Landline Fire, a 2014 oil on aluminium by Sean Scully, comes up at Sotheby’s Contemporary Art evening sale in Hong Kong on October 6 with an estimate of 7-9 million HKD (around 800,000-1 million euro). Exhibiting radiant swathes of rich amber and ocher against deep sage-green this is an exceptional example of the artist’s ongoing investigation of striped forms. The work hails from the artist’s Landline series which was exhibited to great acclaim alongside the 56th Venice Biennale. Inspired by the intense beauty of sun-drenched Venice, Italy, the Landline works marked a transition from his earlier hard-edged forms to his current more gestural and expressive style.
The Rescue by Arthur Wardle (1864-1949) was among the top lots on the opening day at Sheppard’s Legacy of the Big House sale in Durrow today. It made a hammer price of 11,000. A pair of 19th century ebony pier cabinets made 9,000 at hammer; a pair of 19th century walnut and marquetry plinths sold for 7,500; a pair of 18th century Gainsborough chairs made 5,600; a 19th century Sevres urn made 5,000 and a pair of 19th century Vienna porcelain ewers made 4,400. The auction continues tomorrow.
Ahead of the latest Brexit deadline Banksy’s derisive portrayal of The House of Commons reduced to an assembly of parliamentary primates comes up at Sotheby’s in London on October 3. Banksy first unveiled Devolved Parliament a decade ago as part of his ground-breaking Banksy vs. Bristol Museum exhibition. The painting returned to the spotlight for another showing in Bristol to mark the date originally intended for “Brexit Day”, March 29 2019. The artist took to instagram at the time to explain: “I made this ten years ago. Bristol museum have just put it back on display to mark Brexit day. “Laugh now, but one day no-one will be in charge”. It will be on display at Sotheby’s from September 28. Devolved Parliament is estimated at £1.5-£2 million.
What is described as The Legacy of the Big House, Sheppards two day sale in Durrow on September 24 and 25 is packed to the brim with objects that might readily fit into any home, big or small.On offer is an across the board selection of more than 1,300 lots of furniture, jewellery, Chinese and Japanese art and collectibles, sculpture, rugs and militaria. The auction kicks off at 10.30 am on September 24 with some French bronzes and militaria, including ceremonial swords and antique percussion pistols. Continuing the theme of decorating the walls there are some beautiful old mirrors, wall lights, sconces and art to suit all tastes. Then there is the furniture and the selection is interesting. There are all sorts of chairs, singly, in pairs, dining chairs, couches, settees, library chairs, window seats, stools and even a set of eight Provincial ladder back chairs with rush panelled seats. There are desks, occasional tables, centre tables, side tables, silver tables, wine tables, serving tables, games tables, console tables, a Chinese hardwood table, chests of drawers, side cabinets, peat buckets, log barrels, a Chinese lacquered cabinet and bookcases. There are rugs, silver and plate, lots of Oriental ceramics, African ceremonial masks, a couple of chimney pieces, glass and collectibles.Estimates vary widely which makes this a sale for all pockets. The auction will be over four sessions at 10.30 am and 2 pm each day and it will be live online.
18th century carved giltwood mirror UPDATE: THIS SOLD FOR 4,200
ACCORDING to James O’Halloran, managing director at James Adam in Dublin, the old reliables of Irish art perform best in the current market. The sale of Important Irish Art at Adams at 6 pm on September 25 contains a selection by some of Ireland’s best loved artists of the last 150 years.O’Halloran says that collectors of contemporary Irish art are well informed nowadays and only want the best that they can afford. In auctioneering terms this means fresh to market works by artists with a proven track record. In a small market this makes it very difficult for newcomers to break in. Sadly this has proved to be something of a brake on the auction development of emerging artists, whose work in Ireland is mostly promoted by galleries.On the Skibbereen Light Railway by Yeats is the auction highlight at Adams. Estimated at 150,000-200,000 the work, which explores the interaction between people on the long gone west Cork railway, was once owned by Leo Smith, founder of The Dawson Gallery, and at a later stage by the modernist architect Michael Scott. The auction features work by stalwarts like Sir John Lavery and Paul Henry. A classic west of Ireland landscape by Henry was purchased by Wilhelm Mueller, a member of the German Legation in Ireland in 1940 when the Second World War was raging. The family was granted permission to stay in Ireland after the war and did not return to their home country until the 1950’s. It has remained in their possession until now and is estimated at 60,000-80,000. The catalogue cover lot is Fighting Tinkers by Gerard Dillon (30,000-50,000). The Shelbourne Hotel has consigned a number of lots including Tony O’Malley’s Orpheus Autumn which dates from 1984 (15,000-20,000).
ON THE SKIBBEREEN LIGHT RAILYWAY BY JACK B YEATS. UPDATE: THIS MADE 120,000 AT HAMMER
This rare Ming vase turned up at a charity antique valuation dayat Blarney Castle. It is believed by auctioneers Sheppards to most likely be a Ming blue and white flask dating from the Yongle Period,1402 – 1424. The flask is extremely rare and has a preliminary minimum estimated value of €40,000 – 60,000. It goes under the hammer at a specialist Masterworks sale at Sheppard’s Irish Auction House in Durrow, Co. Laois next November 7. It was brought in by a county Cork family.
A full length portrait of María Luisa Maldonado y Salabert, Marquesa de Torneros, daughter of the Count of Villagonzalo by Joaquin Sorolla y Bastida comes up at Bonhams in London on September 26. An exhibiton of Sorolla’s works runs at the National Gallery of Ireland until November 3. Letters from Sorolla to his wife Clotilde reveal that the present lot was a direct commission from the Count of Villagonzalo, who was himself a major art collector, and a close friend of the artist. The work, which comes up at a sale of 19th century European, Victorian and British Impressionist Art, is estimated at £180,000-250,000.
Joaquin Sorolla y Bastida (Spanish, 1863-1923)
Portrait of María Luisa Maldonado y Salabert, Marquesa de Torneros. UPDATE: THIS WAS UNSOLD
The Irish and International Art sale at Whyte’s grossed just over 900,000 with 75% of lots on offer sold. More than 100 people attended the sale with over 200 more competing by telephone, internet and absentee bids. Bids were received from were Angola, Uruguay, and United Arab Emirates.
The Butler Gallery Benefit Auction grossed 50,000. The money will be used for the gallery’s new venue, Evans’ Home in Kilkenny.
The top lot was Louis le Brocquy’s Image of Samuel Beckett 1980 which sold for 210,000 over a top estimate of 150,000. It went to a collector in London. Woman with Birds by Colin Middleton made 42,000; Woman with Red Hair by May Guinness made 34,000 over a top estimate of 8,000. It went to a collector in California.
Andy Warhol, Norman Rockwell, Roy Lichtenstein, Pablo Picasso, James Rosenquist, Mel Ramos and many other leading artists from the collection of Richard L Weisman will be offered through major sales at Christie’s in New York this autumn. This selection of paintings, drawings, works on paper and sculpture was assembled by a passionate collector throughout his lifetime. Featuring important images of American icons and iconography by some of the 20th century’s greatest Pop artists, the collection includes seminal works by Andy Warhol, James Rosenquist, and Peter Beard who all became friends of the colorful collector. Additional works by Norman Rockwell, Tom Wesselmann, Alberto Giacometti, and Roy Lichtensteinhighlight Weisman’s diverse and unique aesthetic. His collection is expected to exceed $15 million.
Andy Warhol – Jack Nicklaus CHRISTIE’S IMAGES LTD. 2019
