Jack Butler Yeats RHA (1871-1957) Horsemen sold for €400,000
The top four lots at the James Adam sale of Important Irish Art in Dublin last night sold after the auction for a total of €1.3 million. Horsemen and He Reads a Book by Yeats each made a hammer price of €400,000. The other two Yeats’, The Window with a View of the Town and Willie Reilly sold for €250,000 and €100,000 respectively, while Orpen’s Old John’s Cottage sold for €250,000.
Two oils by Paul Henry were sold, Connemara Landscape made €75,000 at hammer and A Bog Road in Kerry made €60,000. Leo Whelan’s Cello Player made €20,000; Louis le Brocquy’s Portrait of Federico Garcia Lorca made €50,000 and Aloysius O’Kelly’s The Christening Party made €26,000. Cathedral by Edward Delaney sold for €24,000.
Jack Butler Yeats RHA (1871-1957) – HORSEMEN (1947). UPDATE: THIS WAS UNSOLD AT THE AUCTION AND CHANGED HANDS LATER FOR A HAMMER PRICE OF €400,000
Viewing gets underway at Adams in Dublin today for four upcoming sales, Fine Jewellery (December 3), Important Irish Art (December 4), Fine Watches (December 5) and Fine Wines and Spirits on December 6. The art sale includes outstanding paintings by Jack B. Yeats from the collection of Vincent and Jacqueline O’Brien, and works from the Hon. Francis D. Murnaghan Jr. Collection and is headed by Horsemen by Yeats with an estimate of €500,000-800,000.
SAPPHIRE AND DIAMOND CLUSTER RING. UPDATE: THIS WAS UNSOLD
This sapphire and diamond cluster ring is at Adams fine jewellery sale in Dublin on December 3. The oval-shaped sapphire of approximately 5.14 carats is within a brilliant and tapered baguette-cut diamond surround, mounted in gold. The estimate is 10,000-15,000. The auction with 263 lots is on view in Dublin from November 29.
A 19th century Vietnamese Imperial ceremonial sword UPDATE: THIS MADE 370,000 AT HAMMER
An exceptional Imperial ceremonial sword leads the auction of Fine Asian Art at James Adam in Dublin on November 18. Inlaid with rubies and mounted in gold the Vietnamese sword dates to 1840 and is from the reign of Emperor Minh Mang of the Nguyen Dynasty. The estimate is €100,000-€150,000. There are 473 lots on the catalogue including prints, Oriental porcelain, jades, furniture, collectibles. The catalogue is online.
James Barry – Lord Baltimore and the Group of Legislators. UPDATE: THIS MADE 1,500 AT HAMMER
Breaking new ground with old paintings is the mission at James Adam. The venerable Dublin firm is launching a new category of sale – Irish Old Masters – on November 5.
James Barry, Nathanial Hone, George Barret, William Brocas, Adam Buck and Nathanial Grogan are among the many artists who feature in this fascinating art auction of 84 lots.
We tend to not think of Irish artists when Old Masters are on the agenda. Strictly speaking the term is applied to trained artists who worked in Europe before or around 1800. The terminology in art history is loose and Adams has slipped in a few Victorians like Jeremiah Hodges Mulcahy, Michael Angelo Hayes, George Mounsey Wheatley Atkinson and Robert Lowe Stopford though Erskine Nicol, who lived until 1904, is a bit of a stretch. Many of our artists – like Cork born James Barry appointed Professor of Painting at the Royal Academy in 1782 – clearly fit any definition.
Cork Savings Bank (1842) by James Mahony (1810-1879) UPDATE: THIS WAS UNSOLD
The sale sets out, according to a catalogue note by Stuart Cole of Adams, to reintroduce the exceptional and subtle mastery of Irish artists from previous centuries in an environment of their peers and contemporaries. The explosion of interest in art in Ireland during the last half century means that Irish art sales nowadays feature a far greater quantity of modern art than before. So Adams reckon the time is right for this new category of the artists – the backbone of early Irish art auctions – and to make it an annual sale.
No less than nine engravings by James Barry, with estimates ranging from €600-€2,000, grace the catalogue. Barry’s inscription on his 1793 engraving of Lord Baltimore and the Group of Legislators refers to the delusion of considering William Penn as the first coloniser to establish laws of religious and civil liberty. According to his inscription Cacilius Cavert, Baron of Baltimore and a catholic, originated them in his Colony of Maryland.
The River Lee at Inniscarra is listed in the Adams catalogue as by William Brocas (1794-1868), but a label on the back suggests that it is by John Butts. UPDATE: THIS WAS UNSOLD
The most expensive lots in the sale are a pair of portraits of Thomas Carter (Secretary of State for Ireland) and his wife Mary by Charles Jervas (c1675-1739) (€60,000-€80,000), a landscape by Thomas Roberts (1748-1777) (€40,000-€60,000), a River Landscape by George Barret (1732-1784) (€40,000-€60,000) and Travellers resting on a Country Road by Francis Wheatley (1747-1801) (€20,000-€30,000). An 1809 folio of James Malton’s Views of Dublin from 1791 is estimated at €8,000-€10,000.
An oval watercolour of Glanmire Church from the River Lee by Nathanial Grogan (€3,000-€5,000), a water colour of Cork Savings Bank by James Mahony (€3,000-€5,000), Sailing vessels in Cork Harbour by Matthew Kendrick (€6,000-€8,000) and The Fleet Getting Away from Cork by George Mounsey Wheatley Atkinson (€15,000-€20,000) should create plenty of local interest in this evening auction. There is some confusion around an oil of the River Lee at Inniscarra which is by either William Brocas or John Butts (€4,000-€6,000),
With a fine selection of maritime views, portraits and topographical views of Ireland in the olden days and estimates from €400 up this sale is well worth a view.
Coloured engravings after Thomas Walmsley (1763-1806) published in 1806 – The White Abbey in Adare and The Roughty Bridge, Kenmare. UPDATE: THESE MADE 420 AT HAMMER.
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
A pair of Irish George II style carved console tables with hairy paw feet UPDATE; THESE WERE UNSOLD
Silver dinner plates from a grand house on Sackville St., a commode decorated in the neo-classical manner of Angelica Kauffman, a Wyndham family portrait from Adare Manor, an Irish Regency chiffonier almost certainly made in Cork, a very rare Huguenot silver beer mug and even a disgraced cardinal feature at Adam’s spectacular Country House Collection auction next week.
Viewing starts today for this annual auction mostly drawn from country houses in Ireland such as Doneraile, Hamwood and Mount Stewart in the splendid surroundings of Townley Hall, a Georgian country house near Drogheda. The auction will take place over two days, with an online sale on Monday October 14 and a live sale at Adams at St. Stephen’s Green, Dublin on the following day.
This extra special sale is a highlight of the annual antique and fine art calendar in Ireland. With estimates from €100 to €40,000 the emphasis is on quality and rarity which underlines something always re-enforced on these pages; quality is by no means the exclusive preserve of the super rich, it is for anyone with a discriminating eye.
A 1727 Irish beer jug in the Huguenot style UPDATE: THIS WAS UNSOLD
Among various highlights on offer is a set of 12 George II silver dinner plates from Drogheda House, Sackville St., Dublin made around 1737 by one of the most celebrated silversmiths of the day Robert Calderwood (€15,000-€20,000). The same estimate is on a George I Irish beer mug made by Matthew Walker c1727. The elegant style of this silver mug was introduced into Ireland by the Huguenots and there is a similar example in the Smithsonian Institution.
A 19th century demi-lune commode complete with painted roundels in the manner of Angelica Kauffman is estimated at €10,000-€15,000. So is a pair of Irish George II style marble top console tables with rectangular marble tops and terminating in block mounted hairy paw feet.
A 1671 portrait of Sir Francis Wyndham, 1st Baronet of Trent in a suit of armour by John Michael Wright (1617-1694) is estimated at €20,000-€30,000. He is associated with Adare and the Quin and Wyndham families and this painting was in the Adare Manor sale in the 1980’s. In the early 19th century the Pain brothers James and George were commissioned to begin redesigning the house into a manor. Their lasting legacy is the spectacular gallery at Adare, then considered to be the largest domestic room in Ireland.
Samuel West – Cardinal Wolsey leaving London after his Disgrace UPDATE: THIS WAS UNSOLD
Cardinal Wolsey leaving London after his Disgrace by the Cork artist Samuel West (1810-1867) was exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1841, the British Institution in 1842 and the Cork Art Union in 1843. Samuel West was born in Cork in 1810 to a bookseller father who had moved from London and is thought to have started his art education in Cork before moving to Rome to study. The rise of the English statesman and Catholic cardinal Thomas Wolsey coincided with the accession of Henry VIII. He fell out of favour after failing to negotiate an annulment of Henry’s marriage to Catherine of Aragon, retreated to York and died of natural causes following an accident when returning to London to answer charges of treason.
Wolsey lived at the Palace of Whitehall. This was taken over by Henry as his principal residence in the capital and served as seat of English monarchs until destroyed by fire in 1698. Cardinal Wolsey was in a non canonical marriage with Joan Larke of Yarmouth and they had two children. A woman and two children are featured in the painting, now estimated at €20,000-€30,000.
An Irish Regency rosewood and brass inlaid chiffonier has a Dublin trade label but is thought likely to be a Cork piece because of features characteristic of Cork workshops in the 18th and 29th centuries. These include shaped rope twist sides, spiral reeded columns, reeded edge and bun feet. The estimate is €8,000-€12,000. A pair of Waterford oval cut glass mirrors with blue and clear glass border is also estimated at €8,000-€12,000.
If you are unable to make it to Townley Hall the catalogue for this large and impressive sale is online.
An Irish Regency chiffonier, probably made in Cork. UPDATE: THIS WAS UNSOLD
A pair of mid 18th century card tables. UPDATE: THESE WERE UNSOLD
A pair of mid 18th century folding top card tables one of which was in the renowned collection of Simon Sainsbury – scion of the famous retailing family who died in 2006 – and a c1750 Irish side table will lead Adams annual Country House Collections at Townley Hall sale on October 14 and 15. Each lot is estimated at €30,000-€40,000.
With portraits, hard to come by collectible silver, beautiful furniture and collectibles this annual extravaganza of a sale abounds with rare and rich lots and is a magnet for collectors in Ireland and beyond. Two 18th century Irish School views of the Barne Estate between Clonmel and Cahir, a commanding presence to this day, carry an estimate of €10,000-€15,000. The online catalogue is brimful of items of interest. Viewing gets underway at Townley Hall near Drogheda on October 12. An online only sale with 245 lots gets underway on October 14 and there will be a live auction of 460 lots at Adams headquarters at St. Stephen’s Green in Dublin at 11 am the following day.
Two 18th century Irish School views of the Barne Estate, Co. Tipperary. UPDATE: THE PAIR MADE 9,500 AT HAMMER
VICTORIAN WALNUT TULIPWOOD AND MARQUETRY INLAID CREDENZA. UPDATE: THIS WAS UNSOLD
This fine Victorian credenza comes up on day one of the James Adam annual Country House Collections sale at Townley Hall on October 14. Bidding is now open for day one of the sale, a timed online auction of 245 lots. The credenza is lot number 237 and is estimated at €3,000-€5,000. There will be a live auction with 460 lots at St. Stephen’s Green on the following day. Viewing gets underway at Townley Hall near Drogheda on October 12. The carefully curated sale is drawn from country houses right around Ireland and the vast majority of lots have been sourced from Irish private collections. This annual auction has become one of the highlights of the antique and fine arts calendar in Ireland.
