Art historian’s own collection up for sale at Mealy's sale in Dublin

Des O’Sullivan looks at sales of fine art and of modern Irish first editions.

The summer sale by Mealy’s in Castlecomer next Tuesday at 11am will include 150 lots from the collection of Professor Anne Crookshank, one of our more distinguished art historians, who is now living in retirement in Donegal.

The 660-lot auction offers treasures including a Meissen porcelain ewer emblematic of the element, fire (€7,000-€11,000); a painting of a wild boar attacked by a pack of dogs attributed to Franz Snyders (35,000-55,000), and a large, heavy Georgian carved white mantle piece.

A Meissen ewer representing fire, at Fonsie Mealy’s auction at the Gresham on Tuesday.

This most interesting auction will include Oriental and European porcelain, antique furniture, portraits, silver and paintings.

Meanwhile in Dublin, the Dr Phillip Murray collection of modern first editions will be sold by Fonsie Mealy Auctioneers at the Gresham Hotel at 2 pm next Tuesday.

From Jaws to The Ballroom of Romance and A Clockwork Orange to Casino Royale, the 580-lot auction promises something for all readers and collectors.

Irish authors are well represented, with signed first editions by writers such as Kevin Barry, John Banville, Aidan Higgins, Neil Jordan, Colm Tóibín and Desmond Hogan.

Both auctions will be live on the internet.