KASHMIR SAPPHIRE: A VERY RARE EARLY 20TH CENTURY SAPPHIRE AND DIAMOND BROOCH, CIRCA 1905SOLD FOR €540,000 AT HAMMER
Two Kashmir sapphires made just under €1.1 million at the James Adam sale of fine jewellery in Dublin. A c1900 sapphire and diamond brooch with a central stone of 8.24 carats (pictured below) made a hammer price of €550,000 over a top estimate €300,000. The c1905 sapphire and diamond brooch pictured above with a central stone of 6.53 carats made €540,000 at hammer over a top estimate of €250,000.
(See posts on antiquesandartireland.com for August 22 and May 13, 2025)
This c1900 sapphire and diamond brooch made €550,000 at hammer.
Mark O’Neill (b.1963) – Sunlight in the Old Town, Nice (2010). UPDATE: THIS MADE 8,000 AT HAMMER
This oil on board by Mark O’Neill is at Morgan O’Driscoll’s current Irish art online auction which runs until September 15. The estimate is €4,000-6,000. The auction offers a wide variety of artists, from Graham Knuttel and Mr. Brainwash to Sir William Orpen and Sean Scully. The catalogue is online.
BLAISE PASCAL (1623-1662) – LA PASCALINE Christie’s Images Ltd., Anna Buklovska UPDATE: THE SALE DID NOT GO AHEAD AFTER A PARIS COURT PROVISIONALLY STOPPED THE MACHINE FROM BEING EXPORTED.
Described by Christie’s as the most important scientific instrument ever offered at auction La Pascaline – the first attempt in history to substitute the human mind with a machine – comes up at auction in Paris on November 19 with an estimate of €2 million – €3 million.
Author of a Traité des Sons [treatise on the communication of sounds] at the age of 12, of an essai de géométrie [essay on conic sections] at 16, Blaise Pascal developed the first calculating machine in history at the age of 19. He did so to assist his father, Etienne Pascal, President of the Cour des Aides de Normandie [Board of Excise]. As such, Etienne Pascal was responsible for re-organising the province’s tax revenues – a task requiring countless mathematical operations, accounting calculations and other topographical surveys. To simplify the process, Blaise Pascal designed calculating machines. For the first time in history mental arithmetic had been mechanised. Blaise Pascal designed three types of machines: one for decimal calculations (additions, subtractions, multiplications and divisions), one for accounting (for monetary calculations) and one for surveying (for calculating distances).
Only nine original models of this major scientific and technical revolution remain in existence, and nearly all are held in museums across Europe: These include a model in Clermont-Ferrand, a model in Dresden, a model in Bonn belonging to the IBM collection, and a later version at the Musée des Arts et Métiers in Paris. This is the only one in private hands, the only known model dedicated to survey calculations and this particular 17th century arithmetic machine is still fully functional. It will highlight the the Bibliothèque Léon Parcé sale.
William Gronow-Davis – Seefin Castle, Co. Galway at Sheppards. UPDATE: These were unsold
More than 60 years later the name John Profumo retains a whiff of scandal. The Tory politician resigned in 1963 after lying about his affair with Christine Keeler to the House of Commons – politicians caught out in a lie had to resign in those far off days – but ultimately rehabilitated himself through charity work in east London. It all adds interest to a pair of oils on board by William Gronow-Davis at Sheppards sale of Important Irish Art in Durrow on September 16.
The paintings of Seefin Castle near Craughwell were presented to Major Philip Profumo, younger brother of John, by the Galway Blazers. The presentation was made by members of the County Galway Hunt for the seasons 1966-69. Both paintings retain their original frames and presentation packs. The estimate is €2,000-€3,000.
The auction offers 263 lots of Irish and international art spanning two centuries. Top lots include a complete set of 14 Custom House Keystones representing Irish rivers by Rory Breslin along with art by William Ashford, Dan O’Neill, Peter Curling, Donald Teskey, James Brohan, James Humbert Craig and a watercolour by Jean Dufy. The catalogue is online and there will be viewing in Durrow from September 12 until September 15.
Donald Teskey – Ballycastle Bay, Co. Mayo (2021) UPDATE: THIS MADE 19,000 AT HAMMER
Ireland is changing and so is our art. The exhibition of New Irish Art at the Lavit Gallery in Cork reflects some of this. For this inaugural show the gallery with a long track record of support both for local and national artists has extended its reach. Cork is represented by Tom Climent, Deirdre Frost, Nuala O’Donovan and Amna Walayat, Galway by John Behan and Cecilia Danell, Clare by Kaye Maahs, Dublin by Samir Mahmood and Dominic Turner, Wicklow by Conor Walton, Sligo by Martha Quinn and Belfast by Jennifer Trouton. Not all are based in their counties and the New Irish part of the title references the idea of a more fluid and multi-cultural Irish society. Included in the show are artists represented by Solomon Fine Art, Taylor Galleries and the Kevin Kavanagh Gallery. It runs until September 27.
Claude Lalanne – Unique Structure Vegetale bed. UPDATE: THIS MADE £889,000
Prices everywhere are skyrocketing so how about a bed for €346,000. Not imaginary, not just any old bed and probably not a bad investment. The Unique Structure Vegetale bed in gold patinated bronze was commissioned directly from Claude Lalanne in 2012 by Pauline Karpidas. It is described by Sotheby’s, who estimate it at £200,000-£300,000 (€230,880-€346,000), as a fusion of nature, surrealism and personal sanctuary.
Pauline Karpidas first met the Lalannes – Francois Xavier (1927-2008) and Claude (1924-2019) – in 1978 at their magical home and workshop at Ury, outside Paris, in 1978. Long before they became synonymous with global superstardom in the worlds of art and interiors she was one of their first collectors. No less than 60 works by Les Lalannes, including many uniquely designed commissions, will feature at Sotheby’s day and evening sales of her collection on September 17 and 18 and the online sale which runs from September 8 until September 19.
Claude Lalanne – detail, Structure Vegetale
The Surrealistic contents of the London home of this trailblazing collector, 250 lots with an estimate of £60 million (€69.34 million) in total, constitute the most valuable designated collection ever to be offered in Europe. She shares with Les Lalannes a knack of seamlessly merging high art and functional living and the sale offers masterpieces by Hans Bellmer, Max Ernst, Yves Tanguy, René Magritte, Leonora Carrington, Salvador Dalí, Pablo Picasso, Andy Warhol and Jeff Koons.
Leonora Carrington – The Hour of the Angelus. UPDATE: THIS MADE £952,500
Among them are La Statue volante (The Flying Statue), one of Magritte’s most enigmatic paintings from the last decade of his career (£9 million – £12 million)(€10.4 million – €13.87 million). A 1949 work by Leonora Carrington, The Hour of the Angelus (£600,000-£800,000)(€693,420-€924,560) reflects the inspiration she drew from Mexico’s traditions where Aztec, Mayan and Catholic beliefs coexisted in harmony. It echoes the myths passed down to Carrington by her Irish grandmother. The treasure trove of paintings includes two works by Andy Warhol inspired by Munch, his favourite artist alongside Henri Matisse.
The Manchester born collector credits her late husband Constantine (Dinos) Karpidas, a Greek shipping magnate, with opening her eyes to the beauty of wonderful things. After coming face to face with exceptional Surrealist paintings at the Athens home of gallerist Alexander Iolas in 1974 her love of art took on an entirely new life. She studied Surrealism, visiting galleries and libraries and museums and became friends with Les Lalanne, Warhol and others along the way. This is the lifetime journey of a true collector who honed her eye and her sensibility as she delved deep into her subject.
An immersive exhibition telling the story of the journey of Pauline Karpidas over half a century gets underway at Sotheby’s in London on September 8.
Rene Magritte – La Statue volante. UPDATE: THIS MADE £10,120,000
THE MELLON BLUE – Fancy Vivid Blue pear-shaped cut diamond of 9.51 carats. UPDATE: THIS SOLD FOR US$25.59 MILLION
The Mellon Blue, a blue diamond of 9.51 carats with an estimate of $20-30 million will lead Christie’s sale of magnificent jewels in Geneva on November 11. One of the finest coloured diamonds to appear on the market the stone – then set as a pendent – belonged to Rachel Lambert Mellon, better known as Bunny Mellon (1910-2014), an American horticulturalist, philanthropist, and art collector. Bunny Mellon was a symbol of elegance and sophistication whose taste extended to jewellery selected with the same care and sensitivity brought to interiors and gardens. Bunny Mellon’s horticultural vision can be seen at the White House. In 1961, President John F. Kennedy asked Mellon to redesign the White House Rose Garden where Mellon created more open space for public ceremonies and introduced American species of plants to the garden. Elsewhere, in France, Mellon created a landscape design for the home of Hubert de Givenchy, who was a close friend, and assisted with the restoration of the “Potager du Roi” at the Chateau de Versailles. Graded Internally Flawless and recently set as a ring the diamond is remarkable for both its intense colour and its extraordinary purity.
Portraits of renowned Irish actors Ruth Negga and Stephen Rea have been unveiled at the National Gallery of Ireland. The works are by Dublin painter David Booth (Ruth, 2025, oil on board) and Wicklow-based photographer David Stephenson (Stephen Rea (b.1946 Belfast), actor, 2025, photograph on archival paper). Both artists were winners of the Portrait Prize at the National Gallery of Ireland: Booth in 2022 for his work Salvatore, a portrait of his friend and fellow artist Salvatore of Lucan; and Stephenson in 2023 for his photograph Ann and Ollie, Main Street, Wexford.
Actor and producer Ruth Negga was born in Addis Ababa, raised in Limerick, and studied at Trinity College Dublin and the British American Drama Academy. She is known for her critically acclaimed performances on stage and screen, among them roles in the movies Breakfast on Pluto (2005), Loving (2021) and Passing (2021). She has appeared in many television productions, and received several nominations and awards. In 2025 she received her second Emmy nomination, for her role in the television series Presumed Innocent. In 2017, she received an Oscar nomination in the Actress in a Lead Role category for her performance in Loving, directed by Jeff Nichols.
Actor Stephen Rea was born in Belfast. He attended Belfast High School and Queen’s University before enrolling at the Abbey Theatre School in Dublin. His international breakthrough came with his portrayal of Fergus in The Crying Game (1992), directed by Neil Jordan, for which he received an Oscar nomination. Other movie credits include Interview with a Vampire (1994), Michael Collins (1996), and The End of the Affair (1999). He has been involved in several notable television productions. Rea has also enjoyed a celebrated career on stage, collaborating on several occasions with American playwright Sam Shepard. Rea has received many nominations and awards for his performances on stage and screen, and has been conferred with honorary degrees from both Queen’s University, Belfast, and the University of Ulster.
GREEN GLAZED CRACKLES VASE. UPDATE: THIS WAS UNSOLD
This 19th century Chinese green glazed vase is lot 56 at the James Adam timed online Asian art sale which runs until September 17. The estimate is €400-600. A total of 296 lots are on offer at reasonable estimates and the catalogue is online.
PATRICK KAVANAGH – TARRY FLYNN WITH AN INSCRIPTION TO BRENDAN BEHAN MADE €18,000 AT HAMMER
An historic 1949 edition of Tarry Flynn by Patrick Kavanagh made a hammer price of €18,000 at a two day book sale by Purcell Auctioneers in Birr today. Published in New York by Devin Adair it is the actual copy used in an infamous court case involving Patrick Kavanagh and Brendan Behan. Kavanagh brought a libel case against The Leader magazine in 1952, and Behan was a key figure in his downfall. During the 1954 trial, Kavanagh, under oath, denied knowing Behan, but this was disproven when the defense produced this copy of Tarry Flynn inscribed by Kavanagh to Behan. Kavanagh lost the case. The inscription on the inside cover reads: “For Brendan, the poet and painter, on the day he decorated my flat, Sunday 12th, 1950.”
A first edition of At Swim Two Birds by Flann O’Brien published in 1939 by Longmans made a hammer price of €8,800.
