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MAINIE JELLETT (1897-1944) ABSTRACT COMPOSITION. UPDATE: THIS MADE 7,000 AT HAMMER
This gouache on paper by Mainie Jellett, which is the opening lot at Morgan O’Driscoll’s Irish art online sale this evening, has already attracted much competitive bidding, with 32 bids so far. The estimate for Abstract Composition of €3,000-€5,000 has been exceeded. It is the opening lot in sale with a total of 195 lots on offer.
PAIR OF TURQUOISE ‘SWEET ALHAMBRA’ EARSTUDS by VAN CLEEF & ARPELS. UPDATE: THESE MADE 2,600 AT HAMMER
Jewellery auctions are for everyone, not just the super rich. This pair of Van Cleef & Arpels turquoise Sweet Alhambra earstuds come up as lot 5 at the Fine Jewellery and Watches sale by James Adam in Dublin on September 10 with an estimate of just €700-€900. A number of lots in this sale have estimtes of under €1,000. The most expensively estimated piece is a brilliant cut diamond pendant at €40,000-€50,000.
Berlin Suite by Cecil King (1921-1986). UPDATE: THIS MADE 3,600 AT HAMMER
At a time when Irish art seemed to exist mostly in a landscape laden time warp from around the turn of the 20th century, when Irish Modernism existed in a vacuum, IMMA was far in the future and the avant garde was regarded as deluded and possibly even heathen Oliver Dowling opened his gallery on Kildare St. in Dublin in 1975 with a focus on minimalism, conceptualism, neo-expressionism and other abstractions.
Concurring Rhythms by Alice Berger Hammerschlag (1917-1969) UPDATE: THIS MADE 360 AT HAMMER
There were controversies. This writer vividly remembers one evening paper dashing off to Lenehan’s Hardware Shop on Capel St. to purchase for a pittance a glass shelf and a water glass to demonstrate the folly of it all. Oliver was showing An Oak Tree by Michael Craig-Martin, consisting of a glass of water on a glass shelf on metal brackets and a text (the original is now in the National Gallery of Australia with an artist’s copy at the Tate). The news hounds entirely missed the conceptual point but it made for an amusing story. Oliver Dowling had a loyal following who understood how easily avant garde art could be misjudged in a world where it was so far ahead of the prevailing norms.
Untitled by Fergus Martin (b 1955). UPDATE: THIS MADE 2,600 AT HAMMER
Fast forward nearly half a century and art like this is fairly mainstream, even in Ireland, largely thanks to people like Oliver Dowling, his partner Cecil King (they were among the founders of the ROSC exhibitions), and all the other artists and gallerists who toiled in that vacuum. When I was a young journalist in Dublin Cecil King offered me a piece of advice which I’ve often quoted. Looking at a conceptual painting that consisted of not much more than a pencil dot on a large white canvas I asked what on earth it was all about. “Just look” he said, “and keep on looking”. This guidance has proved richly rewarding.
It is why I’ve been pouring over the catalogue of The Oliver Dowling Collection with such enthusiasm. It comes up at a timed online sale at James Adam on September 11. There are 163 lots – including as large a selection of work by Cecil King ever likely to be found at any sale – in an auction now on view at Adams.
Oliver Dowling died in January. His collection bears witness to a true pioneer with rigorous standards. There is art by William McKeown, Mary Fitzgerald, Josef Beuys, Michael Coleman, Fergus Martin, Felim Egan, Ciaran Lennon, Nigel Rolfe, Luis Tomasello, Willie Doherty, Jo Baer, Jerry Zeniuk, Raimund Girke, Alice Berger Hammerschlag, Colin Middleton, Eduardo Chillida, Dorothy Cross, Robert Janz, Maria Simmonds Gooding and many other acclaimed artists in this exceptional sale.
Rose Stem and Pot by Derrick Greaves (1927-2022). UPDATE: THIS MADE 3,000 AT HAMMER
A cloisonne garlic head vase at Hegartys
A tall cloisonne garlic head vase or a Killarney wood sewing table? The choice is yours at upcoming sales by Hegartys in Bandon on September 11 and at Aidan Foleys in Doneraile on September 16 and 17. Decorated with flowers and birds in inlaid enamel the vase is estimated by Hegartys at €180-€250. The Killarney wood sewing table, last sold at Woodwards in 2010 for a hammer price of €5,200, is estimated by Aidan Foley at €4,000-€6,000.
Hegartys will offer garden furniture, antique furniture, silver, art and collectibles in an auction where feature lots include pink topaz diamond studded pendant, a late Qing Dynasty garden stool, a west of Ireland oil on canvas by Mabel Young and an etched glass jar. Aidan Foley’s sale features a country house contents from Co. Limerick and lots from a town house in Thurles.
Killarney wood sewing table at Aidan Foley’s sale. UPDATE: THIS MADE 4,400 AT HAMMER
UPDATE: THIS MADE £13,000 AT HAMMER
The Armorial ‘hatchment’ for Anglo-Irish military officer, statesman and twice-serving UK Prime Minister Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington (1769-1852) at Dreweatts fine furniture sale on September 10 and 11. A hatchment is a panel on which a coat of arms of a deceased person is temporarily displayed and lot 414 is estimated at £4,000-£6,000. It bears the motto ‘Virtutis Fortuna Comes’ (Fortune favours the brave). Wellesley is revered as one of the leading military and political figures in Britain during the late 18th and early 19th centuries and in his military role, was one of the pivotal commanders to end the Anglo-Mysore and Napoleonic wars – most famously he is celebrated for ending the Napoleonic Wars in victory, when the Seventh Coalition defeated Napoleon at the legendary Battle of Waterloo in 1815.
Born into Irish aristocracy (his grandfather was Richard Wesley, 1st Baron Mornington, who served in the Irish House of Commons representing Trim in County Meath), his childhood was spent between the family homes of Mornington House in Dublin and Dangan Castle near Summerhill in County Meath.
Paul Henry RHA (1877-1958) – The Bog Pool (c.1921-22). UPDATE: THIS MADE 160,000 AT HAMMER
The Bog Pool by Paul Henry is the most expensively estimated lot at the James Adam Important Irish Art sale in Dublin on September 25. It was exhibited at The Dublin Painters Gallery in 1922 and in New York in 1930. The setting is most likely Achill. The estimate is €120,000-€160,000. The catalogue, with 150 lots, is online.
This Gibson Flying V electric guitar formerly owned by Johnny Marr and used by Noel Gallagher during The Monnow Valley sessions prior to the final recording of Oasis’ 1994 debut album ‘Definitely Maybe’ at Sawmills Studio is at Sotheby’s inaugural Popular Culture sale which runs until September 12. Lot 45 is estimated at £60,000-£80,000. There are 64 lots on offer in a sale of artefacts from the worlds of music, film and celebrity.
Van Cleef & Arpels diamond brooch c1945-50. UPDATE: THIS WAS UNSOLD
This Van Cleef & Arpels diamond brooch is among the leading lots at the James Adam auction of fine jewellery and watches in Dublin on September 10. It is designed as two elongated stylised leaves, both set with brilliant, baguette and tapered baguette-cut diamonds of 8.0 – 10 carats in total. Signed VCA it is mounted in platinum and 18 carat gold. There are French assay marks and a partial indistinct maker’s mark. The estimate is €35,000-€40,000. There are 220 lots in total in the sale.
Cork silver coffee pot by John Nicholson
Irish Georgian silver, Art Nouveau, contemporary Irish art, vintage fashion and accessories, Lady Lavery banknotes, Art Deco, Victoriana, well crafted Edwardian furniture, vintage bakelite radios, Oriental rugs, diamond jewellery, a musical drinks trolley – you name it and there is a good chance you will come across it at Ireland’s biggest antique, art and vintage fair at Limerick Racecourse on September 7 and 8.
Whether you are in search of inspiration or want to exercise a connoisseur’s eye, a seasoned collector or simply curious, seeking a bargain or a particular prime piece this comfortable indoor venue with ample parking is the place to be. You might happen across something special you did not even know you were looking for or delight in a discovery like a large stoneware wine flagon stamped Maziere & Sainthill, Cork.
A Cork flagon with an interesting stamp.
Lost in the mists of time they were a firm of wine merchants trading in Cork as early as 1750 when wine from Bordeaux was one of our major imports. Located at Nelson’s Place, the older name for Emmet Place in the city centre, the firm was bought out by Woodford Bourne in 1869. Dan Harnett will offer a flagon engraved as follows: Woodford Bourne & Co Wine & Spirit Merchants, Successors to Maziere and Sainthill, Cork.
Weldons will bring a highly collectible c1770 Cork silver coffee pot by John Nicholson and other rarities like a c1715 Dublin silver tea pot and a large Irish George III silver salver made in 1794 by John Laughlin. Courtville Antiques of Dublin is another member of the Irish Antique Dealers Association who will attend. Sadly the annual IADA fair in Dublin will not go ahead this autumn.
A complete collection of Lady Lavery banknotes
There will be no shortage of dealers in coins and banknotes. Robert Hutchinson will bring a complete collection of Lady Lavery banknotes from ten shillings to £100. Eily Henry will offer a big selection of vintage fashion including hats and accessories and there will be plenty of collectibles, gold chains, bracelets and costume jewellery to browse through at Bedlam antiques.
Deep in the Woods by Mark O’Neill.
Mark O’Neill is a popular artist and a selection of his work can be found at Treasures of Athlone and there will be a diverse range of art at the Purple Onion Gallery. A musical table drinks trolley in the form of an elegant carriage will be a feature at La Belle Epoque and along with an array of interesting pieces including old bakelite radios Annamore Antiques will offer 80 vintage and antique Persian rugs and runners.
There is no shortage of smaller collectible items like glorious antique porcelain, Clarice Cliff ceramics at Brian Hurley’s stand, silver and brass candlesticks, treen and even an unusual Free Will Offerings collection box at Edwin Mercer. This is a wonderful assembly of antique shops, art galleries and vintage dealers from right around Ireland. Opening times are from 11 am to 6 pm on both days.
Heart of Darkness – an etching by Sean Scully UPDATE: THIS MADE 3,000 AT HAMMER
Bidding on the current Irish art online auction by Morgan O’Driscoll runs until September 9. The sale features work by Sean Scully, Mainie Jellett, Donald Teskey, Francis Tansey, Kenneth Webb, Nano Reid, Dan O’Neill, Graham Knuttel and many other artists. The catalogue is online.
