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  • FIRST DAY COVER OF FIRST FLIGHT FROM SHANNON AT CO. LIMERICK AUCTION

    November 8th, 2011

    The year 1939 is clearly printed on the stamp under the image of the seaplane. (Click to enlarge). UPDATE: IT MADE 90 EURO

    A 1939 first day cover  of the first flight from Shannon is due to come under the hammer at a sale in Co. Limerick on November  12.  Addressed to Nancy Wills Culpeper of Norfork, Virginia the envelope shows a four engined seaplane.  The image is repeated on the official stamp. It features as lot 589 in the sale by O’Donovan and Associates of Newcastlewest, Co. Limerick, on November 12 and is estimated at 40-60 euro.

    Situated at one of Europe’s most westerly points Shannon Airport is unique in the history of world aviation.  Before long haul aircraft came into being Ireland’s transatlantic airport was the re-fuelling gateway between Europe and America. It was the ideal stepping stone between the old world and the new.  From 1937 to 1945 Pan Am and BOAC used Botwood in north central Newfoundland as a terminal for their Atlantic Crossings. On June 27, 1939 the Yankee Clipper left Botwood for the first Trans-Atlantic passenger flight to the flying boat terminal at Foynes. Work began to drain the land on which Shannon Airport was built in 1936.  In 1942 it was named Shannon Airport and in 1945 the runway was extended to allow transatlantic flights to land.

    TIFFANY DIAMOND CLUSTER RING LEADS O’REILLY’S NOVEMBER AUCTION

    November 8th, 2011

    A diamond cluster ring by Tiffany is a highlight at  O’Reilly’s sale at Francis St., Dublin on November 16.  The 2.03 carat ring with the centre old cut diamond to a diamond surround and diamond shoulders mounted in platinum is signed Tiffany & Co.  In a Tiffany box it is estimated at 25,000-30,000.

    The sale features diamond, emerald, ruby, sapphire and aquamarine rings, gold chains, bracelets and watches.  Here is a small selection:

    An Art Deco diamond panel bracelet signed Hennell. (24,000-26,000).An Art Deco diamond and sapphire plaque ring c1920 (10,000-12,000). UPDATE: THIS MADE 25,000.

    A diamond target ring by Tiffany (25,000-30,000). UPDATE: THIS MADE 25,000.

    A gold Kruggerand (1,200-1,400). UPDATE: THIS MADE 1,150.

    A diamond and ruby cluster ring (5,500-6,500). UPDATE: THIS MADE 5,300.

    A 5.01 carat diamond solitaire (35,000-45,000). UPDATE: THIS WAS UNSOLD.

    A solitaire diamond ring (8,500-10,000). UPDATE: THIS WAS UNSOLD.

    This amethyst and diamond cluster ring is estimated at 1,600-1,800. UPDATE: THIS MADE 1,600.

     

    MOST IMPORTANT BRONTE MANUSCRIPT AT AUCTION IN 30 YEARS

    November 8th, 2011

    The first page of the Bronte manuscript, dated 1830. (Click on image to enlarge). Image copyright Sotheby's. UPDATE: IT SOLD FOR £690,850.

    AN unpublished notebook by Charlotte Brontë, the most important Brontë manuscript to appear at auction in more than thirty years, will highlight Sotheby’s sale of English Literature in London on December 15.  Set in ‘Glass Town’, the earliest fictional world that the four Brontë siblings created, and written by a fourteen-year-old Charlotte in miniature magazine format, The Young Men’s Magazine, Number 2, is dated August 1830.

    The Bronte manuscript held in the palm of a hand. (Click on image to enlarge). Image copyright Sotheby's.

    The story within contains a colourful tale of murder and madness which includes a precursor to one of the most famous scenes in Jane Eyre – the moment when Bertha, Mr Rochester’s insane wife seeks revenge by setting fire to the bed curtains in her husband’s chamber.

    Containing more than 4,000 words painstakingly crammed on to 19 pages, it is estimated to make  £200,000-300,000.

     

    UPDATE: IT SOLD FOR £690,850.  This is a new record for at auction for a manuscript by Charlotte Bronte and a record at auction for any work by the Bronte sisters.  It was bought by La Musée des Lettres et Manuscrits, Paris, where it will be exhibited in January.

    THOMAS HARDY LETTER AND FIRST EDITION AT LIMERICK AUCTION

    November 6th, 2011

    The Hardy letter. (Click on image to enlarge).

    The Hardy letter. Click on image to enlarge.

    A personal letter dictated by Thomas Hardy on Christmas Eve in 1912 comes up at Limerick Auction Rooms on Saturday, November 12. The letter touches on the subject of the death of his wife and the fact that he is unable to read or write clearly due to his eye illness. The sale of 500 lots contains a first 1913 edition by Thomas Hardy of A Changed Man and other stories published by MacMillan in 1913.

    The Hardy first edition (click to enlarge).

    Another rare lot is a World War I death plaque relating to Limerick nurse Elizabeth Grace Stewart. She was a staff nurse in Queen Alexandra’s Imperial Nursing Service Reserve, who died on service in February 1916. The Stewarts were Limerick silversmiths.  Such plaques are common for men, but rare for women.

     

    UPDATE:  The letter sold for 260 plus fees.

    IRISH SILVER AND ART AT WOODWARDS AUCTION IN CORK

    November 5th, 2011

    John Burke Sculpture Maquette of the sculpture at the Wilton Roundabout in Cork 66cm high. (2,500-3,000). UPDATE: THIS SOLD FOR 1,700 AT HAMMER.

    Irish and provincial silver is a feature of the Woodwards sale in Cork  on Wednesday, November 9 at 6 p.m.  The sale of 274 lots also features art and porcelain.  Here is a small selection:

    A George III Irish silver oval shaped sauceboat 6.5ozs. (500-700). UPDATE: THIS MADE 300 AT HAMMER.

    A George IV Cork silver swing handled sugar basket of helmet shape by William Teulon, Cork, c1790 (2,000-2,500). UPDATE: THIS MADE 1,900 AT HAMMER.

    Edward VII silver fruit basket London 1906. 31ozs. (2,500-3,000). UPDATE: THIS MADE 2,300

    A George III silver circular sugar bowl by John Hillary, Cork, c.1780. 6ozs. (1,700-2,000). UPDATE: THIS MADE 1,200

    A George III Irish provincial silver soup ladle with tapering handle, bottom marked with the mark of William Ward of Limerick with Dublin hallmarks for 1786. (800-1,000).

    MICHAEL JACKSON’S PYJAMAS AT IRISH HOUSE AUCTION

    November 2nd, 2011

    The silk pyjamas worn by Michael Jackson (3,000-5,000). UPDATE: These were bought by an American entertainment company for 2,700.

    A pair of silk pyjamas worn by Michael Jackson is among the more unusual lots at an Irish auction on November 6.  The superstar loved Ireland and visited the country many times, often to escape the media frenzy surrounding him.  Jackson, who had sell out concerts in Dublin and Cork, is remembered by many who met him in Ireland as “ordinary”.  He did ordinary things in this country like visiting a bookshop with his children, taking them bowling, and visiting a Kentucky Fried Chicken takeaway food centre.

    It is reckoned by some people who were close to him that had he survived he might have lived in Ireland, where he seemed to find some sort of tranquility.  He spent part of 2006 at Coolatore House in Co. Westmeath with no security or entourage, just his three children and their tutor and reputedly said when leaving:  ‘This is the only place we’ve ever felt like a real family’.

    The American federal style bed used by Michael Jackson at Coolatore House (5,000-8,000). UPDATE: An Irish buyer paid 6,200 for this bed.

     

    Matthews Auctioneers of Oldcastle will conduct the on the premises sale of 600 lots at Coolatore House, Moate, Co. Westmeath.  The sale features everything from antique furniture to a life size statue of St. Patrick.  The silk pyjamas by “Ladyline”, worn and favoured by Michael Jackson are estimated at 3,000-5,000 euro.  The carved mahogany Federal style bed he slept in is estimated at 5,000-8,000.

    OAK STOOLS FROM LORD CARBERY’S AUCTION IN 1919

    November 2nd, 2011

    One of a pair of oak benches from Lord Carbery's auction in 1919. UPDATE: THESE FAILED TO SELL.

    19th century terrestrial globe by C Smith and Sons London 1858. UPDATE: THIS MADE 6,800.

    A pair of early 19th century oak stools which last changed hands at Lord Carbery’s auction in 1919 feature at the next Lynes and Lynes sale in Carrigtuohill, Co. Cork on November 26.

     

    Auctioneer Denis Lynes believes they were designed by renowned architect Sir Richard Morrisson when he was commissioned in 1820 to make alterations to Castle Freke in west Cork.

     

    The property, originally a 15th century tower house, was altered to a castellated style by Morrisson. It developed into a Gothic ruin during the second half of the 20th century and is now being slowly restored by a member of the Freke family.

     

    In its heyday the Castle Freke estate had its own sawmills, Italian and Irish cabinetmakers, and a ready supply of oak.  The oak stools are estimated at 30,000-40,000.

     

    Another lot of note at this auction is a 19th century terrestrial globe by C Smith and Sons London 1858.  It is estimated at 2,000-3,000.

    EILEEN GRAY ARMCHAIR AND TABLE AT SOTHEBY’S PARIS

    November 1st, 2011

    Eileen Gray, Transat Armchair. (Click on image to enlarge). UPDATE: THIS WAS UNSOLD.

    Eileen Gray Coffee table (click to enlarge). UPDATE: THIS MADE 336,750.

    Major works by Eileen Gray, the world renowned Irish designer, are among seven Art Deco masterpieces from the 1920’s-’30’s at Sotheby’s in Paris on November 22.

    Gray’s legendary Transat armchair (est. 800,000-1 million euro) and an extraordinary monumental curved bar by Eckart Muthesius (400,000-600,000) were designed for the Palace of the Maharajah of Indore. They were at Sotheby’s Monaco sale of furniture from the Maharajah’s Palace in 1980.

    Other highlights include a coffee table Gray designed for her own home, the villa Tempe à Pailla in the South of France.  Of copper and tubular steel it was bequeathed by Gray to the mother of the present owner.  It is estimated at 100,000-150,000.

    There is a spectacular pair of monumental mirrored moulded glass doors by René Lalique measuring nine feet by six feet (400,000-600,000)(update: they made 2,024,750) and a monumental decorative eight fold panel by Jean Dunand from 1929.  Entitled Monkey’s Playing in the Trees it is of coloured lacquer with incised motifs on a gold leaf ground.  It measurs 15′ x 9′ and is estimated at 300,000-500,000. (Update: this was unsold).  Other lots include an iconic dining table table in black lacquered oxidised metal by Eugène Printz (300,000-500,000) and an oak and palissander shagreen lined cabinet by Marcel Coard c1927.  This is estimated at 150,000-200,000.

    Curved bar unit in black painted wood and alpaca by Eckart Muthesius. (Click on image to enlarge). UPDATE: THIS WAS UNSOLD

    VUE: NATIONAL CONTEMPORARY ART FAIR AT RHA GALLERY IN DUBLIN

    November 1st, 2011

    'A lullaby', 2011 is the title of this work by Makiko Nakamura, a Japanese artist who has been based in Dublin since 1999. It is from her show at the Taylor Galleries, Kildare St., Dublin until November 11. (Click on image to enlarge).

    No less than 15 contemporary art galleries from Dublin and Belfast will take part in the inaugural VUE exhibition.  Vue: National Contemporary Art Fair will showcase new and recent work at the RHA Gallery at Ely Place in Dublin from November 4 to November 6.

     

    Participating galleries are: Rubicon Gallery, Kerlin Gallery, Jorgensen Fine Art, the Peppercanister Gallery, Graphic Studio Gallery, Taylor Galleries, The Green on Red Gallery, The Paul Kane Gallery, Oliver Sears Gallery, Oonagh Young Gallery, Cross Gallery, Molesworth Gallery, Stoney Road Press, Talbot Gallery & Studios the Fenderesky Gallery in Belfast, as well as the Irish Museum of Modern Art.

     

    This art fair was previously part of the Interiors Show at the RDS.

    EXCEPTIONAL QUEEN ANNE SCARLET JAPANNED CABINET

    October 31st, 2011

    Exceptional Queen Anne cabinet. (Click on image to enlarge).

     

     

    THIS exceptional Queen Anne scarlet, silvered and gilt Japanned bureau cabinet is a feature lot at Sotheby’s sale of Important Furniture in London on December 6.

    Large bureaux like this one with its mirrored doors are among the glories of Queen Anne furniture.

    Scarlet “Japan” is rarer than black.  Made just over 300 years ago around 1710 it is in original condition.  The piece is estimated at £100,000-150,000.