JEWELS IN GENEVA

This cushion shaped blue diamond made a world record price in Geneva

A cushion-shaped fancy intense blue diamond ring weighing 7.64-carats established a new world auction record price per carat for a fancy intense blue diamond at Sotheby’s in Geneva on May 11.

It made $8 million (6.31 million euro) in a series of three May sales in Geneva which brought in a total of over 42 million euro.

The total of Sotheby’s worldwide sales of jewels this Spring amounted to $147.7 million or 116.5 million euro. Sotheby’s said there was lively and competitive bidding across the board for top-quality jewels at all price levels – coloured stones, white diamonds, glamorous signed pieces or jewels with historic and noble provenance.

Collectors and jewellery lovers from all corners of the world were out in force, bringing overall sell through rates of 88% by lot and 97% by value. In addition more than 74% of the lots sold, achieved prices in excess of their high estimate.

ANTIQUE FURNITURE IN CORK

This antique side table in the manner of Williams and Gibton failed to sell at Lynes and Lynes in Cork on May 22. It had been estimated at 4,000-6,000

THE feature lot, an Irish mahogany side table, in the manner of Williams and Gibton of Dublin, failed to sell at the Lynes and Lynes sale on May 22.

The top lot was a three piece French giltwood suite which made 2,500.

A pair of Edwardian drawingroom cabinets in mahogany and satinwood, probably made in Dublin, sold for 2,200.

A Georgian chest of drawers made 700, A butlers tray and base made 340, a cast iron and timber garden seat sold for 260, a two door Georgian wardrobe made 900 and a distinctive set of six Georgian chairs sold for 680.

The sale of 125 lots was around 65 per cent sold.  Several of the more expensively estimated lots, like a pair of antique giltwood mirrors, failed to find buyers in a market which proved to be tough.

WEBB AT WOODWARDS IN MAY

THIS landscape by Kenneth Webb is among the lots at Woodwards on May 12 (click on image to enlarge)

GOOD quality art and furniture features at the Woodwards sale in Cork on Wednesday May 12 at 6 p.m.
The top art lots are a landscape by Kenneth Webb estimated at
6,000-7,000 and an archetypal image by Arthur Armstrong estimated at 3,000-4,000.

The main furniture lots are a pair of Sheraton inlaid demi-lune side
tables,  a Georgian bureau bookcase, a twin pillar mahogany dining
table, a Georgian rosewood library table and a Georgian chest on chest all estimated at 2,000-3,000.

The sale includes 220 lots from five residences in Cork city and west
Cork. Among the furniture is an Irish Georgian Sheraton inlaid bowfronted sideboard (700 – 1,000), a Georgian inlaid corner display  cabinet (1,500 – 2,000),  a Sheraton secretaire (1,000-2,000),  a Georgian teapoy (700-1,000), a Regency rosewood card table (1,000-1,600), a Georgian kneehole desk (1,000 – 1,500), a Georgian side cabinet (700 – 1,000), a William IV dwarf bookcase (200-300), a Georgian walnut lowboy (500-800), a Georgian linen press (500 -1,000), a pair of Victorian hall chairs (300-500), an inlaid Georgian cellarette (300-500), a Georgian bowfront chest of drawers (600-900) and a rosewood circular dining table (1,000-2,000).

There is a William Harrington drawing of Cornmarket St., Cork
(1,000-2,000), as well as works by Robert Ballagh, George Campbell, John Morris and others.

Viewing is from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday May 8 and 9 and  from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, May 10, 11 and 12.

WHAT PRICE ROMANTIC HIDDEN KERRY?

Romantic Hidden Kerry by Thomas F. O'Sullivan, published by The Kerryman in 1931

THE top lot at the Tralee Book Sale on May Bank Holiday Monday was  Romantic Hidden Kerry, by Thomas F. O Sullivan.

The first edition hardcover published by the Kerryman  in 1931 made a hammer price of  550.

A leather bound volume entitled “Killarney Legends” edited by T. Crofton Croker Esq. 1831  made 120 plus buyers premium.
The sale also included some modern signed first editions and Irish language books, postcards, ephemera, medals and militaria.

The book sale was a new departure for auctioneer Tom O’Connell.  He reports that though the crowds were much smaller than at his regular general auctions there was a good deal of interest over the internet, with internet bidders from all over the country.

Depending on availability of suitable items he is planning to do this sort of sale, including Irish language books, about three times a year from now on.