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  • Posts Tagged ‘WHYTES’

    AUTUMN ANTIQUES SEASON ON ITS MERRY WAY IN IRELAND

    Saturday, September 16th, 2023
    A 19th gold charm featuring Napoleon, courtesy of Dublin jeweller JW Weldon, will be spotlighted at Ireland’s collection of statement pieces, Timeless, the Irish Antique Dealers Fair, which takes place in Dublin’s RDS from September 15-17. Details from timelessfair.ie.

    With Timeless in full swing at the RDS in Dublin today and tomorrow and a number of upcoming sales of Important Irish art in prospect the busy autumn season continues on its merry way in Ireland. The annual Irish Antique Dealers’ Fair running for the 56th time offers an eclectic blend of contemporary and antique focused exhibitors and is designed to appeal to both young contemporaries and seasoned collectors.  With its eye watering results the Freddie Mercury sales at Sotheby’s this month (his Yamaha grand piano made just over €2 million) demonstrated once again the importance of celebrity and in this respect Timeless does not disappoint.  Statement pieces on offer include a rare bookcase favoured both by David Bowie and Karl Lagerfeld and a 400 year old diamond ring that would once have travelled to the UK along the old Silk Road.

    The Memphis Milano Carlton bookcase offered by Acquired was designed by Ettore Sottsass and once graced a Florence palazzo.  Its ground breaking form challenged existing rules, something immediately recognised by fashion and rock icons Lagerfeld and Bowie, both of whom had one.  It is priced at €17,000.  J.W. Weldon will offer a 17th century diamond ring crafted in England, the oldest ring they have ever handled. It is priced at €3,950.  Among other rarities is a 9th century French charm from a bracelet which features a cannon and a statue of Napoleon and a folding travelling silver chess set designed in 1972 to commemorate the Fischer-Spassky world championship. “The best of the past is also best for the future”, Garret Weldon, president of the IADA remarked. “Our trade is the original sustainable industry and helps the planet through a reduction in manufacturing and waste”.

    On a Western Quay by Jack B Yeats at Adams.

    Important Irish art sales are in the offing at James Adam on September 27 and at Whytes on October 2.  A 1923 oil on panel by Yeats – On a Western Quay – is a highlight at Adams and estimated at €100,000-€150,000. It depicts pilot Michael Gillen, who guided ships along the Garavogue River to the Sligo quayside, and who appears in several paintings and drawings by Yeats.  Another top lot with a similar estimate in this auction of 158 lots is Evening by Paul Henry c1924-25.  It comes from a private collection in Cork.  The sale offers highly collectible  art by artists like Louis le Brocquy, Gerard Dillon, William Conor and Rowan Gillespie.  Viewing gets underway on September 22 and the catalogue is online.

    The Currach, Kilronan by Gerard Dillon at Whyte’s

    Still Waters by Sean Keating and The Currach, Kilronan by Gerard Dillon, each estimated at €60,000-€80,000 are highlights at Whyte’s sale of Irish and International art on October 2.  Lord George Hell by Sir William Orpen is based on a Regency reprobate, the principal character in Max Beerbohm’s 1896 story The Happy Hypocrite. Hell sets out to woo dancer Jenny Mere with whom he has fallen in love wearing a mask to cover his pock marked face.  When he succeeds and removes the mask his face has miraculously healed and become “saintly”, such is the power of love.  The story was dramatised into a one act play and in his oil on canvas Orpen set out to create the impression of a late 18th/early 19th century print (€10,000-€15,000).   Viewing at Whyte’s gets underway on September 25 and the catalogue is online.

    THE ART MARKET IS FOR EVERYONE

    Saturday, July 8th, 2023
    Untitled IV by Willem de Kooning from the Macklowe Collection sold for $18.9 million (€17.4 million) in New York in 2021.

    The red/blue tonal palette of two artworks illustrated here is similar.  In art market terms the gulf between them amounts to millions and millions of euros and is to all intents unbridgeable. Willem de Kooning, the a Dutch born American based Abstract Expressionist, belongs in the canon of the greats, Gerard le Roux is a practically unknown French artist and sculptor born in 1942 and resident for many years in St. Tropez.
    When it comes to the art market comparisons are indeed odious.  Untitled IV by de Kooning sold at Sotheby’s in New York for a whopping $18.9 million in November 2021.  It was part of the Macklowe Collection, which sold for just under $1 billion, then the most valuable collection ever sold at auction. The sale of the collection of  Microsoft co-founder Paul G. Allen for $1.66 billion last November has eclipsed this result since.  Despite stellar sales like these the art market operates at many different levels.  You do not need to be an RTE “celebrity” in order to be able to dip into it.

    Three Women by Gerard le Roux has an estimate of €200-300 at Whyte’s. UPDATE: THIS MADE 250 AT HAMMER

    The market is for everyone as demonstrated by the second red/blue work Three Women by Gerard le Roux. It comes up at Whyte’s online summer evening art sale on July 10.  Colourful, appealing and charming enough to grace any wall it is estimated at a mere €200-€300.  An American influence is obvious in two works by him at this sale, lots 316 and 317.  There is a similar estimate on Couple on a Beach.  The artist spent a number of years in New York. The Mutualart website reports that work by le Roux has been offered at auction multiple times with prices ranging from $127 (€116) to $360 (€329), a record established for a beach scene at  Pourville near Dieppe at Pierre Berge and Associates in Paris in 2021.

    Summer art sales are brimful of interest and need not break the bank.  There is a selection of 337 works to choose from at Whyte’s.  The online sale offers an exciting array of accessible art from Ireland and around the world.  Among the artists represented are Paul Henry, Jack Yeats, Norah McGuinness, Graham Knuttel, Robert Ballagh, Markey Robinson and Pauline Bewick.  Le Grand Pavon (Peacock), a wool carpet by Salvador Dali was produced in 1979 by Ege Axminster, Denmark and comes with an estimate of €800-€1,200. A 1947 lithograph by American painter and  illustrator Norman Rockwell is estimated at €100-€150, the estimate for Ecce Homo, 16 offset colour lithographs by George Grosz dated 1923 is €2,000-€3,000 and a woodblock print portrait of a man by Otto Dix is estimated at €500-€700.

    Beached Boat by William Carron at Whyte’s (€500-€700). UPDATE: THIS MADE 480 AT HAMMER

    A view of Kilshannig, Castlegregory, Co. Kerry by Kenneth Webb is estimated at €3,000-€5,000, Mayo, a watercolour by Norah McGuinness, is estimated at €2,500-€3,500, an oil of Tory Harbour by Patsy Dan Rodgers is estimated at €600-€800, as is a watercolour of thatched cottages in the west of Ireland by Frank McKelvey.

    SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE AT IRISH ART SALES THIS WEEK

    Sunday, May 28th, 2023
    Paddy Moloney (Piper) by Edward McGuire at Adams. UPDATE: THIS SOLD FOR 35,000 AT HAMMER

    The way Edward McGuire paints portraits, Patrick Hennessy captures the essential essence of a red rose or William Conor evokes atmosphere can be overlooked in art auction catalogues where the big guns dominate. You can’t blame Yeats, Orpen, Henry, le Brocquy et al – all of whom loom large in major Irish art sales at Whyte’s and Adams in Dublin next week – for stealing the attention.  There is a great selection of scorching works by these artists at the upcoming sales. Yeats, in particular, dominates this time around for the sheer number and quality of his works on offer.

    Nevertheless it is heartening to see estimates on the up for artists who, though not exactly overlooked, might have been somewhat eclipsed.  This is a rising market and the tide has lifted many boats. Edward McGuire’s portrait of legendary musician Paddy Moloney dates to 1982 and depicts Moloney seated, uileann pipes in hand, with a faraway look as if waiting to perform.  It is estimated at €20,000-€30,000 at Adams evening sale on May 31. No less arresting is a small 1964 oil on canvas of a bouquet of roses by the Cork artist Patrick Hennessy.  You can practically savour their scent.  It comes up at Whyte’s evening sale on May 29 with an estimate of €3,500-€4,500. With an Indian ink and colour wash William Conor evokes the festive atmosphere of race days of yore like no one else in two works at Adams. These small drawings are each estimated at just €800-€1,200. Art is for everyone and estimates like this show that art auctions – even major sales – can be for everyone too even if the sales in the hundreds of thousands or more grab the headlines.  You don’t need to be a millionaire, you do need to really look and see what is waiting there ready to enhance your home, your life, your world.

    Bouquet of Roses by Patrick Hennessy at Whyte’s. UPDATE: THIS MADE 3,600 AT HAMMER

    If money is no object then a trio of magnificent oils by Yeats at Whyte’s is worthy of the attention of any well heeled collector.  Glory to the Brave Singer is a late visionary work and shows a reclining woman pointing to a songbird. The estimate is €300,000-€400,000.  This sale offers 122 lots with major works by Paul Henry,  Mary Swanzy, Roderic O’Conor, Camille Souter, Louis le Brocquy, Francis Bacon, Sidney Nolan, Patrick Collins, Evie Hone, Tony O’Malley and many more.There are wonderful examples of the best Irish 19th, 20th and 21st century Irish art and sculpture among the 180 lots at Adams.  A 1945 oil on panel by Yeats, Near the Docks, is estimated at €100,000-€150,000 and there are eight works on paper by the artist from a private Irish collection at estimates of from €1,500 to €15,000.  There is art by Gerard Dillon, Daniel O’Neill, William Conor, Colin Middleton and Frank McKelvey, John Shinnors, Hughie O’Donoghue, Philip Flanagan, Basil Blackshaw, Camille Souter, Rowan Gillespie and others in a sale which will appeal to a wide variety of tastes. Both auctions are on view over this weekend and the catalogues are online.

     Le Loing at Sundown by Roderic O’Conor at Whyte’s. UPDATE: THIS WAS UNSOLD

    BIBLE OWNED BY MICHAEL COLLINS AT WHYTE’S ECLECTIC COLLECTOR SALE

    Saturday, May 13th, 2023
    Michael Collins bible, with him when he died. UPDATE: THIS MADE 12,500 AT HAMMER

    The pocket bible carried by Michael Collins, with him when he died, comes up at Whyte’s Eclectic Collector timed online auction in Dublin today. Collins would have received a copy of this Protestant version of the scriptures when working as a post office clerk in London from 1907-1910. Lot 269 is estimated at €3,000-€5,000.  The sale, which ends from 2 pm, has a wide variety of political, sporting and historic collecibles from ancient Celtic stone heads to a signed Beatles photograph and a Rory Gallagher archive.

    CHRISTMAS ONLINE ART AUCTION AT WHYTE’S

    Friday, December 9th, 2022
    ALAN KENNY (B.1959) – THE STRIPED MUSICIAN, 1999 UPDATE: THIS WAS UNSOLD

    The Striped Musician by Alan Kenny is lot 31 at Whyte’s Christmas online art auction. The oil on board is estimated at €1,000-1,500. This seasonal timed online sale which runs until December 12 offers a selection of affordable art by some of our best loved painters. It is designed to appeal to first time buyers and seasoned bidders. The catalogue is online and viewing is underway at Molesworth St. in Dublin.

    WHYTE’S SALE ON VIEW AT THE RDS THIS WEEKEND

    Saturday, June 4th, 2022
    Etruscan Evening (1989) by Stephen McKenna. UPDATE: THIS MADE 19,000 AT HAMMER

    Viewing for Whyte’s Irish and International art sale gets underway today at the RDS.  There is art by Jack B. Yeats, Paul Henry, Patrick Heron, Louis le Brocquy, Norah McGuinness, Sean Keating, Patrick Scott, Grace Henry, Peter Curling, Howard Helmick, John Behan, Patrick O’Reilly, Edward Delaney and a wide variety of other acclaimed painters and sculptors.  Viewing is from 10 am to 5 pm for the next three days and the auction is at 6 pm on Monday.

    CHRISTMAS ART AND COLLECTIBLES AT WHYTE’S

    Friday, December 10th, 2021
    GERARD DILLON. UPDATE: THIS SOLD FOR €1,250

    This watercolour by Gerard Dillon is lot 92 at Whyte’s Christmas sale of art and collectibles. It is estimated at €1,000-€1,500. The timed online only auction ends at 6 pm on December 13. It is on view at Molesworth St., Dublin from 1 pm to 5 pm n December 11 and 12 and from 10 am to 5 pm on Monday. There are 278 lots in the auction.

    YEATS MAKES €1.4 MILLION AT HAMMER AT WHYTE’S

    Monday, November 29th, 2021

    Shouting, an epic large scale work by Jack B. Yeats, made a hammer price of €1.4 million at Whyte’s sale of Important Irish Art in Dublin tonight. With fees and VAT this amounted to €1.74 million. It had been estimated at €1.5 million – €2 million, making it the most expensively estimated Irish artwork to come to sale in Ireland. Painted in 1950 this visionary work, painted late in his career, is considered to be one of his finest achievements. It ranks as one of the most expensive Yeats paintings ever sold. At the sale of the Ernie O’Malley Collection at Whyte’s in Dublin in 2019 Reverie  and Evening in Spring, both by Yeats, made €1.4 and €1.3 million respectively. In 2001 The Whistle of a Jacket made £1.4 million (€1.65 million) at Christie’s in London and The Wild Ones by Yeats made £1.2  million (€1.42   million) at Sotheby’s in 1999. The winter selling season of Irish art has proved to be spectacular so far.  Sales at Sotheby’s, de Veres and Bonhams last week achieved an aggregate of around €7 million.  With 50 in room bidders, 500 on-line bidders and about 60 telephone bidders Whyte’s added another €2.5 million to that total with 85% of lots sold. There were new world records for Grace Henry and Graham Knuttel.  With big sales at Morgan O’Driscoll on November 30 and at James Adam in Dublin on December 8 in the offing the winter selling season for Irish art is set to surpass €10 million easily. Irish women artists fared particularly well at Whyte’s. The Fortune Teller by Grace Henry made €37,000 at hammer over a top estimate of €7,000; A Cove in Lake Garda by Letitia Hamilton made €17,000 over a top estimate of €12,000 and The Stringagh (Co. Meath) by Nano Reid made €12,000 over a top estimate of €8,000.

    JACK B YEATS SHOUTING

    AFFORDABLE IRISH ART AT WHYTE’S TIMED ONLINE SALE

    Friday, October 1st, 2021
    DESMOND KINNEY (1934-2014) – Early Evening, Donegal, 2000. UPDATE: THIS MADE 5,200 AT HAMMER

    A timed online autumn art sale runs at Whyte’s until October 18. Pictured here is Early Evening, Donegal by Desmond Kinney which is estimated at 800-1,200. Many well known Irish artists are included in this sale of affordable works. With almost 300 lots and guides from as low €80 to a top estimate of €5,000 this sale will encourage both first-time buyers and seasoned bidders to ‘click and win’ in this tempting online-only offering. 

    IRISH AND INTERNATIONAL ART AT WHYTE’S TODAY

    Monday, September 27th, 2021

    Paul Henry, Daniel O’Neill, Nathaniel Hill, William Henry Bartlett, Seán Keating Percy French, Mildred Anne Butler, Susan ‘Lily’ Yeats, Letitia Hamilton, Grace Henry, Cecil Maguire, Patrick Collins, Seán Scully, Tony O’Malley, John Shinnors, Hughie O’Donoghue, Donald Teskey, Anthony Scott, Howard Hodgkin, Bob Dylan, David Bowie and Pablo Picasso all feature at Whyte’s sale of Irish and International Art in Dublin today. The online auction gets underway at 6 pm. 

    (See posts on antiquesandartireland.com for September 23 and September 18, 2021)

    Lot 59 – HOWARD HODGKIN (BRITISH, 1932-2017) – FOR JACK, 2005 (€5,000-€7,000). UPDATE: THIS MADE 5,200 AT HAMMER