A model of a currach at Aidan Foley’s sale in Kilcolgan. UPDATE: THIS MADE 660 AT HAMMER
Art, contents from two bars including a model of a currach, Irish vernacular furniture, a collection of Hummel figures and two vintage tractors will be included in Aidan Foley’s online sale from Kilcolgan tomorrow and Monday at 4 pm on each day. More than 1,000 lots are on offer with art by Mark O’Neill, George Gillespie, Maurice Wilks, Jack Butler Yeats, Elizabeth Brophy, Geraldine O’Brien, Norman McCaig and many more Irish artists. The sale is on view in Kilcolgan today and the catalogue is online.
Aidan Foley’s collections sale in September was in association with de Veres of Dublin who will hold an Irish art and design auction on November 5. A feature of this upcoming sale is a selection of statement art works including large oils by Donald Teskey, John Shinnors, Barrie Cooke and Felim Egan with tapestries by Louis le Brocquy and Mainie Jellett. The auction will be on view at Kildare St., Dublin from November 2 and the catalogue is online now.
Mainie Jellett No. 3 is the title of this handwoven Ceadogan Rug at de Veres. UPDATE: THIS MADE 6,000 AT HAMMER
The White Squadron in Cork Harbour by George Mounsey Wheatley Atkinson is dated September 30, 1843. Estimated at £8,000-£12,000 (€9,600-€14,400) the painting comes up at Sotheby’s Irish art sale in London on November 15. It is part of a spectacular group of four works by George and one by Richard Atkinson from an Irish private collection with particular relevance to Cork. All were shown at the Maritime Paintings of Cork exhibition at the Crawford Gallery in 2005 as part of the Port of Cork exhibition and all will feature at Sotheby’s next month. There will be a preview of the Irish sale at the RHA Gallery in Dublin from October 31 to November 3.
Left: Neuschwanstein, Germany, May 1945 The Monument Men recovering looted art by the Nazis Right: Nicolas de Largillierre Portrait de femme a mi-corps, estimate €50,000-80,000 to be auctioned on 21 November in Paris. UPDATE: THIS WAS SOLD FOR €529,200
A painting recovered by the Monument Men will be auctioned at Christie’s in Paris on November 21. Nicolas de Largillierre Portrait de femme a mi-corps, painted around the turn of the 18th century, will be part of the Old Masters sale in Paris. It is part of an iconic photograph taken in May 1945 on the steps of Neuschwanstein Castle in Bavaria, showing James J. Rorimer of the Monuments, Fine Arts and Archive Section together with three soldiers of the 7th US Army, holding three of the many works of art looted by the Germans. Looted from the bank vault of Baron Philippe de Rothschild (1902-1988) in Arcachon in late 1940 and transferred to the Jeu de Paume in Paris in February 1941, the portrait was recovered by the Monuments Men in May 1945, days before the end of World War II. It was officially restituted to the Rothschild family on May 3, 1946 and remained in their collection until 1978 when it was bought at auction by today’s owner. The Monument Men were greatly helped by Rose Valland(1898-1980), a French art historian and curator at the Jeu de Paume in Paris and a member of the Resistance. During the German occupation of Paris (1940-44) the Jeu de Paume served as warehouse for many works of looted art. Valland secretly recorded details of art plundered by the Nazis.
The Monuments Men and Women Foundation will launch the first ever English edition of Front de l’Art [The Art Front] – Valland’s pioneering work, first published in French in 1961, at Christie’s in New York on December 10. Rose Valland was awarded multiple honors, inluding the médaille de la Résistance française (1946). She was named Officer of the Légion d’honneur, and Commander of the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres by the French government. Abroad, she was awarded the United States Presidential Medal of Freedom (1948) and the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany (1972), becoming one of the most decorated French women ever.
Victor Richardson (b.1952) – Autumn in the Park (1992). UPDATE: THIS MADE 950 AT HAMMER
Autumn in the Park by Victor Richardson is lot number 13 at Morgan O’Driscoll’s current off the wall online auction of Irish art. The estimate is €600-€800. The etching below by Yoko Akino is estimated at €200-€400. The sale of affordable art runs until October 29 and the catalogue is online.
Yoko Akino – Daydreaming II. UPDATE: THIS MADE 160 AT HAMMER
UPDATE: THIS SOLD FOR CHF 7,765,000 – US$8,859,865
A brooch commissioned by Prince Aga Khan at Cartier Paris in 1960 and shortly after gifted to his wife, Nina Dyer (1930-1969) comes up at Christie’s in Geneva on November 12, 55 years after it was last auctioned in the Swiss city. It was sold for $75,000 at the inaugural Magnificent Jewellery sale at Hotel Richemond in Geneva on May 1, 1969. This time round the estimate is $6 million – $8 million. It is adorned with a 37.00 carat emerald and accentuated by a row of diamonds, epitomizing the elegance and sophistication of its era. Like many of the beautiful jewels commissioned by The Aga Khan for Nina Dyer, she wore this exceptional piece at numerous prominent events.
At the Hotel Richemond in 1969 40 lots were offered, most of which belonged to Nina Dyer. The sale was a huge success, with the jewels selling for more than twice the estimates and the entire collection achieved over CHF 12.7 million. Dyer’s will stipulated that the proceeds from the sale of her jewels would benefit animal welfare causes in Africa, Asia, and Europe. This auction also marked the beginning of Christie’s long-standing tradition in Geneva, where auctions continue to thrive today, drawing collectors from around the globe.
Outstanding paintings by Jack B. Yeats from the collection of legendary horse trainer Vincent O’Brien his wife Jacqueline O’Brien are to be sold by auction on December 4 at Adam’s in Dublin. Amongst the highlights is The Horseman, painted by Yeats in 1947. This stunning depiction of horse riders set against a background of Ben Bulben is estimated at €500,000-€800,000. Adams say that the sale brings together a giant of Irish art and a giant of Irish racing.
Associated most with his stunning success in both National Hunt and flat racing, Vincent O’Brien, the legendary Co. Cork-born horse trainer, and his wife Jacqueline, a celebrated author and photographer, were also discerning art collectors. Their art collection features a captivating range of paintings, including spectacular works that reflect Vincent’s deep connection with the equestrian world.
Thomas McGreevy, a former Director of the National Gallery of Ireland wrote : ‘There are no lovelier horses in all painting than Jack Yeats’s. They have a miraculous elegance, and he always loved to paint them when they looked as though mere existence was sufficiently exhilarating’.
Adams say that the collection offered alongside other important Irish paintings represents a rare opportunity for collectors to acquire artworks with significant cultural and historical provenance. This is an unparalleled opportunity to own a part of the O’Brien legacy.
A brick lacquered screen designed by Eileen Grey. UPDATE: THIS MADE 16,000 AT HAMMER
A black lacquered brick screen by Eileen Gray or an Italian oval dining table by Angelo Mangiarotti on two brass bases with a marble top? The essential designer look from back then is yours for the taking at the James Adam Mid Century Modern sale in Dublin on October 22.
Stylish sales like this have developed a loyal audience of specialist collectors. This one encompasses everything from artwork by Felim Egan, Patrick Graham, Bridget Reilly and Mark Francis to a transat (short for Transatlantic) chair by Eileen Gray, lounge chairs in the style of Gio Ponti, a chair and footstool by Charles and Ray Eames, ceiling, floor and wall lights, a maple two door side cabinet by Zelouf and Bell, Missoni rugs, Italian mirrors, Murano glass, coffee tables and drinks trolleys. This timed online auction is on view now at Adams, St. Stephen’s Green, Dublin.
An oval dining table by Angelo Mangiarotti UPDATE: THIS WAS UNSOLD
Italian 17th century style copper water cistern at Fonsie Mealy. UPDATE: THIS MADE 5,800 AT HAMMER
Art, luxury and the Epsom Gold Cup will vie for the attention of collectors next week. With a selection headed by Sean Scully’s Wall Dark Green (2021) – on course to possibly become the most expensive painting to be sold this year in Ireland – the Irish and international online art sale by Morgan O’Driscoll on October 22 is a must see.
A 17th century style Italian copper water cistern at Fonsie Mealys Chatsworth autumn fine art sale in Castlecomer on October 23 and 24 will undoubtedly leave some viewers with a sense of deja vu. For many decades this unusual piece graced the storied Park Hotel in Kenmare, which came under new ownership last November. The estimate is €5,000-€7,000.
The sale offers more than 100 lots from this luxurious hotel including a suite of four landscape scenes from the circle of Flemish baroque painter David Teniers the Younger (1610-1690) which graced the main stairway. The estimate is €3,000-€4,000.
Wall Dark Green (2021) by Sean Scully at Morgan O’Driscoll. UPDATE: THIS WAS UNSOLD
Old Road, Caherciveen by Jack Butler Yeats ( €180,000-€240,000), Study of Self (1994) by Louis le Brocquy (€120,000-€180,000) and Gerard Dillon’s The Table in the Blue Room (€100,000-€150,000) are among leading lots at Morgan O’Driscoll’s sale. The 172 lots on offer include a seductive selection of work by artists ranging from Roderic O’Conor, George Mounsey Wheatley Atkinson and Donald Teskey to Patrick Scott, Genieve Figgis and Felim Egan.
There is sculpture by John Behan and highly collectible work by Frank Auerbach, Albert Irvin and William Scott in a sale that is on view all weekend and on Monday at the RDS.
Meantime Fonsie Mealy offers racegoers a chance to bag the Epsom Gold Cup from 1963. It was won in 1963 by Mrs Anne Biddle’s homebred L’Homme Arme, trained by Tommy Shaw. Born Anne Bullitt in Philadelphia she was daughter of US Ambassador William Bullitt and became, in 1966, the first woman in Ireland to be allowed a trainers licence.
Cork Butter Trade made his Pile by Stephen O’Driscoll (1825-1895) at Fonsie Mealy. UPDATE: THE COLLECTION MADE 3,000 AT HAMMER
It is unusual to find at auction a group of no less than eight charismatic Cork silhouettes by Stephen O’Driscoll (1825-1895). These ones, to be sold as a collection at Fonsie Mealy, have typical titles like Cork Butter Trade made his Pile, The Man Wot Weighted the Cat, Cork Beggars Opera, The Council of War – a Volcano Row and The Two Paddys Blowing up the Mansion House. The estimate is €2,000-€3,000.
The most expensively estimated lot is an Irish Victorian giltwood side table (€20,000-€30,000) made by Arthur Jones in Dublin in 1853 and exhibited that year at The Irish Industrial Exhibition in Dublin. At the other end of the price scale, with estimates from €20 euro up, are silver teaspoons, dessert forks, butter knives and sugar tongs. Viewing at Castlecomer is from 1 pm to 5 pm tomorrow and from 10 am to 5 pm on Monday and Tuesday. The catalogue with almost 1,000 lots in total is online.
George Mounsey Wheatley Atkinson – HMS Conqueror and HMS Duke of Wellington in Cork Harbour (1858) at Morgan O’Driscoll. UPDATE: THIS MADE 34,000 AT HAMMER
INTERIOR SCENE WITH WICKER ROCKER – ELIZABETH COPE. UPDATE: THIS MADE 1,700 AT HAMMER
This oil on board by Elizabeth Cope is lot 21 at Whyte’s autumn online art auction on October 21. The estimate is €1,200-€1,800. Art by Graham Knuttel, Louise Mansfield, John Skelton, Ciaran Clear, Harry Kernoff, Imogen Stuart, Maurice MacGonigal, Sidney Nolan, Louis le Brocquy, Tony O’Malley, Patrick Caulfield, Neill Shawcross and Barry Castle is included in the sale.
RORY GALLAGHER’S 1961 FENDER STRATOCASTER SOLD FOR £700,000
After just seven bids Rory Gallagher’s legendary 1961 Fender Stratocaster electric guitar sold for £700,000 (£889,400 with fees) at Bonhams in London this afternoon. Estimated at £700,000-£1 million it was secured by the National Museum of Ireland and is coming home. It was bought by Live Nation Gaiety Ltd with a view to donation to the National Museum of Ireland under Section 1003 of the Taxes Consolidation Act, 1997. Promoter Denis Desmond of Live Nation Gaiety, a joint venture with Live Nation, said the guitar made in Fullerton, California and purchased by Rory from Crowley’s Music Shop in Cork in 1963, will end up in Cork.
Bidding opened at £450,000 and quickly reached £650,000. After the next telephone bid there was a long pause, no more bidders emerged and the guitar was sold. Many lots in the auction of the Rory Gallagher Collection were hotly contested and went way above estimate after bidding battles on the internet, phone and in the room. The 1958 Fender electric guitar known as Rory’s back up Strat made £127,400. A Martin D-35 flat top acoustic guitar from 1968 made £102,000, a National Trifolian resonator guitar 1930 made £95,650, a Fender Esquire election guitar 1959 made £96,950, a Fender telecaster electric guitar made £82,950, a Martin mandolin 1942 made £51,200 and a green flight case made £14,080. The sale made a total of £2.3 million.
(See posts on antiquesandartireland.com for October 5 and July 9, 2024)
