Augustus Earle (1793-1838) (Attributed. – Napoleon’s Grave on St. Helena. UPDATE: THIS WAS UNSOLD
This painting of Napoleon’s Grave, on the island of St. Helena, can be attributed to the British artist Augustus Earle and comes up as lot 773 at Fonsie Mealy’s Chatsworth Fine Art sale in Castlecomer on November 14 and 15. Within this depiction of a verdant valley, there is a hidden message. Two tall trees in the foreground are painted so as to form an outline or silhouette of the Emperor, standing with his arms folded and wearing his classic bicorn hat. The silhouette is based on the 1820 watercolour by Francois-Joesph Sandmann – Napoléon a Sainte-Hélene. With its hidden image, this painting is a coded work of art, designed to avoid British censors who would have disapproved of any glorification of Napoleon.
The oil on canvas depicts a wooded valley, with, at its centre, a gravestone inscribed with a cross. A wooden fence surrounds the grave, while beyond can be seen the gable end of a small house. In the distance, there is a glimpse of the sea, and a sailing ship. The artist, who travelled to South America, Australia and New Zealand in the 1820’s, has emphasised the abundant flora and fauna of St. Helena. The tall trees in the foreground may be Cabbage trees, a species native to the island now almost extinct. The estimate is €6,000-€8,000.
These three early Chinese brush pots made a hammer price of €13,500 on the opening day of Fonsie Mealy’s three day sale in Castlecomer on August 1. The estimate was €1,000-€1,500. The catalogue described lot 289 as a very good carved bamboo brush pot of cylindrical form depicting a large man seated on a rug, 15cms (6″); a Chinese bamboo Brush Pot, carved in deep relief with four figures by a pavilion and two lines of calligraphy and a single oval panel with a phoenix, 13cms (5 1/4″); and a very fine early bamboo Brush Pot, depicting a man with rolling horse in low relief and three lines of calligraphy, 15cms (6″).
An Irish George IV secretaire, possibly Cork, at Fonsie Mealy. UPDATE: THIS MADE 1,400 AT HAMMER
A unique collection of bog oak artefacts, a rare complete set of 1791 Views of the City of Dublin after James Malton, an 18th century Chinoiserie lacquered two door cabinet on stand, a George II giltwood wall mirror and an important pair of percussion duelling pistols by H.W. Mortimer, London are among the top lots at Fonsie Mealys three day sale in Castlecomer on August 1, 2 and 3. This auction is brimful of interest and offers a diverse and eclectic selection of 1,292 lots of antiques and collectibles.
Rainbow No. 5 by Patrick Scott, woven by V’soske Joyce UPDATE: THIS MADE 3,000 AT HAMMER
There is antique furniture, paintings, Irish and international art, silver, plate, militaria from a private collection in Northern Ireland, jewellery, ceramics, clocks, glassware, carpets, garden furniture, advertising signs and other collectibles. Among them is an Irish George IV mahogany breakfront secretaire, possibly made in Cork, which came from the Presentation Order at Blackrock, Cork. The estimate is €2,000-€3,000. Rainbow No. 5 is the title of a Patrick Scott tapestry with V’soske Joyce label commissioned for the Kilkenny Design Centre. It is one of two tapestries by the late artist in the sale commissioned by Kilkenny Design. Each is estimated at €1,500-€2,000.
One of the more unusual lots is a collection of 108 rare Irish bog oak artefacts by Cornelius Goggin (1850-1914) and other carvers. There is a jewellery casket, a two panel tea caddy, a book slide, candlesticks, an Irish round tower, boxes, photograph frames and harps all profusely carved. The lot is estimated at €8,000-€12,000, as is the Chinoiserie cabinet and the George II mirror mentioned above. The most expensively estimated lot is the complete set of 24 engraved plates of Dublin views after James Malton (€10,000-€15,000). A selection of signed prints by L.S. Lowery, Paul Henry and James Humbert Craig will be available at more affordable estimates.
A pair of early 19th century Cork water jugs. UPDATE: THESE MADE 850 AT HAMMER
A fine pair of early 19th century Cork water jugs by The Terrace Glassworks which operated more than 200 years at South Terrace in the city centre have a hobnailed centre panel and partially serrated edges. The estimate is €250-€350. A c1689 portrait of Sir Maurice Eustace, Lord Chancellor of Ireland after the Restoration of Charles II who gave his name to Eustace St. in Dublin city centre, is from the circle of James Gandy and estimated at €4,000-€6,000. A rarity of a different sort is a polychrome mask from Papua, New Guinea, probably Sepik River (€200-€300). This is one of a number of lots of ethnographic art.
A polychrome mask from Papua, New Guinea. UPDATE: THIS MADE 110 AT HAMMER
The militaria section includes pistols, swords of various types, spears, daggers, pikeheads, bayonets, sabres and even a percussion pocket knife pistol. The top lot is the cased pair of duelling pistols by Mortimer (€6,000-€8,000). There is a selection of clocks, garnitures and longcase clocks, lot 726 is a six tier Delft tulipiere of pyramid form (€800-€1,200) and the sale offers a collection of Chinese cloisonne ware.Among numerous lots of interest is a solid silver limited edition Christ of St. John of the Cross by Salvador Dali (€3,000-€5,000), a 16th century Spanish School carved polychrome and parcel gilt of St. Michael and the Devil (€4,000-€6,000), an Irish sofa table by Williams and Gibton with lion paw feet (€800-€1,500), a set of 24 19th century dining chairs from the Presentation Order, Blackrock, Cork (€2,500-€3,200) and a massive composition sandstone urn (€1,500-€2,500). The catalogue is online and the auction will be on view in Castlecomer from 1 pm to 6 pm tomorrow (July 30) and from 10.30 am to 6 pm next Monday.
Salvador Dali, Spanish (1904-1989) – Cristo de San Juan de la Cruz. UPDATE: THIS MADE 5,500 AT HAMMER
Among numerous unusual and highly collectible lots at Fonsie Mealy’s three days sale in Castlecomer on August 1, 2 and 3 is this limited edition solid silver piece by Salvador Dali (lot 882). Christ of St. John of the Cross is in its original presentation case and is about nine inches high. The signed piece dates to around 1974 and is number 103 from an edition of 250. The estimate is €3,000-5,000. The catalogue for this sale of 1,292 lots is online and it will be on view in Castlecomer on July 30 and 31.
Christ of St John of the Cross by Salvador Dalí at the Kelvingrove Gallery in Glasgow is one of the best-loved works in Glasgow Museums’ entire collection, for both tourists and Glaswegians alike.
George II giltwood mirror. UPDATE: THIS MADE 10,000 AT HAMMER
This fine George II giltwood mirror is among the top lots at Fonsie Mealy’s three day sale of fine art, antiques and collectibles in Castlecomer on August 1, 2 and 3. The estimate is €8,000-€12,000. It was originally at Easton Neston in Northamptonshire and last changed hands at auction at Sotheby’s in London in 2005. It comes up as lot 820 out of a total of 1,292 lots of furniture, paintings, silver, militaria, jewellery, Oriental ceramics and a wide variety of collectibles. The catalogue is online and there will be viewing in Castlecomer on July 30 and 31.
A first signed limited edition of Ulysses by James Joyce made €18,500 at hammer at the opening day of Fonsie Mealy’s rare book and collectors sale in Dublin today. Published by The Bodley Head in 1936 it was No. 20 in a limited edition of 100 copies in a cover designed by Eric Gill. It had been estimated at €8,000-€12,000. A group of original watercolours of the West Indies c1792 by Sir William Young, inherited by the Day family of Cork and on the market for the first time in 230 years, made a hammer price of €12,000. The auction continues tomorrow.
First Ever All-Ireland Football Medal, 1887 Won by Limerick Commercials
The first ever All-Ireland Football medal from 1887 made a hammer price of 32,000 on May 31. The medal was won by Jeremiah Kennedy of Limerick Commercials, Limerick, who beat Young Irelands of Louth, on a score line of 1-4 to 0-3. The match was played on a field in Clonskeagh, Dublin known as ‘The Big Bank’ on April 28, 1888. The Limerick team of 1887, were not photographed on the occasion of their win, they received no trophy, and really no recognition until they were issued with this medal in 1910. The Mick Darcy Tipperary and Dublin GAA medal collection made €8,800 and All Ireland hurling final programmes for 1941 and 1944 each made €3,000.
View of Louisdor House and estate in Tobago, 1792 by Sir William Young, who became governor of Tobago in 1807. UPDATE: THIS MADE 12,000 AT HAMMER
Rare GAA medals, colonial watercolours inherited by the Day family in Co. Cork, a first 1873 edition of The Birds of Great Britain by John Gould from the Birr Castle Estate, George O’Reilly’s collection of records signed by Bing Crosby, Nat King Cole, Roy Rogers and Frankie Laine and a 1936 first limited English edition of Ulysses signed by James Joyce are among the treasures at Fonsie Mealy’s rare book and collectors sale next week. A total of 1,136 lots will come under the hammer at two days of sales at the Talbot Hotel, Stillorgan on May 30 and 31. The catalogue is online and there will be viewing on tomorrow and Monday. There is a selection from the library at Birr Castle, the Andrew Sharkey fishing collection and a private collection of Seamus Heaney material.
Top lots include a 9 carat gold medal to commemorate the first ever All-Ireland Football Championships, 1887 won by Jeremiah Kennedy of Limerick Commercials (€15,000-€20,000) and a group of original watercolours of the West Indies c1792 by Sir William Young (€10,000-€15,000). Inherited by the Day family of Co. Cork they are on the market for the first time in more than 230 years.Sir William Young inherited four plantations in the West Indies and owned 896 enslaved Africans in 1788 at the time of this inheritance. He was opposed to the abolition of the slave trade and preached Christianity to his slaves. Appointed governor of Tobago in 1807 he was entrusted to supply an in depth report on the condition and treatment of slaves. At the time of the report the free population of Tobago was around 959 people, there was a 333 strong militia and 16,671 slaves.
The Frank McPartlin (GPO Garrison) collection of medals and artefacts. UPDATE: THESE MADE 4,200 AT HAMMER
First Ever All-Ireland Football Medal, 1887Won by Limerick Commercials. UPDATE: THIS MADE 32,000 AT HAMMER
A very rare 9ct gold Medal issued to commemorate the first ever All-Ireland football Championship, 1887, is the top lot at Fonsie Mealy’s Rare Book & Collectors’ Sale in Dublin on May 30 and 31. The medal is hall marked and with the name of the retailer A Duffner, Tipperary, was won by Jeremiah Kennedy of Limerick Commercials. They beat Young Irelands of Louth, on a score line of 1-4 to 0-3 at a match played in Clonskeagh in April 1888. The sale, which will be held at the Talbot Hotel, Stillorgan, will include a selection from the library at Birr Castle; The Andrew Sharkey Fishing Collection; a private American Collection of Seamus Heaney material and lots from important libraries and collections.
There is a unique collection of volumes on Astronomy, rare photographs of the Moon; fine coloured plate books on Natural History, Birds, Animals, Plants; a good collection of fishing books; a large collection of worldwide travel, many by Irish authors; scarce maps and atlases; recently discovered Colonial watercolours and drawings by Sir William Young and a large collection of scarce Irish books. There is a First English Limited Edition of Ulysses, signed by James Joyce as well as books by Yeats and Heaney and 1,100 lots. The catalogue is online and there will be viewing in Stillorgan on May 28 and 29.
Late 19th century Irish elm brass bound military chest UPDATE: THIS MADE 1,400 AT HAMMER
An 18th century lacquered two door Chinoiserie cabinet on stand, a still life attributed to Dutch animal painter Melchior d”Hondecoeter (1636-1695) and an oval Louis XVI table by Jean Pierre Dusautoy (1719-1800) are among the main lots at Fonsie Mealy’s country house contents sale at Borleagh Manor near Gorey on Tuesday April 18. The sale, with 556 lots, offers a large selection of antique furniture, paintings, prints and collectibles. It is being conducted on behalf of the executors of the late Malachy McDaniel Stone and other important clients. Viewing is at Borleagh Manor tomorrow and Monday and the sale will be at the Amber Springs Hotel in Gorey. The catalogue is online.
Borleagh Manor has a fascinating history. It was acquired in 1771 by Henry Quin, President of the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland. Generations of his family lived there for nearly 200 years. Hollywood actor Richard Green, immortalised for playing Robin Hood in the long running tv series, bought it in 1963 and entertained many famous guests including Elizabeth Taylor, Cary Grant and Richard Burton. Greene became a noted horse breeder and Master of the Wicklow Hunt, In the 1980’s Malachy McDaniel Stone bought it and bred sport horses including a number of RDS winners. He sold it to UK racehorse trainer Sue Bramall in 1998, bought it back from her in 2004 and lived there until his death in 2016. Borleagh has now been sold to Tara Studios and will become a film and TV production facility, with a number of studios to be built on the land.
18th Century chinoiserie lacquered two door Cabinet on Stand. UPDATE: THIS WAS UNSOLD
This exceptional 18th century chinoiserie lacquered two door cabinet on stand will come up at Fonsie Mealy’s Borleagh Manor Country House Contents Sale on Tuesday, April 18. The sale is being conducted on the instructions of the executors of the estate of the late Malachy McDaniel Stone and other important clients. It will take place at the Amber Springs Hotel, Gorey, Co. Wexford, with viewing on the premises at Borleagh Manor on the two previous days.
The cabinet interior is fitted with an arrangement of eleven long and short drawers, decorated with landscape and river scenes with figures attending daily chores. The interior doors are decorated with birds, insects and flowers, the exterior with painted oval panels with figures under willow trees. The giltwood stand is profusely carved with scrolling foliage, flowers, cherubs and a central classical female figure. The estimate is €15,000-20,000.
