antiquesandartireland.com

Information about Art, Antiques and Auctions in Ireland and around the world
  • ABOUT
  • About Des
  • Contact
  • Posts Tagged ‘Masterpiece’

    MASTERPIECE IN FULL SWING AT CHELSEA

    Saturday, July 2nd, 2022
    The 1851 Great Exhibition carved bog yew armchair by Arthur Jones of Dublin at Butchoff Antiques.awarded a Vetting Committee Highlight for the stand out piece of furniture at the fair.

    Masterpiece, in full swing at the Royal Hospital, Chelsea, London until July 6, is a place of discovery.  The UK’s premier antiques fair – making a welcome return after a three year gap – offers the finest works of art, design, furniture and jewellery from antiquity to the present day. The fair is remarkable for its depth, breadth and scholarship. Quality is a byword and everything on display has been rigorously vetted by a panel of 180 experts.

     This is an outing not just for the rich, who are catered for royally, but for the culturally curious. It offers much to discover in a non 21st century way.  “Search engines direct us to what we supposedly want or need.  I think Masterpiece does the exact opposite: it encourages people to discover things they weren’t expecting to find”,  Lucie Kitchener, the Masterpiece managing director said. You might not, for example, be expecting to find something by our remarkable Cork based sculptor Eilis O’Connell.  But you will, a carved Portuguese pink marble work entitled Thornmorph, at sculpture specialists Pangolin London  priced at £14,600.

    There was definitely something familiar about a heavily  carved Irish chair at Butchoff Antiques, also of London.  The 1851 Great Exhibition carved bog yew armchair, made by Arthur Jones of Dublin, had featured at a local auction in Ayr last December where it sold for a hammer price of £44,000 over a top estimate of £3,000. There is Irish furniture, as there is nearly always at the world’s leading fairs.  Among a number of Irish pieces displayed at Rory Rogers Ltd. is a wonderful c1780 glass oval mirror with original cobalt blue and opaque glass studs.  This one is enclosed in a carved giltwood frame.

     A pair of antique Irish  mirrors not too dissimilar in style turned up at Lynes and Lynes in Cork last Saturday where they made a hammer price of €4,600.A remarkable ceramic sculpture by Merete Rasmussen, another artist from the Pangolin stable, garnered much attention from the pre-fair publicity. The sinuous yellow sharp edged piece entitled Ouroboros dates to 2019 and is priced at £22,000.  The sculpture series curated by Melanie Vanderbrouck of the V and A considers innovative investigations of form and matter and how other disciplines may inform and enrich sculptural practice.

    The super rich on whom this fair relies are less affected by harsh financial reality than the rest of us. Challenges remain nevertheless.  It will be interesting to see whether Brexit will have an adverse impact on a selling event that is, in fact, global.  Russians are absent and Covid is present.  Possible good news is that Masterpiece is not immune to the pent up demand released everywhere by the ending of lockdown.In the face of all the adversities of 2022 Masterpiece – with 128 exhibitors including 27 from overseas – is a welcoming place that offers a visitor experience that is pretty much unrivalled.  From Roman statues to contemporary jewellery, Andy Warhol to a panelled Georgian Tavern settle, Tutankhamum (the centenary of the discovery of his tomb is being marked with a 21st century virtual display) to Rodin and Matisse, to jewellery, silver and furniture from across the ages this fabulous fair is a place for curators, collectors, the curious and those who want to learn.

     Irish oval mirror in a carved giltwood leaf frame at Rory Rogers Ltd.

    MASTERPIECE 2020 HAS BEEN CANCELLED

    Thursday, March 26th, 2020

    Masterpiece, the leading British antiques fair which was scheduled to take place in London from June 25 until July 1, has been cancelled. A statement issued today said: “We are grateful for the support and hard work of our exhibitors, partners and staff in preparation for this year’s edition of the Fair; however the health of everyone involved in Masterpiece London is our absolute priority during these unprecedented times”.

    MASTERPIECE IN FULL SWING AT CHELSEA IN LONDON

    Sunday, June 30th, 2019

    FROM Jacobo Bassano to Picasso to Richard Diebenkorn and Sean Scully the Masterpiece fair at the Royal Hospital, Chelsea in London until July 3 offers an unmissable selection of art and antiques. Masterpiece offers the finest works of art, design, furniture and jewellery from antiquity to the present day. It gives collectors and unparalleled opportunity to discover exceptional works across a range of price points. Launched in 2010 to fill the gap created after the end of the old Grosvenor House Antique Fair Masterpiece has established itself as the world’s leading cross collecting fair.  Exhibitors include many of the leading art dealerships in the world spanning all eras and disciplines.

    As in all top global fairs now there is scrupulous vetting in operation.Exceptional Irish antique furniture is offered by Rory Rodgers on stand B20 and fine antique furniture can be found on stands like Ronald Phillips, Apter-Fredericks and Edward Hurst.Modernity of Stockholm offers vintage Scandinavian design with a focus on furniture, lighting and textiles.  The large collection here includes design classics by Hans Wegner, Finn Juhl, Arne Jacobsen, Alvar Aalto, Axel Salto and Josef Frank.There is ancient art and antiquities, contemporary jewellery, rare books and illustrated manuscripts, Indian art and a huge selection of contemporary art.  Book dealer Peter Harrington will showcase an exceptional collection of Ian Fleming material which includes inscribed first editions of every James Bond book published in the author’s lifetime.

    A carved giltwood console table by John Linnell at Thomas Coulbourn

    MASTERPIECE NOW UNDERWAY IN LONDON

    Thursday, June 27th, 2019

    The Masterpiece Fair gets underway in London today and runs until July 3. Located at the South Grounds of the Royal Hospital in Chelsea Masterpiece has established itself as the world’s leading cross-collecting fair. It offers the finest works of art, design, furniture and jewellery, from antiquity to the present day and is billed as unmissable at the height of the London summer season.

    Among the works on show is a beautiful Enignum ash console 2017 by internationally acclaimed Cork furniture maker Joseph Walsh at the Sarah Myerscough stand. It is priced at 48,000 euro.

    Works by Joseph Walsh on display at Sarah Myerscough at Masterpiece. (Photo Ollie Hammick)

    MASTERPIECE GETS UNDERWAY TODAY

    Thursday, June 29th, 2017

    Masterpiece, which has established itself as one of the world’s leading international fairs, gets underway in London today. It brings together 150 the world’s top gallerists and specialists. Masterpiece Presents, a new large-scale dedicated exhibition space which to transform the entrance, is launched this year. Boundaries are once again being stretched this year. The most contemporary work is a brand new immersive installation by Chilean artist Iván Navarro, known internationally for his socio-politically charged sculptures of neon, fluorescent and incandescent light. He represented Chile at the 53rd Venice Biennale. Navarro’s installation has been commissioned for the Fair by Paul Kasmin Gallery.  The fair continues until July 5.

    THE STUDIO: THE PAINTING OF A NUDE
    Walter Sickert AT PIANO NOBILE

    JUAN GRIS (1887 – 1927)- NATURE MORTE, 1916 AT DICKINSON

    A PAIR OF 3-LIGHT CANDELABRA WITH FIGURES OF BACCHANTES AND PUTTI AFTER CLAUDE I BALLIN (1615-1678) AND NICOLAS DELAUNAY (1646-1727), MASTER IN 1672 AND « DIRECTEUR DE LA MONNAIE DES MÉDAILLES » IN 1696 AT STEINITZ

    A SERIES OF ANTHROPOMORPHIC STILL-LIFE PAINTINGS OF THE SEASONS
    Giovanni Paolo Castelli, called lo Spadino at Colnaghi

    MASTERPIECE CONTINUES TO DRAW THE CROWDS

    Sunday, July 3rd, 2016

    Masterpiece continues to draw the crowds in London.  Over 5,000 guests attended on the first public day and daily numbers are continuing at close to this level. The premier fair reflects at a very high level the cross collecting taste that is now so fashionable. At Masterpiece you can take your pick.  There is everything from a monumental fragment of a standing male statute leg and feet at Axel Vervoodt and the Louis XIV walnut Os de Mouton sofa at Rose Uniacke to the 1966 Rhthme Couleur by Sonia Delaunay at Helene Bailly Gallery and Graham Sutherland’s Study of Sir Winston Churchill from 1954 at Christopher Kingzett. This is a rare preparatory sketch for a portrait that was considered so unflattering that it was destroyed.  Royal Bank of Canada continues as the principal sponsor of Masterpiece.  Exhibitors continue to report sales across a wide range of disciplines.  Masterpiece continues until July 6.

     Monumental fragment from a standing male statue Leg and Feet on base Roman 2nd century A.D. Courtesy Axel Vervoodt

    Monumental fragment from a standing male statue Leg and Feet on base Roman 2nd century A.D. Courtesy Axel Vervoodt

    Sonia Delaunay Rythme Couleur 1966 Courtesy Hélène Bailly Gallery

    Sonia Delaunay Rythme Couleur 1966 Courtesy Hélène Bailly Gallery

    The Louis XIV Walnut ‘Os de Mouton’ Sofa France c1730  Courtesy Rose Uniacke

    The Louis XIV Walnut ‘Os de Mouton’ Sofa France c1730 Courtesy Rose Uniacke

    Graham Sutherland Study of Sir Winston Churchill  1954  Courtesy Christopher Kingzett at Masterpiece, London.

    Graham Sutherland Study of Sir Winston Churchill 1954 Courtesy Christopher Kingzett at Masterpiece, London.

    THE WARWICK VASE FROM HADRIAN’S VILLA AT MASTERPIECE

    Friday, July 1st, 2016

    The monumental Warwick Vase.

    The monumental Warwick Vase.

    The massive mid 19th century Warwick Vase is a highlight at Anthony Outred’s stand at Masterpiece, which runs until next Wednesday at the Royal Hospital at Chelsea in London. It is of ancient Roman origin and Bacchic inspiration and was discovered in fragments at Hadrian’s Villa in 1771 by Gavin Hamilton. It was restored to Piranesi’s designs by Sir William Hamilton and passed to his nephew George Greville, Second Earl of Warwick. It now resides in Glasgow as part of the Burrell Collection.

    England is represented on the stand by a pair of panoramic views of Westminster that span 300 years.  One shows the buildings of 1895, the other is based on engravings from the time of Henry VIII.  They are based on aerial studies and engravings by English artists William Brewer and William Lionel Wyllie executed from a balloon 1,400 up.  They were published in May 1884 in the weekly illustrated magazine The Graphic.

    Westminster in the late 19th century

    Westminster in the late 19th century

    A view of Westminster c1584.

    A view of Westminster c1584.

    AN ITALIAN FIREPLACE FROM IRELAND IN ENGLAND

    Thursday, June 30th, 2016

    A c1790 Italian chimney piece from a collection in Ireland was one of a number of Irish pieces spotted at Masterpiece, the pre-eminent London fair now running at the Royal Hospital in Chelsea. At the stand of leading London dealer Ronald Phillips, where it is priced at a cool £850,000, the chimney piece is thought to have been commissioned by the Earl Bishop of Derry.  There are rosso antico plaques and micro-mosaic panels.  The last time such a fireplace came up at auction, at Sotheby’s around five years ago, it sold for £550,000.

    The bucket to the right of the chimney piece is one of a pair c1800 of Irish log buckets with brass handles and later brass liners.  They are unusually tall and priced at £205,000.

    More than 8,000 guests attended the opening day preview yesterday.  Many exhibitors reported robust sales.

    ONE OF A PAIR OF IRISH LOG BUCKETS

    ONE OF A PAIR OF IRISH LOG BUCKETS

    The c1790 Italian chimney piece from a private Irish collection.

    The c1790 Italian chimney piece from a private Irish collection.

    20th CENTURY ITALIAN ARTISTS FROM TORNABUONI ART AT MASTERPIECE

    Tuesday, June 28th, 2016

    Aligheiro Boetti - Mappa 1984

    Aligheiro Boetti – Mappa 1984

    Making its first appearance at Masterpiece – which previews in London tomorrow and runs from June 30 to July 6 – Tornabuoni Art will present a selection of work by modern and contemporary artists.  From Giorgio De Chirico’s early surrealist paintings to Turi Simeti’s latest works, the booth will reflect the 20th century Italian artistic panorama.

    Artists on show will include Alberto Biasi, Alighiero Boetti, Agostino Bonalumi, Alberto Burri, Enrico Castellani, Giorgio De Chirico, Lucio Fontana, Marino Marini, Arnaldo Pomodoro, Paolo Scheggi and Turi Simeti.  Here is a selection:

    Arnaldo Pomodoro - Cuneo con Frecce 2006

    Arnaldo Pomodoro – Cuneo con Frecce 2006

    Francesca Pasquali, Red Strawl 2016

    Francesca Pasquali, Red Strawl 2016

    ALBERTO BURRI - AI 1953

    ALBERTO BURRI – AI 1953

    SOME IRISH TREASURES AT MASTERPIECE IN LONDON

    Wednesday, June 24th, 2015

    THERE is Irish treasure to be found at Masterpiece in London.  As well as the Picasso’s, Turner’s and Lowry’s in abundance, the Chippendale pieces, the rarest of timepieces, the Sevres, bronzes and antiquities worth millions, the sixth  edition of this prestigious fair offers a selection of antique Irish furniture, art, collectibles and silver to discriminating collectors with deep pockets.  Masterpiece previews today at the Royal Hospital in Chelsea. Apter Fredericks are displaying the Leinster House cabinets in their current spring catalogue, priced at £325,000 (see post on antiquesandartireland.com for June 3). A first 1922 edition of Ulysses is priced at £250,000 at Peter Harrington.  Signed by James Joyce it is from the first hundred copies printed which are always the most valuable.  The Earl of Drogheda’s silver epergne centerpiece by Robert Calderwood is priced at £85,000 at Koopman Rare Art. Philip Mould has a recently discovered works by Sir John Lavery at £275,000. A thick varnish was removed and the artist had painted out his own signature when he returned at a later date to enhance it. It has now been authenticated.  Masterpiece continues until July 1.  Here are some Irish pieces in the fair:

    Lady Lavery on Horseback - a recently discovered work by Sir John Lavery at Philip Mould priced £275,000.

    Lady Lavery on Horseback – a recently discovered work by Sir John Lavery at Philip Mould priced £275,000. Copyright Philip Mould and Company.

    The Earl of Drogheda's silver eperge by Robert Calderwood at Koopman Rare Art (£85,000).

    The Earl of Drogheda’s silver eperge by Robert Calderwood at Koopman Rare Art (£85,000).

    A c1745 Irish side table at Rolleston (£90,000).

    A c1745 Irish side table at Rolleston (£90,000).

    An Irish George II side table at Frank Patridge (£65,000).

    An Irish George II tea table or silver table at Frank Patridge (£65,000).

    A George II Irish side table at Apter Fredericks (£225,000).

    A George II Irish side table at Apter Fredericks (£225,000).

    An Irish George II oval mirror chandelier at Ronald Phillips.

    An Irish George II oval mirror chandelier at Ronald Phillips.