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    • GOYA DRAWING MAKES £2.2 MILLION AT CHRISTIE’S

    July 5th, 2011

    Francisco Jose de Goya y Lucientes (1746-1828) Hutiles trabajos (Useful work) made £2,281,250. © Christie’s Images Limited 2011 (click on image to enlarge)

    The top lot at Christie’s day sale of Old Master and Early British Drawing and Watercolours sale in London on July 5 was this brush and indian ink and wash, with scraping, brush and black ink framing lines, on ivory laid paper by Goya.

    It sold for £2,281,250 against an estimate of £2/3 million. Altogether 130 lots were sold in an auction that brought in £6,309,788.  It was  71% sold by lot and 95% sold by value.

    From a private collection in France it had passed by descent to the artist’s son, Javier Goya y Bayeu (1784-1854), and by descent to his son Mariano Goya y Goicoechea, after 1854.

    London’s Master Paintings Week is now in full swing.  This is a collaboration between twenty-three leading galleries and three auction houses. It runs until July 8.

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    VARIETY OF LOTS AT ADAMS IN DUBLIN ON JULY 12

    July 4th, 2011

    An interiors and collectibles sale at James Adam in Dublin on July 12 will feature more than 650 varied lots.  There is furniture, silver, books of Irish historical interest,  arms, medals, militaria,  art, glass and toys.  The entire catalogue is on-line at www.adams.ie

    Here is a small selection from the catalogue:

    A large George IV giltwood girandole convex mirror is estimated at 6,000-10,000. UPDATE: THIS WAS UNSOLD

    Sir Frederic William Burton RHA, Portrait of Mary Florence Vanderbyl, dated August 5, 1870 (2,000-4,000) UPDATE: THIS MADE 3,200

    This William IV rosewood breakfast table is estimated at 2,000-3,000. UPDATE: THIS MADE 2,000

    A Victorian display cabinet with a large collection of stuffed birds and butterflies estimated at 800-1,200. UPDATE: THIS MADE 1,300

    An Edwardian painted and inlaid occasional table estimated at 400-600. UPDATE: THIS MADE 450

    This c1800 Irish sideboard is estimated at 2,000-3,000. UPDATE: THIS WAS UNSOLD

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    THE STORY OF AN ANTIQUE MIRROR AT MASTERPIECE FAIR

    July 2nd, 2011

    The Linnell overmantle mirror.

    THIS English mirror conceived as a Chinese landscape (see antiquesandartireland.com post for June 30) features at the Masterpiece Fair in London until July 5.  It is being offered by Apter-Fredericks Ltd., who sell fine 18th century English furniture from their shop at Fulham Road, London SW3.

    It was made c1755 by John Linnell, possibly commissioned by Thomas Thynne, 3rd Viscount Weymouth and 1st Marquess of Bath (d. 1796) for his London house in Hill Street, Berkeley Square. It first appears in an 1896 inventory at 48 Berkeley Square following the death of the 4th Marquess of Bath.
    Sold at Sotheby’s in 1940 it became a prized possession of the celebrated Virginian hostess Nancy Tree, later Lancaster, famous for her taste as a London decorator through ownership of Sybil Colefax Ltd. and her partnership with John Fowler.

    The mirror at the tapestry drawing room in Ditchley Park. (Click to enlarge).

    It was following the Trees’ 1933 acquisition of the Georgian mansion of Ditchley Park, Oxford that the mirror was purchased for Mrs Tree’s Sitting Room, where it appeared in a watercolour made by Alexandre Serbriakoff. It travelled to New York with Ronald Tree (d.1976) and his second wife Marietta (d. 1991) and featured in the latter’s New York apartment illustrated in Arthur Schlesinger, Junior’s profile of her as ‘Chair’ of the Citizens Committee for New York City published in the Architectural Digest of March 1984.

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    A LOT TO CHOOSE FROM AT MEALY’S

    July 1st, 2011

    An Irish longcase clock by Heroman of Dublin (8,500-9,500). UPDATE: UNSOLD AT THE AUCTION, UNDER ACTIVE NEGOTIATION AFTERWARDS.

    Mealy’s two day fine and decorative art sale takes place on Tuesday and Wednesday July 5-6 at Castlecomer, Co. Kilkenny.  There is decorative art, furniture, carpets, art, garden furniture, light fittings, glassware and militaria.
    Here is a small selection of some of the lots on offer.  The entire catalogue is on-line at www.mealys.com
    UPDATE:  The sale brought in 300,000 at hammer.  It was 80 per cent sold on day one, 65 per cent sold on day two giving an overall sell rate of 72 per cent.  Mealy’s used lived internet bidding for the first time at this sale and found it spectacularly successful.  There were 500 registered internet bidders from 57 countries.  About 15 per cent of the entire auction went to internet bidders.
    See antiquesandartireland.com post for June 27.

    A 19th century Italian fruit walnut and marquetry commode at Mealy's. It is estimated at 3,000-5,000. (Click on image to enlarge) UPDATE: THIS MADE 2,800

    A c1900 card table in the style of E.W. Godwin (400-600). (Click on image to enlarge) UPDATE: THIS MADE 380

    One of a pair of carved giltwood girandoles. (1,500-2,500). UPDATE: THIS MADE 3,400.

    A pair of brass mounted walnut and rosewood encoignure (3,500-5,500). UPDATE: THESE WERE UNSOLD.

    A kingwood and ormolu mounted gueridon (800-1,500). UPDATE: THIS MADE 1,700.

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    MAGNIFICENT IRISH PIECES AT MASTERPIECE LONDON FAIR

    June 30th, 2011

    THE discriminating (and wealthy) collector can acquire anything from a World War II Spitfire fighter plane to the fourth bible ever printed at the Masterpiece London Fair.  Collectors of Irish pieces have plenty to choose from.  Masterpiece is at the South Grounds, Royal Hospital, Chelsea until July 5.

    Masterpiece was launched in 2010 to fill the gap left by the Grosvenor House Fair. It is a showcase for top quality antiques, art and luxury goods.  The World War II Spitfire, the only surviving fighter used by the RAF in World War II, is a cool £8 million, the bible from 1462 a mere £1 million.

    The eye of antiquesandartireland.com landed on some great rarities.  Here is a selection.

    This George II giltwood mirror c1750 by John Booker of Dublin is distinguished by its scale. It measures eight feet by fifty five and a quarter inches. The asking price? £320,000.

    The wonderful patina of this mid 18th century Irish hunt table shows all the signs of centuries of use. It is 79 inches long and asking £38,000.

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    MORE FROM MASTERPIECE

    June 30th, 2011

    This is one of the best examples of a Chippendale style mirror you are ever likely to find. It was made c1755 by John Linnell. Conceived as a Chinese landscape, the mirror plates are intended to represent water and be framed by twisting trees that hang over the water's edge, with cascading water and a bridge with a pagoda sitting above. The asking price is £680,000.

    It looks like a wine cooler but this sarcophagus shaped Regency piece veneered in plum pudding mahogany is actually a plate warmer. Made c1815 it has an Irish look to it and is asking £27,000.

    MORE Collectible pieces and furniture from the Masterpiece Fair in London, now one of the most eagerly anticipated fairs of the year.  It continues until July 5.

    One of a pair of George III satinwood pier tables once in the White House. The asking price is £395,000.

    This c1811 parcel gilt library table was once in Tyrone House in Co. Galway. It is asking £544,000.

    This George III giltwood chimney piece, attributed to Matthias Lock, is estimated at £850,000.

    A portrait of a boy by Nathaniel Hone (1718-1784) is asking £45,000.

    A GEORGE III MAHOGANY CABINET ATTRIBUTED TO WILLIAM VILE CIRCA 1760. There is a definite Irish feel to this piece which is asking £250,000.

    A Centre Table with a Royal Provenance from Windsor Castle, the design firmly attributed to A.W.N. Pugin. It is asking £185,000.

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    BACON AGAIN SHOWS STRENGTH AT SOTHEBY’S RECORD BREAKING CONTEMPORARY SALE

    June 29th, 2011

    The scene at Sotheby's contemporary evening sale.

    Sotheby’s evening Contemporary Art sale on June 29 brought in £108,803,550 the highest total ever for such a sale in London.  Francis Bacon’s Crouching Nude from 1961 was the top selling lot.  It made  £8,329,250.

    The Duerckheim Collection of contemporary German art, which comprised the first 34 lots, realised £60,401,650.  Almost every lot here was contested by multiple bidders. New artist records were established for Blinky Palermo, Sigmar Polke, Eugen Schönebeck, Markus Lüpertz and Georg Baselitz.
    Andy Warhol’s electric pink acrylic and silkscreen ink on canvas of Blondie’s lead singer Debbie Harry – the only major painting of renowned lead singer of the new wave and punk rock band ever to come to auction – sold for £3,737,250/ against an estimate of £3.5-5.5 million.  An early Jean-Michel Basquiat painting, Untitled, made £5,417,250 to become the second highest priced lot.
    Headlining the Duerckheim collection were a number of paintings by Sigmar Polke. His record was broken three times in quick succession.  Dschungel, the largest of the Rasterbilder (dot paintings) from the 1960s ever to appear for public sale, made £5,753,250.  A new record was set for Georg Baselitz when Spekulatius from the celebrated ‘Hero’ series sold for £3,233,250. Baselitz’s Grosse Nacht made £2,393,250.  There was exceptional prices for Gerhard Richter whose 1024 Farben from 1974 more than doubled its pre-sale high estimate to make £4,297,250. Buyers from 14 countries took part in an auction which was 89.8% sold by lot and 93.9% by value.  No less than 29 works sold for over £1 million, and 45 lots made over $1 million.
    See antiquesandartireland.com posts for April 26 and June 7.

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    WORLDWIDE TOUR OF ELIZABETH TAYLOR’S JEWELLERY, FASHION AND ART FROM SEPTEMBER

    June 29th, 2011

    A worldwide tour of Elizabeth Taylor’s jewellery, fashion and art is to start in September.  Christie’s, which is co-ordinating the event, will organise a ten day exhibition at the Rockefeller Center in New York from December 3.  This will be followed by four consecutive days of auctions from December 13-16.  In the interim there will be stops  in Moscow, London, Los Angeles, Dubai, Geneva, Paris, and Hong Kong.

    Marc Porter, Chairman and President of Christie’s Americas, said: “The global tour and exhibition of her collection at Christie’s will be a window into the world of a true icon, a rare woman who was at once an international film and fashion star, loving mother, successful businesswoman, and generous humanitarian”. A portion of the monies generated by exhibition admissions, events and publications related to the sales will be donated to The Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation (ETAF).
    Christie’s will open the series with an evening sale of her most magnificent jewels on December 13, followed by two additional jewellery sessions on December 14.  Elizabeth Taylor’s vast collection of haute couture – the designers Valentino, Gianni Versace and Gianfranco Ferré were among her friends – as well as ready-to-wear fashion, handbags and accessories will be offered over two days. A final session on December 16 will be devoted to important furniture, 20th century decorative arts, and film memorabilia from her Bel Air home.
    Elizabeth Taylor’s collection of Impressionist & Modern Art will be offered at Christie’s London in February 2012.

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    BACON TOPS CHRISTIE’S POST WAR AND CONTEMPORARY EVENING SALE

    June 28th, 2011

    Francis Bacon (1909-1992) Study for a Portrait made £17,961,250. (Click on image to enlarge). Copyright Christie's.

    Study for a Portrait by Irish born Francis Bacon was the top lot at Christie’s Post War and Contemporary Art evening auction on June 28.  It made £17,961,250.  Bought by an anonymous telephone bidder it had been estimated to make around £11 million.

    The work was previously owned by Rodrigo Moynihan, a pioneer of abstract painting in the 1930’s, and the Irish artist Louis Le Brocquy.

    An untitled work by Damien Hirst executed in 1996 of butterflies and household gloss paint on canvas sold for £601,250.

    Damien Hirst (b. 1965) Untitled made £601,250 at Christie's. (Click on image to enlarge), Copyright Christie's Images.

    The sale realised £78,817,050. This was the second highest total for the category. A total of 19 lots sold for over £1 million (25 over $1 million). Buyers came from 16 different countries and the breakdown was 59% Europe including UK, 26% Americas and 15% Asia.  Artist records were set for Juan Muñoz, Ron Mueck, Paula Rego, Domenico Gnoli and Miquel Barceló, who set a record for any living Spanish artist.

    Red Boat (Imaginary Boys), 2003-04, by Peter Doig (b.1959) sold for £6,201,250; Faena de muleta, 1990, by Miquel Barceló (b.1957) sold for £3,961,250 and seven works from the collection of Kay Saatchi sold for a total of £3,992,750.

    See antiquesandartireland.com posts for June 27, May 24 and March 31.

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    IRISH FURNITURE AND ART AT LYNES AND LYNES

    June 28th, 2011
    Irish furniture and art work will feature at a carefully selected sale at Lynes and Lynes on Saturday, July 2 at noon. Lynes and Lynes have re-located from Cork city centre to Eastlink Business Park at Carrigtwohill in east Cork.
    This is a sale of under 150 lots.  Here is a small selection of what is on offer. The catalogue is on-line at www.lynesandlynes.com

    This Irish antique mahogany hall bench of curved shape, circa 1860 is estimated at 1,500-2,000. (Click on image to enlarge) UPDATE: THIS MADE 1,400

    George Mounsey Wheatley Atkinson 1806-1884 Naval Squadron in Cork harbour 1862, estimated at 10,000-15,000. (Click to enlarge) UPDATE: THIS WAS UNSOLD, BUT UNDER NEGOTIATION AFTERWARDS.

    A Regency two door bookcase fitted with drawers c1840 estimated at 2,000-3,000. (Click to enlarge) UPDATE: THIS MADE 1,500

    A Regency mahogany bookcase with brass trellis doors and panelled sides, circa 1830, estimated at 3,000-5,000. (Click to enlarge). UPDATE: SOLD AFTER AUCTION FOR 3,000

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