Irish art sales exceed €3m in two weeks

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