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  • IMPORTANT TIFFANY COLLECTION AT SOTHEBY’S NEW YORK

    December 11th, 2014
    Tiffany - Wisteria Table Lamps.

    Tiffany – Wisteria Table Lamps. UPDATE: SOLD FOR $1,145,000 AND $2,205,000 RESPECTIVELY.

    One of the most important private collections of Tiffany lamps to appear at auction in more than a decade will come up at Sotheby’s, New York on December 17. The group of seven lamps – comprising many of the firm’s most iconic and celebrated designs – was assembled over a period of 30 years by renowned Tiffany collector and dealer Sandra van den Broek, before being acquired by the present owner.  The highlight of the group is two successively numbered Wisteria lamps – an extraordinary, nearly-identical pair whose harmonious coloration suggest that they were cut from the same sheets of glass. They are estimated at US$700,000 – 1 million each.

    Jodi Pollack, Head of Sotheby’s 20th Century Design Department in New York, commented: “Every new generation of collectors rediscovers the genius of Tiffany – a testament to the unparalleled innovation, creativity and craftsmanship of the firm’s work. In recent years, it has been thrilling to see global interest in Tiffany from young collectors, who are pairing great works of art by modern and contemporary masters with the firm’s spectacular designs.  The two are a natural fit.”

    UPDATE:  The 41 lot sale totalled $6,585,875

    LE BROCQUY’S SICK TINKER CHILD MAKES £266,500 AT SOTHEBY’S

    December 10th, 2014
    Louis le Brocquy - Sick Tinker Child.

    Louis le Brocquy – Sick Tinker Child.

    Louis le Brocquy’s Sick Tinker Child sold for £266,500 at Sotheby’s sale of British and Irish art in London today.  Le Brocquy’s Fantail Pigeons sold for £98,500 and his image of W.B. Yeats sold for £74,500. William Orpen’s Portrait of Vivien St. George made £134,500 and The Fishing Fleet, Co. Galway by Paul Henry sold for £98,500. The Silver Lake by Paul Henry sold for £27,500 and Girl at a Door by Gerard Dillon made £32,500. There’s Life in the Fire Yet by Jack Butler Yeats sold for £50,000.

    The top lot of the sale was Dante Gabriel Rossetti’s Venus Verticordia, his most sensuous and only nude painting, which sold for £2,882,500.  This was the highest price for a watercolour by Rossetti at auction.

    (See posts on antiquesandartireland.com for November 10, November 15, October 9 and August 28, 2014).

    ESB ART COLLECTION AT JAMES ADAM

    December 10th, 2014

    A total of 148 works from the art collection of the ESB  will be sold at James Adam in Dublin on December 16.  Many of the works will be sold without reserve and estimates are reasonable. The sale is being held because of the reduction of buildings occupied by the ESB.  Proceeds will be used to continue the ESB’s archive and heritage activities.  The catalogue is online. Here is a small selection:

    Nancy Wynne Jones (1922-2006) - The Edge of the Mountains (700-1,000).

    Nancy Wynne Jones (1922-2006) – The Edge of the Mountains (700-1,000).  UPDATE: THIS MADE 800 AT HAMMER.

    Fergus O'Ryan (1911-1989) - March Day near Laragh, Co. Wicklow (1,000-2,000).

    Fergus O’Ryan (1911-1989) – March Day near Laragh, Co. Wicklow (1,000-2,000).  UPDATE: THIS SOLD FOR 1,400 AT HAMMER

    Charles Tyrrell (b 1950) - Cross Flow (5,000-8,000).

    Charles Tyrrell (b 1950) – Cross Flow (5,000-8,000).  UPDATE: THIS MADE 6,500

    Liam Treacey (1934-2004) Misty Day, Recess, Connemara (600-800).

    Liam Treacey (1934-2004) Misty Day, Recess, Connemara (600-800).  UPDATE: THIS MADE 300 AT HAMMER

    John Skelton (1924-2009) - Autumn Sunlight, The Green, Dublin (1,500-2,500).

    John Skelton (1924-2009) – Autumn Sunlight, The Green, Dublin (1,500-2,500).UPDATE: THIS MADE 1,800

    LYNES AND LYNES OFFER LIFETIME COLLECTION AT CARRIGTWOHILL

    December 10th, 2014

    The second part of the lifetime collection of Patrick Cremin will come under the hammer at Lynes and Lynes in Carrigtwohill, Co. Cork on December  13.  Part one of this collection proved popular in November.  With everything from a collection of teapots to a Victorian walnut canterbury at very reasonable estimates the sale on Saturday is certain to be a pre-Christmas attraction for those in search of collectibles and gifts.  The catalogue is online. Here is a small selection:

    The Gillows Cabinet stamped L735 c1870 with original keys (5,000-6,000)

    The Gillows Cabinet stamped L735 c1870 with original keys (5,000-6,000) UPDATE: THIS SOLD FOR 4,000

    A five foot Irish Georgian brass fender (1,000-1,500).

    A five foot Irish Georgian brass fender (1,000-1,500).  UPDATE: THIS MADE 950

    A Regency rosewood and cross banded sofa table (1,000-1,500).

    A Regency rosewood and cross banded sofa table (1,000-1,500).  UPDATE: THIS MADE 750

    Antique brass fireirons and dogs (80-120).

    Antique brass fireirons and dogs (80-120).  UPDATE: THESE SOLD FOR 60

    Four Imari plates (30-40)

    Four Imari plates (30-40)  UPDATE: THESE SOLD FOR 40

    A Vienna wall clock (100-200).

    A Vienna wall clock (100-200). UPDATE: THIS SOLD FOR 100

    JAPANESE ART AT THE ENGLISH COURT AT CHRISTIE’S ONLINE

    December 10th, 2014

    There is auction history at Christie’s online-only sale Japanese Art at The English Court, ‘At the Candle’  open for bidding until December 19. Comprising 129 lots, the auction takes place almost exactly 400 years after what is believed to have been the first auction of Japanese works of art ever held in London, on December 20, 1614.  The sale comprised a group of lacquer wares brought back to England by the Clove, a ship of the English East India Company, the first British ship to trade with Japan. It arrived  in Japan in 1613 with gifts for the Japanese shogun. After 6 months the ship left Japan following a successful meeting with the country’s rulers, returning to England carrying cargo which included gifts from the Japanese shogun to King James I. The 1614 auction was conducted using a candle, with bids accepted while there was still an inch of candle alight.

    As a tribute to this historic sale the  online auction will focus on Japanese works of art relating to trade.  There is an array of export ceramics, lacquer, telescopes, illustrated books, screens and other works. Starting bids range from £300 to £65,000 for The Winckler Catalogue, a documentary trade catalogue from the Meiji Period.   Here is a small selection:

    A pair of Kakiemon Models of Karashishi, Edo Period (starting bid £50,000).

    A pair of Kakiemon Models of Karashishi, Edo Period (starting bid £50,000). Courtesy Christie’s Images Ltd., 2014

    A lacquered plaque depicting the Battle of Dogger Bank (starting bid £12,000).

    A lacquered plaque depicting the Battle of Dogger Bank (starting bid £12,000).Courtesy Christie’s Images Ltd., 2014

    A woodblock print of Muyder Poort c1772-80 (starting at £8,000).

    A woodblock print of Muyder Poort c1772-80 (starting at £8,000).  Courtesy Christie’s Images Ltd., 2014

    WORLD RECORD PRICE FOR A BOOK ILLUSTRATION AT SOTHEBY’S

    December 9th, 2014
    The Poohsticks drawing by E.H. Shepard made a world record price of £314,500.

    The Poohsticks drawing by E.H. Shepard made a world record price of £314,500.

    There was a new world record price for a book illustration at Sotheby’s this evening when a Winnie-the-Pooh Poohsticks drawing by E.H. Shepard sold for £314,500.  The original ink drawing of Christopher Robin, Piglet and Pooh on the famous ‘Poohsticks’ bridge had been estimated at  £100,000-150,000. It made a new world record price for any book illustration at auction.

    First published in A.A. Milne’s celebrated The House at Pooh Corner in 1928, and having formed the frontispiece for this (and many subsequent) editions, the drawing can be counted among the most famous book illustrations of the 20th century. It had been in the same private collection since being acquired at Sotheby’s nearly 40 years ago.

    The previous auction record for any book illustration was £289,250 set by Beatrix Potter’s “The rabbits’ Christmas party: The departure” at Sotheby’s in 2008. The previous auction record for any E.H. Shepard illustration was £139,250 set by “Here is Edward Bear, coming downstairs now, bump, bump, bump” at Sotheby’s in 2012.

    IRISH SILVER STEALS SHOW AT WHYTE’S AUCTION

    December 8th, 2014

    Irish silver stole the show at Whyte’s art and collectibles for Christmas auction in Dublin on December 6.  The top lot was a George II Limerick silver cream jug by Joseph Johns. Estimated at 3,000-5,000 it sold for 8,400.  A George III Cork silver snuffer tray by George Hodder sold for  1,700 over a top estimate of 600 and a George II silver coffee pot by London maker Philip Garden made 1,500 over a top estimate of 800.

    A George III Cork silver snuffer tray by George Hodder sold for 1,700.

    A George III Cork silver snuffer tray by George Hodder sold for 1,700.

    A George II silver cream jug by Joseph Johns, Limerick sold for 8,400.

    A George II silver cream jug by Joseph Johns, Limerick sold for 8,400.

    A George II London silver coffee pot by Philip Garden made 1,500.

    A George II London silver coffee pot by Philip Garden made 1,500.

    WAR WORKS BY LAVERY AND MUNNINGS AT SOTHEBY’S

    December 5th, 2014

    Sir John Lavery’s celebrated depiction of the 1919 Victory Parade through Admiralty Arch in London is one of two First World War paintings at Sotheby’s sale of British and Irish art in London on December 10.  Lavery’s depiction of the celebrations in London on July 19, 1919 to mark the ending of the Great War is estimated at £300,000-500,000.  A painting by Sir Alfred Munnings’  records the activities of Canadian soldiers in France. Lavery captures the jubilant mood of the march, while Munnings captures a more solitary moment, a single Canadian soldier with two saddled horses. A patrol in France is estimated at £150,000-250,000.

    Sir John Lavery - Admiralty Arch, 19th July 1919

    Sir John Lavery – Admiralty Arch, 19th July 1919  UPDATE: THIS WAS UNSOLD

    Sir Alfred Munnings - A Patrol in France.

    Sir Alfred Munnings – A Patrol in France. UPDATE: THIS MADE £158,500

    RARE BOOKS, LITERATURE AND MAPS AT FONSIE MEALY

    December 5th, 2014

    A collection of scarce Irish and general medical books, duplicates from the library of the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland, will feature at Fonsie Mealy’s sale at Clyde Court Hotel in Dublin on December 9.  This annual specialist sale of Rare Books, Manuscripts, Literature and Maps will feature coloured plate books, modern first editions and general Irish literature titles. Medical matters covered include the spread of scarletina in Cork in the 17th and 18th century, matters relating to childbirth and cures for bites from mad dogs.  There are First World War recruitment posters, scarce first editions including a first English edition of Ulysses by Joyce, bindings illustrated by Aubrey Beardsley and Faust illustrated by Harry Clarke, and hundreds of lots of general and specialist interest.

    Rules for the Governors, Officers and Servants at Mercers Hospital.

    Rules for the Governors, Officers and Servants at Mercers Hospital.  UPDATE: THIS MADE 1,550 AT HAMMER

    A method of curing the madness caused by the bite of a mad dog.

    A method of curing the madness caused by the bite of a mad dog.

    ORIENTALIST WORKS BY ITALIAN ARTISTS AT CHRISTIE’S

    December 5th, 2014

    A strong selection Orientalist works by Italian Artists will feature at Christie’s sale of 19th Century European and Orientalist Art in London on December 9.  There are  works by Austrian, German, French, Italian and Scandinavian artists including the Barbizon group and a selection of African Wildlife paintings. Highlights include Madame Helleu à son bureau  by French painter Paul-César Helleu (£200,000 – 300,000) and Interior with the artist’s wife by Danish artist Carl Vilhelm Holsøe (£50,000 – 70,000).

    PROPERTY FROM THE FORBES COLLECTION Carl Vilhelm Holsøe (Danish, 1863-1935) Interior with the artist’s wife.

    PROPERTY FROM THE FORBES COLLECTION
    Carl Vilhelm Holsøe (Danish, 1863-1935)
    Interior with the artist’s wife.  UPDATE: THIS MADE £56,250

    Paul-César Helleu (French, 1859-1927) Madame Helleu à son bureau

    Paul-César Helleu (French, 1859-1927)
    Madame Helleu à son bureau  UPDATE: THIS WAS UNSOLD