Saturday, December 10, 2011
Three sales show strong interest among buyers for art, reports Des O’Sullivan
MORE than three million euros worth of Irish art has changed hands in the past fortnight. The James Adam sale in Dublin on Monday realised €2 million, Whyte’s grossed over €800,000 on November 28, Morgan O’Driscoll achieved €250,000 at his sale in Cork on November 28 and art sales at de Veres and Dolans bring the final tally even higher. Jazz Babies by Yeats made €480,000 at hammer against an estimate of €500,000-€700,000 to become the top lot at Adams. In September Adams achieved €1 million for another Yeats, A Fair Day, Mayo. This remains the most expensive Irish artwork to have changed hands at auction this year.
Other results from Monday’s sale include Evening Kildare, a Yeats once in the collection of George Bernard Shaw (€36,000), The Unforgettable Background by Yeats (€130,000), Wind Blown Trees (€97,000) and A
Roadside Cottage (€90,000) both by Paul Henry, Jaunting Car by William Conor doubled its low estimate to make €70,000, a large sculpture by F.E. McWilliam made €58,000 and a Harry Clarke miniature stained glass panel entitled Bluebeard’s Last Wife made €50,000. A gold pocket watch and chain mentioned in James Joyce’s Ulysses made €60,000 over an estimate of €8,000-€12,000.
It belonged to John O’Connell (1844-1925), described in the work as ‘caretaker’ at Glasnevin Cemetery when Leopold Bloom attended Paddy Dignam’s funeral.
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