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Bentley once owned by Sir Elton John at Bonhams. (Click on image to enlarge).  UPDATE: IT MADE £47,437

A 1975 Bentley Corniche convertible formerly owned by Sir Elton John, goes under the hammer at Bonhams in Oxford on June 16.  One of only 45 Bentley Corniche ‘Series 1’ convertibles built between 1971 and 1976 it was bought new by Elton John in September 1975.  He sold  it to his personal assistant Robert Halley in 1998 and re-bought it in 1999.  Mr. Halley had it repainted in its present livery and updated with later alloy wheels.

The current owner bought the Cornice when a selection  of Elton John’s cars was auctioned in 2001. Sir Elton speaks highly of the Bentley, which was one of a handful of his cars used extensively. He said: “I’ve had a lot of people in it, Princess Margaret’s been in it,  everyone’s been in it.” It is estimated at £50,000 to £60,000 at a sale held in Association with the Vintage Motor Cycle Club Banbury Run.

UPDATE: IT SOLD FOR £347,437 INCLUDING PREMIUM

The Irish Examiner Titanic Supplement. (Click on image to enlarge).

Exactly a century ago Titanic sailed from Queenstown into the history books . On April 11, 1912 Titanic arrived from Cherbourg and dropped anchor at the outer anchorage at Roches Point near Queenstown (now Cobh) in Cork Harbour.  It was to be her last port of call.

Of the 123 passengers who boarded in Cork only 44 survived.  Among the eight passengers who disembarked at Queenstown was the Jesuit trainee priest Frank Browne. A keen photographer, he was the only person with photographs of the ship at sea. His work has been used extensively ever since.

On April 11, 2012 the Irish Examiner newspaper, whose own photographer covered the visit of Titanic, will publish a special supplement to commemorate the event.

Several different types of deck chair were ordered for Olympic and Titanic for use by first and second class passengers on the boat and promenade decks. Passengers paid a hire charge for each voyage of four shillings for the chair and the same amount for a woollen steamer rug.

Three exceptional solitaires from the collection of Lily Safra.

THE jewellery collection of Mrs. Lily Safra will be sold at Christie’s, Geneva on May 14.  Mrs. Safra is a major philanthropist and a connoisseur. The jewellery collection reflects her refined taste in evolution through five decades from the 1970’s.   The three solitaire rings illustrated here share some exceptional characteristics.  They are each the best colour of their type and weigh over 30 carats.  The 34.05 carat rectangular-cut diamond ring (D/VVS1 potentially flawless, Type IIa) is a perfect stone estimated at US$3,600,000-5,000,000. Formerly in the collection of Luz Mila Patiño, Countess du Boisrouvray, the famous 32.08 carats cushion-shaped Burmese ruby and diamond ring by Chaumet is offered with an estimate of US$3,000,000-5,000,000, while a 31.21 carats rectangular-cut Burmese sapphire and diamond ring, mounted by Boucheron, is estimated at US$450,000-550,000.

Mrs. Safra and a ruby and diamond flower brooch by JAR estimated at $1.2-$1.5 million.

The sale includes the largest single owner selection of jewels by JAR – the elusive Paris based Bronx born jewellery design trendsetter – ever seen at auction.  JAR creations rare come to auction and the sale represents a singular opportunity for JAR lovers to purchase some of his best jewels.

Mrs. Safra, a London based Brazilian born billionaire, is the widow of Lebanese banker Edmond J. Safra who died in a fire at his Monaco apartment in 1999.  She is a prominent art collector. The sale, which will feature 70 lots, is estimated to bring in more than $20 million. All proceed are to be donated to 20 different charitable institutions.

(See post on antiquesandartireland.com for July 10, 2011)

12.04ct Fancy Intense Pink Type IIa Round Brilliant-Cut Diamond Ring, by Harry Winston Estimate: HK$65,000,000-95,000,000 US$8,000,000-10,000,000. Click on image to enlarge. Picture © Christie's Images Limited 2012.

The largest round fancy intense pink diamond ever at auction features at Christie’s sale of magnificent jewels in Hong Kong on May 29.  The 12.04 carat stone was purchased from Harry Winston in 1976, the year the US launched it first satellite on a mission to Mars.  The stone was named the Martian Pink.

11.85ct D VVS1 Potential Round Brilliant-Cut Diamond Ring, by Harry Winston Estimate: HK$13,500,000-20,000,000 US$1,700,000-2,500,000 © Christie's Images Limited 2012. (Click to enlarge).

It is one of only two known significantly sized round pink diamonds in the world.  The 23.60 carat Williamson Pink was presented to Queen Elizabeth II on the occasion of her wedding in 1947. The Martian Pink shows no trace of secondary colour, making it very rare. Most natural pink diamonds exhibited a colour modifier like purple, orange or grey.  It is offered alongside an elegant 11.85-carat D VVS1 potentially flawless round brilliant-cut diamond of D colour.

The pre-production,1948 Norton 500T Trials Motorcycle

MORE than 30 motorcycles from the collection of Irish motorcycle legend  Harry Lindsay will be auctioned by Bonhams at the Classic Motorcycle Show in Stafford next April 29. The collection is expected to make over £200,000. Highlights include an ‘as new’ McIntosh Norton 500cc Manx (£25,000-30,000) together with a matching McIntosh Norton 350cc Manx (£22,000-27,000).  Harry Lindsay’s family has been synonymous with motorcycle production, racing and sales.

His grandfather responsible for the creation of one of Ireland’s earliest motorcycles: the ‘Celtic’. In 1926 Harry’s grandfather and father set up premises in 26 Great Ship Street, Dublin, the same premises from which Harry acted as Irelands major importer of Bultaco motorcycles and Honda spares. He was the Republic of Ireland’s Vincent agent.