This 1936 portrait of Desmond McCarthy by Harry Kernoff comes up at the James Adam online picture auction which runs until July 16 with an estimate of €1,000-€1,500. The foremost literary and dramatic critic of his day Sir Charles Otto Desmond McCarthy was a descendant of the last McCarthy chief and a member of the Cambridge Apostles. Born in Plymouth in 1877 and a part of the Bloomsbury group he became a journalist in 1903. As literary editor of the New Statesman he recruited Cyril Connolly in the 1920’s. Later on McCarthy became a literary critic for The Sunday Times. The artist Harry Kernoff painted numerous portraits of many figures in the public eye, including W B Yeats, Sean O’Casey and Eamon de Valera. UPDATE: THIS WAS UNSOLD.
EDWIN HAYES RHA RI ROI (1819-1904) – Maritime Scene. UPDATE: THIS MADE 1,400 AT HAMMER
Maritime Scene, an oil on board by the marine artist Edwin Hayes, comes up at an online picture auction by James Adam on July 16. Born in Bristol but brought up in Ireland he studied art in Dublin and first exhibited at the Royal Hibernian Academy in 1842. He later moved to London and painted seascapes and coastal scenes all around Europe. This painting is estimated at €3,000-€5,000. Adams auction offers 302 lots and the catalogue is online.
GEORGE I BURR MAPLE BUREAU BOOKCASE. UPDATE: THIS MADE 1,600 AT HAMMER
In Dublin James Adam will offer this George I burr maple bookcase in a timed online warehouse auction on July 10. The estimate is 2,000-4,000 and a starting bid of 200 is being sought at this stage. The bookcase is to be sold without reserve. In the manner of Coxted and Woster it is in three sections with arched mirrored doors, a fitted interior and a slope front desk. The sale will be on view in Dublin on July 8 and 9 and the catalogue, with 316 lots, is online.
The accessories of a Manchu gentleman at Adams. UPDATE: THIS WAS UNSOLD
The embroidered silk accessories of a Manchu gentleman and a fine pair of arts and crafts hanging tapestries or a suite of sapphire, ruby and diamond ring with ear clips and a homage by Harry Kernoff to Francois Boucher’s portrait of Marie Louise O’Murphy, mistress of King Louis XV of France, the choice is yours at sales in Ireland next week.
These unusual lots can be found respectively at a Fine Asian and African art sale at James Adam and Aidan Foley’s online auction of contents from the Convent of St. Joseph of Cluny in Killiney on June 25 and at The Jewellery Box sale at Adams and Morgan O’Driscoll’s online art auction on June 24.
If lot 101 at Adams is any guide the Manchurians dressed to impress. They conquered China in the 17th century, established the Qing Dynasty and ruled for more than 250 years, The 19th century gentleman’s embroidery yellow silk accessories showcase a peacock, three goats representing peace and prosperity and a phoenix surrounded by peonies as part of a set featuring a fan holder, a double gourd betel nut pouch, a wallet and a pocket watch holder. The estimate is a cool €6,000-€8,000. Among 574 lots on offer are Tibetan fabrics, Chinese ceramics, ritual bronze vessels, carved jades, gilt bronze figures, a Japanese lacquered tray, cloisonne, mother of pearl inlaid furniture and even a fetish statue from the Congo.
A pair of Art and Crafts hanging tapestries at Aidan Foley’s sale. UPDATE: THIS LOT MADE 720 AT HAMMER
Nearer home but no less exotic is a pair of Arts and Crafts hanging tapestries (€600-€1,000) at Aidan Foley’s online auction in conjunction with Niall Mullen of contents from the St. Joseph of Cluny convent offers all sorts of choices. There is a selection of antique furniture, a brass and gilded tabernacle, a walnut organ, a collection of linen, kneelers and church pews and ecclesiastical brass items. The sale will be on view at the convent in Killiney from today.
Early 20th century aquamarine and diamond earrings at Adams. UPDATE: THESE MADE 7,000 AT HAMMER
A pair of early 20th century aquamarine and diamond pendant earrings of chandelier design feature among an appetising selection of 289 lots at the Jewellery Box sale at Adams on Monday afternoon. The estimate is €4,000-€5,000, not quite as much as a single stone diamond ring of 3.01 carats graded as G colour which is, at €7,000-€8,000, the most expensively estimated lot of the auction. Other top lots include a diamond and sapphire crossover bangle (€6,500-€7,300), a pair of diamond pendant earrings (€5,000-€7,000) and three c1987 gem set Patrizia rings by Marina B with pink tourmaline, citrine and blue topaz (€5,500-€6,500). There are lots from €50 euro upwards.
Marie Louise O’Murphy after Boucher by Harry Kernoff at Morgan O’Driscoll. UPDATE: THIS MADE 2,000 AT HAMMER
At Morgan O’Driscoll’s online art auction next Monday evening Harry Kernoff’s homage to Marie Louise O’Murphy after Boucher is estimated at €2,000-€3,000. In later years Boucher’s painting was also referenced by Michael Farrell (1940-2000) who produced political versions in a Miss O’Murphy series in the 1970’s and ’80’s. There is a 2024 Famine Ship by John Behan (€15,000-€20,000), a Cubist Still Life by Nano Reid (€500-€700), continental landscapes by Letitia Hamilton (€6,000-€9,000), three offset lithographs from Andy Warhol’s Endangered Species series (1,500-€2,000) and Duffy’s Circus by Barbara Warren (€400-€600) among a particularly wide selection of art. All catalogues are online.
This retro gold bracelet comes up at Adams online auction, The Jewellery Box, which runs until June 24. The wide hinged band is composed of textured links set in a geometric pattern, enhanced with chased foliate detailing, within triangular-shaped polished and engraved motifs. It is mounted in 18 carat gold with indistinct Italian registry mark and is estimated at €2,200-€2,800. The sale offers a selection of rings, earrings, bracelets, watches and will be on view at Adams in Dublin from June 21. Meantime the catalogue is online.
19th century Irish landscape mirror in the Rococo style. UPDATE: THIS MADE 1,000 AT HAMMER
If you are searching for mirrors, Irish furniture, art or a piece of interesting silver there are good examples to be found at the James Adam At Home sale in Dublin on June 11. This online only sale offers interesting, affordable and collectibles antiques and furnishings.
The catalogue cover features an attractive giltwood mirror (€500-€800) and a giltwood and marble topped console table (€1,500-€2,000). An early 19th century circular wall mirror with a gilded and decorated frame is estimated at €2,000-€3,000 and a large overmantle with scallop shell and scrollwork cornice has an estimate of €1,500-€2,000. There is a similar estimate on a c1880 overmantle surmounted by a faience dish. A 19th century Irish carved giltwood landscape mirror in the rococo style is estimated at €600-€1,000.
A pair of George III mahogany dining room urns on pedestals. UPDATE: THESE MADE 3,200 AT HAMMER
Among the more expensive antique furniture pieces are a pair of George III dining room urns on pedestals with domed fluted covers and acorn finials, a pair of mahogany framed Gainsborough armchairs and a c1790 Irish sycamore and rosewood banded demi-lune pier table. All are estimated at €3,000-€5,000. Signed pieces include a Victorian love seat by Robert Strahan (€400-€600) and a pair of marquetry inlaid mahogany settees by the British maker James Schoolbred whose workshop was on Tottenham Court Road (€1,000-€1,500).
A Korean ebonised storage chest UPDATE: THIS WAS UNSOLD
The selection of furniture ranges from a Georgian hunt table, a Dutch marquetry display cabinet and a Georgian bowfront sideboard to some Irish George III brass bound plate buckets, a Louis Quatorze walnut bureau de dame, a Victorian circular breakfast table and a Georgian slope front bureau.
The auction of more than 400 lots kicks off with a selection of garden furniture headed by a large Victorian cast iron Warwick Vase garden urn (€2,000-€3,000). A pair of 20th century pottery waisted planters (€300-€500), garden benches, terracotta plinths, Italian terracotta lions and a Victorian cast iron classical figure all feature.
Art offerings include landscapes and still lives, portraits and seascapes and the array of collectibles includes a 19th century French gilt and porcelain clock, a Waterford Crystal nine branch chandelier and a large Edwardian hexagonal hall lantern. A c1775 silver salver made in Cork by Stephen Walsh will attract interest as will an Irish provincial silver sauceboat struck “Sterling” and a pair of Irish George III silver oval trays. This will be the last At Home sale by Adams before the summer break.
A large Edwardian hexagonal hall lantern. UPDATE: THIS MADE 1,100 AT HAMMER
WILLIAM IV GILTWOOD AND MALACHITE CIRCULAR TABLE. UPDATE: THIS WAS UNSOLD
This malachite topped circular William IV table comes up as lot 29 at the James Adam At Home auction. The top is supported on a fluted centre column with carved cabochons and rim masks on scroll legs carved with leaves. The estimate is 1,500-2,500. The timed online only auction is now up and running and will begin to close from 11 am on June 11. Viewing for the sale gets underway in Dublin today.
Paul Henry RHA RUA (1876-1958) – Mountain Landscape with Cottages c.1926-30
Paul Henry’s Mountain Landscape with Cottages and Early Morning in the Markets, Quimperlé (1883) by Walter Osborne shared top honours at the sale of Important Irish Art at James Adam in Dublin on May 29. Each made €110,000 at hammer. The Water Steps by Jack Yeats made €100,000 and Crossing the Canal Bridge, from the Tram Top (1927) by Yeats made €90,000.
Jack Butler Yeats RHA (1871 – 1957) – Crossing the Canal Bridge, from the Tram Top (1927). UPDATE: THIS MADE 90,000 AT HAMMER
This unusual night oil on panel by Yeats shows a view from the top of a double decker tram as it crosses the Grand Canal at Portobello in Dublin. The No. 15 tram ran from Nelson’s Pillar via Rathmines to Terenure. It comes up at Adams sale of Important Irish Art in Dublin on May 29 with an estimate of 70,000-100,000. Viewing for the sale gets underway in Dublin today and continues until May 29. The catalogue is online.
A pair of giltwood palm tree lights by Maison Jansen. UPDATE: THESE WERE UNSOLD
A gouache by Martin Kippenberger, an Eames chair, a Three Wise Men watercolour by Andre Derain, a blackboard rug and a non conformist armchair both by Eileen Gray are among the many and varied offerings at the Mid-Century Modern auction by James Adam in Dublin on May 21. With just 222 well chosen lots the range of choice is extensive in a sale that reaches many prevailing tastes by reflecting the artistic and creative diversities of the 20th century.
Estimates range from just €100-€200 for a c1960 Italian cut glass bon bon dish with brass detailing to €40,000-€60,000 for Indian Summer, an oil on canvas by Wolfgang Paalen (1905-1959). The Austrian born artist was a key figure in many key 20th century art movements and this work was once in the collection of John Huston at St. Clerans in Co. Galway.
A non conformist armchair by Eileen Gray. UPDATE: THIS MADE 7,000 AT HAMMER
Modern furniture choices cater for many tastes with everything on offer from a c1960 teak oval extending dining table and a set of eight teak dining chairs by the Danish designer Arne Vodder (1926-2009), a Swedish teak boomerang desk of similar vintage, a c1950 Italian mahogany console with three drawers, an Italian rosewood drinks cabinet, a glass nest of tables with brass detailing, a three seater Danish sofa by Ole Wanscher, soft pad and office chairs by Eames produced by Vitra, an Edito armchair and footstool by Roche Bobois, a c1970 French perspex and chrome umbrella stand, cherrywood planters, brass and glass coffee tables, a pair of c1950 rosewood bedside cabinets from Italy, a David Linley mirror, a c1970 Italian burr walnut sideboard and an armchair designed by Philippe Starck for Driade painted by Jack Soro.
Alan Davie (1920-2014) El Secreto No. 2 UPDATE: THIS WAS UNSOLD
The art selection will sit comfortably alongside these choices. Among the Irish and international artists featured are Kaws, Albert Irvin, Felim Egan, Anne Madden, Mark Francis, Andy Warhol, Charles Tyrrell, Gwen O’Dowd, Jannis Kounnelis and Philip Flanagan.
Among other lots is a Wriggle chair by Frank Gehry, a signed ceramic vase by Vivienne Foley, a vintage Missoni rug by T & J Vestor, a pair of green and white wall lights in the style of Stilnovo, Italy, a vintage malachite chessboard, a “Le Mons” floor lamp for Claridges Hotel, London, a c 1970 pair of lamps by Hans-Agne Jakobsson, Sweden, a yellow c1960 vintage vase for Moretti and Nason, Italy, a large Dun Emer hand knotted wool carpet and a pair of giltwood palm tree lights by Maison Jansen, France c1970.
An armchair designed by Philippe Starck and painted by Jack Soro UPDATE: THIS WAS WITHDRAWN
