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    FROM AMULET TO ZODIAC AT CHESTER BEATTY LIBRARY

    Sunday, August 24th, 2014

    From Amulet to Zodiac the A-Z exhibition now underway at Dublin’s Chester Beatty Library takes the visitor on a journey through a selection of highlights.  The curators’ choice show highlights the breadth and quality of the wonderful collection, a rare opportunity to explore the threads that link cultures across the Western, Islamic and East Asian worlds.

    A is for Amulet and the exhibition displays exquisite examples of these seventeenth- to nineteenth- century protective charms from the Christian, Hebrew, Islamic and Hindu faiths. E is for Embroidery and the objects on view include European sixteenth- to eighteenth-century covers for almanacs and devotional works, as well as eighteenth- and nineteenth-century embroidered badges worn to indicate status in the Chinese imperial court. T is for Travel and among the early printed travel books is a rare 1576 guide to the ‘most famous islands of the world’ with a chapter devoted to Ireland.  B is for Beatty and M is for Mining, and rarely seen material from the Library’s Archives offer a glimpse into Chester Beatty’s family and professional life.  The show continues until February 1, 2015.  Here are some examples.

    N is for Noh © Trustees of the Chester Beatty Library

    N is for Noh © Trustees of the Chester Beatty Library

    A is for Amulet (Phylactery) © Trustees of the Chester Beatty Library

    A is for Amulet (Phylactery) © Trustees of the Chester Beatty Library

    G is for Garden

    G is for Garden  Copyright Trustees of the Chester Beatty Library.

    J is for Jade.

    J is for Jade.  Copyright Trustees of the Chester Beatty Library.

     

    Posted in Miscellaneous | Comments Off on FROM AMULET TO ZODIAC AT CHESTER BEATTY LIBRARY

    INSPIRATION FOR JANE EYRE WINS HISTORIC HOUSES AWARD

    Tuesday, August 12th, 2014
    Norton Conyers

    Norton Conyers

    Norton Conyers near Ripon in North Yorkshire –  a house that inspired Charlotte Brontë’s Jane Eyre – has won the Historic Houses Association and Sotheby’s Restoration Award for 2014.  The late medieval North Yorkshire home of Sir James and Lady Graham, extensively rebuilt in the 17th century, has been the Graham family home since 1624.  Charlotte  Brontë is believed to have visited Norton Conyers in 1839 and it was the inspiration for Thornfield Hall. The family legend of a “madwoman” secretly confined to an attic room might have given her the idea for the crazed Mrs Rochester.

    Sir James and Lady Graham, a former museum curator, began the restoration of Norton Conyers in 2006. Their assiduous work over the past eight years revealed fascinating layers of history, which visitors will be able to discover in July of 2015, when the house reopens to the public.  The restoration enhanced many features mentioned by Brontë in her description of Thornfield Hall: the battlements around the roof, the lawn, the rookery, the broad oak staircase lit by a high latticed window, the high square hall and the mad woman’s room in the third storey attic. Following the discovery of a staircase leading to the attic a secret door has been created in the 19th century panelling, opening the space to the public for the first time. Finds made during the restoration process include Tudor painted boards hidden behind 18th century plaster and a 1760’s wallpaper.

    Richard Compton, President of the Historic Houses Association commented: “Norton Conyers is a very special house, steeped in history. It has been so sensitively and painstakingly restored in recent years by its very knowledgeable owners, Sir James and Lady Graham. I always look upon Norton Conyers as a classic HHA Member property whose owners are so dedicated towards the maintenance of this special place. Great care has been taken to respect the history and development of this historic house and in so doing, over the past eight years, successive layers of history have been uncovered. The HHA is delighted that this award is being made to mark and celebrate the Grahams’ remarkable achievements”.

    Great Hall, Norton Conyers courtesy of Sir James Graham.

    Great Hall, Norton Conyers courtesy of Sir James Graham.

    Staircase leading to the attic. Courtesy Sir James Graham.

    Staircase leading to the attic. Courtesy Sir James Graham.

    Posted in Miscellaneous | Comments Off on INSPIRATION FOR JANE EYRE WINS HISTORIC HOUSES AWARD

    AUCTION SALES AT SOTHEBY’S UP 24% IN FIRST HALF OF 2014

    Friday, August 8th, 2014
    The American Flamingo by John James Audubon.

    The American Flamingo by John James Audubon.

    Auction sales at Sotheby’s rose by 24% in the first half of 2014 over the first six months of 2013.  A total of 487 lots were sold for over $1 million in the period according to the first half results.  Contemporary art was up by 24% and jewellery by 34%.  A total of 41% more works were sold privately than in the first six months of 2013.

    More than a dozen selling exhibitions are planned for the autumn season. Sales at Hong Kong and Beijing were up 56% and there was a 35% increase globally in buyers from mainland China. Participation in the BIDnow programme more than doubled and 16% more lots were sold online. John James Audubon’s elephant-folio The Birds of America sold in April 2014 for $3.5 million – marking a new record for an online purchase in a live auction at Sotheby’s. A partnership between Sotheby’s and e-Bay has been announced recently.

    (See post on antiquesandartireland.com for July 16, 2014)

    Posted in Miscellaneous | Comments Off on AUCTION SALES AT SOTHEBY’S UP 24% IN FIRST HALF OF 2014

    ASHFORD CASTLE AUCTION A SELL OUT

    Friday, July 25th, 2014
    This specimen table was the top lot at the Ashford Castle sale. It made 5,000.

    This specimen table was the top lot at the Ashford Castle sale. It made 5,000.

    The auction of 1,000 lots of contents from Ashford Castle, one of Ireland’s most luxurious hotels, was a sellout this week.  The sale, on location at Cong in Co. Mayo, was 100 per cent sold.  Auctioneer Aidan Foley reported that more than 4,000 people turned up for the one day viewing on Tuesday and there were 1,000 bidders at the auction on Wednesday.  On offer were contents from the castle, which is undergoing a major refurbishment.  There was everything from kitchen equipment to soft furnishings to porcelain, lamps, Imari chargers and some antique furniture lots.  Nearly everything sold for above estimate.  The top lot was a marble specimen table which sold for 5,000.

    (See post on antiquesandartireland.com for July 14, 2014)

    Posted in AUCTIONS, COLLECTIBLES, Miscellaneous | Comments Off on ASHFORD CASTLE AUCTION A SELL OUT

    DIAMONDS, PENDANTS AND SAPPHIRES AT O’REILLY’S AUCTION

    Thursday, July 17th, 2014

    Diamond solitaire rings, some beautifully set pendants and a diamond and sapphire cluster ring to covet are among the fine jewellery and silver pieces at an auction at O’Reilly’s of Francis St. in Dublin in Wednesday, July 23.  There is a good choice of watches too.  The catalogue is online. Here is a small selection:

    A diamond and sapphire target cluster ring (12,000-14,000)

    A diamond and sapphire target cluster ring (12,000-14,000)

    A diamond, pearl and aquamarine pendant (800-1,200)

    A diamond, pearl and aquamarine pendant (800-1,200)

    A brilliant cut diamond solitaire ring.

    A brilliant cut diamond solitaire ring (38,000-42,000)

    Posted in AUCTIONS, Miscellaneous | Comments Off on DIAMONDS, PENDANTS AND SAPPHIRES AT O’REILLY’S AUCTION

    HIGHEST EVER AUCTION SALES AT SOTHEBY’S IN THE FIRST HALF OF 2014

    Wednesday, July 16th, 2014
    Claude Monet’s Nympheas, sold for £31.7m ($54.1m) at Sotheby’s London in June

    Claude Monet’s Nympheas, sold for £31.7m ($54.1m) at Sotheby’s London in June

    Sotheby’s announced today that auction sales for the first half of 2014 stand at $3.12bn – the highest in the company’s history. Full half year results and consolidated figures will be released in the coming weeks. Christie’s earlier announced record sales worth $4.47 billion in the first half of 2014.  Sotheby’s recorded a 47% growth in Asia and the just concluded London season of sales was the company’s strongest ever.

    Earlier this week Sotheby’s announced a new partnership with eBay. Online bidders competed for 17% of lots offered in 2013.  Mobile traffic now accounts for 25% of Sotheby’s total website traffic.  In the first half of this year 26% of buyers were new to Sotheby’s and the company has sold 492 lots at over $1 million.

    Mark Cornell, Sotheby’s Managing Director for Europe, said: ‘The critical selling categories in which Sotheby’s has led the market  this year are those we see attracting the fastest, strongest stream of new buyers, primarily from the new markets. Sotheby’s ability to attract, engage and excite these new players is evidenced both in the exceptional  growth we’ve seen in Asia, and in the record results we’ve seen in London this season, where record numbers of buyers fuelled total sales of £360m – some 13% ahead of those of our nearest competitor.’

    Referring to this season’s London sales in particular, Mark Cornell continued: “The record successes we have enjoyed in London this summer are the fruit of the combination of old rules and new players. Old rules still apply:  quality, rarity, provenance and correct estimates are key, and new players care just as much about those criteria as established collectors. It is the confluence of rich offerings and ever-more global demand that has proved so powerful this season, and that will continue to power the market forward.”

    Posted in AUCTIONS, Miscellaneous | Comments Off on HIGHEST EVER AUCTION SALES AT SOTHEBY’S IN THE FIRST HALF OF 2014

    RECORD HALF YEAR AT CHRISTIE’S WITH ART SALES OF £2.7 BILLION

    Wednesday, July 16th, 2014
    Francis Bacon's Portrait of George Dyer Talking sold in February

    Francis Bacon’s Portrait of George Dyer Talking sold in February for £42.2 million.

    Record sales for the half year ended in June have been announced today by Christie’s.  Art sales of £2.7 billion are up 12%, there was a 71% increase in online activity and 24% of all buyers were new to Christie’s. No less than 51 works of art sold for over $10 million. Autumn expansion plans include a new Shanghai office due to open in October and a new gallery at the Rockefeller Center to open in November.

    Christie’s say a successful strategy to connect with more collectors globally underpins the results, with the figures driven by an increase in the value of artworks sold across categories, geographies and price levels. Digital engagement and new buyers coming to the market have continued to drive growth; new clients represented 24% of all buyers and 15% of the sales total in the first half of 2014.  Post-War and Contemporary art had a record breaking six months with total sales of £799.9 million. The May evening sale in New York brought in $744.9 million, the highest total ever in the history of the art market.

    Steven Murphy, Christie’s ceo said: “Christie’s continued position of leadership is evidenced again in our half year results. Yet more important is that we are meeting our goal of serving more clients than any other art business globally and at all levels of collecting. Our strategy to engage this growing audience for art through auction, private sales and digitally has been validated and again welcomed many new buyers. We continue to lead the top levels of the art market, particularly in the Post-War & Contemporary Art area, while also successfully serving the broad variety of interests through all our categories and online sales. It is a new era of excitement and engagement about art and for art. By putting the art first, Christie’s has captured the imagination of our clients and served them in their quest to connect with the art itself.”

    Posted in ART, Miscellaneous | Comments Off on RECORD HALF YEAR AT CHRISTIE’S WITH ART SALES OF £2.7 BILLION

    WIDE VARIETY OF STYLES AT O’REILLY’S, FRANCIS ST., DUBLIN

    Saturday, June 21st, 2014

    There is a wide variety of jewellery styles to choose from at the monthly sale by O’Reilly’s of Francis St. in Dublin on June 25.   As well as some signed solitaires and engagement rings from Tiffany and Co. there is a particularly beautiful antique enamelled fob watch with diamonds on the reverse on gold and guilloche enamelled chain estimated at 1,900-2,100.  The catalogue is online. Here is a small selection:

    An antique enamelled fob watch (1,900-2,100).

    An antique enamelled fob watch (1,900-2,100).

     

    A diamond solitaire ring, brilliant cut (45,000-55,000)

    A diamond solitaire ring, brilliant cut (45,000-55,000)

     

    An emerald and diamond necklace (28,000-30,000).

    An emerald and diamond necklace (28,000-30,000).

     

    Am 18 carat gold retro wide bracelet (1,400-1,600).

    Am 18 carat gold retro wide bracelet (1,400-1,600).

     

    Posted in AUCTIONS, Miscellaneous | Comments Off on WIDE VARIETY OF STYLES AT O’REILLY’S, FRANCIS ST., DUBLIN

    THE 1922 EDITION OF ULYSSES FIRST SEEN BY NABOKOV AT BONHAMS

    Wednesday, June 11th, 2014
    The Ulysses 1st edition to be sold at Bonhams.

    The Ulysses 1st edition to be sold at Bonhams.  UPDATE: IT MADE £31,250

    A first edition of James Joyce’s novel Ulysses smuggled out of Paris in 1922 and read aloud to the young Vladimir Nabokov comes up at Bonhams in London on June 18. It is estimated at £15,000-20,000.  Published in Paris by Shakespeare and Co in 1922, parts had appeared in serialised form in The American magazine The Little Review, between 1918 and 1920, before being banned as obscene.  The book was banned in the United Kingdom until the 1930’s. This copy was smuggled into the country by Peter Mrosovsky, a fellow Russian student of Nabokov’s at Trinity College, Cambridge.

    Years later, in Strong Opinions published in 1974, Nabokov recalled the moment when he heard passages from Joyce’s work for the first time: “My first brief contact with Ulysses was around 1920 at Cambridge University, when a friend, Peter Mrozovski (sic), who had bought a copy from Paris, chanced to read to me, as he stomped up and down my digs, one or two spicy passages from Molly’s monologue… Only fifteen years later, when I was already well formed as a writer and reluctant to learn or unlearn anything, I read Ulysses and liked it enormously.” Nabokov regarded Ulysses as the greatest masterpiece of 20th century prose (the others on his list being Kafka’s The Metamorphosis, Bely’s St Petersburg and the first half of Proust’s In Search of Lost Time). He wrote and lectured about it frequently.

    The first edition was printed in a total number of 1000 copies, comprising 100 signed copies on Dutch handmade paper, an edition of 150 large paper copies (of which the copy for sale is one), and a regular edition of 750 copies. Despite the handling this copy must have been subjected to, the original wrappers remain intact.

    UPDATE: IT SOLD FOR £31,250

     

    Posted in AUCTIONS, Miscellaneous | Comments Off on THE 1922 EDITION OF ULYSSES FIRST SEEN BY NABOKOV AT BONHAMS

    PURCELL TO BE HEAD OF COLLECTIBLES AT WHYTE’S

    Wednesday, May 28th, 2014
    Stuart Purcell.

    Stuart Purcell.

    Stuart Purcell has been appointed as head of collectibles at Whyte’s auctioneers in Dublin. He has more than 15 years experience and previously worked in Dublin with James Adam, Adams Blackrock and latterly as a director of Orr and Company, Delgany.  He has extensive knowledge of antiques and collectibles and acts as a valuer and advisor to several corporate clients.  He presents “Cash or Trash” on TV3 and appraises objects submitted by viewers.

    Whyte’s will hold separate sales of Movie Posters and Rock and Pop Memorabilia in Dublin on May 31.

    Posted in Miscellaneous | Comments Off on PURCELL TO BE HEAD OF COLLECTIBLES AT WHYTE’S

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