable position that will only be strengthened by this new phase in our relationship. Just last year, RM set a new benchmark for a collector car auction with their flagship Monterey sale totaling more than $140 million”. Rob Myers, chairman and founder of RM Auctions said: “The partnership that has been formed between RM Auctions and Sotheby’s is undoubtedly the most effective way for us to reach the ever-growing worldwide audience of collectors who take a keen interest in the collector car asset class”.

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KIERAN O’BOYLE BECOMES ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR AT ADAMS

Tuesday, February 17th, 2015

Kieran O’Boyle.

Kieran O’Boyle has been appointed an associate director at Adams, the Irish art auctioneers and valuers. A graduate of UCD he holds an honours degree in History of Art and Information Studies and a graduate diploma in Business and Information Technology. He joined Adams in 2002 and has been involved in all aspects of the business. He oversees the annual History Sale and the Country House Collections sale at Slane Castle.

He has been Fine Art Department manager at James Adam since 2007 and is an associate member of the Society of Chartered Surveyors of Ireland.

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