Auction results and upcoming fairs

Portrait of Down-born lord chief justice of England goes for £45,000 above estimate

“Farmstead with Cows Grazing by the River” by Frank McKelvey: Lot 8 (€4,000-€6,000) in the March 6th sale at Morgan O’Driscoll auctioneers, Skibbereen, Co Cork

Sat Mar 04 2017 - 06:00

Auction results

Wednesday (March 1st) Bonhams, New Bond Street, London, hosted an auction of 19th century European, Victorian and British Impressionist art included two paintings of significant Irish interest. When the Boats Come In by Walter Frederick Osborne fetched £125,000 (€146,000), midway of its estimate (£100,000-£150,000); and Charles Russell, Baron Russell of Killowen, a portrait by American painter John Singer Sargent of the 19th century Co Down-born Catholic barrister who became lord chief justice of England went for £125,000, well above its estimate (£60,000-£80,000).

Please note that UK auction prices are inclusive of buyer’s premium.

Forthcoming auctions

Sunday (March 5th) Hegarty's auction rooms, The Bypass, Bandon, Co Cork. Antiques auction at 4pm. Viewing on Saturday 12 noon-5pm and online catalogue at hegartyantiques.com. Lot 18, Checking His Girth, is a silver equestrian sculpture by David Geenty estimated at €1,200-€1,600.

Monday (March 6th) Morgan O'Driscoll auctioneers, Skibbereen, Co Cork. Online Irish art auction. On view in the saleroom and via the online catalogue but bidding is online only at morganodriscoll.com and runs on Monday, March 6th between 6.30pm and 9.10pm. It features 193 lots of painting and sculpture including Lot 2, Horse (oil-on-board) by Basil Blackshaw €4,000-€6,000; Lot 8, Farmstead with Cows Grazing by the River (oil-on-canvas) by Frank McKelvey €4,000-€6,000)[pictured]; and Lot 79, Famine Family, a bronze sculpture from an edition of nine by John Behan €2,000-€3,000.

Tuesday and Wednesday (March 7th & 8th) Fonsie Mealy auctioneers, Chatsworth Street, Castlecomer, Co Kilkenny. Two-day fine art auction at 10.30 am each day. Over 980 lots including items from The Aske, a house on the Old Bray Road in Shankill, Co Dublin (formerly housed at Ballynahinch Castle, Co Galway); Colonel Harding's collection from Tulach Nore, Pike of Rushall, Co Laois; and "old master" paintings from the Murnaghan and other collections; antique furniture, silver and taxidermy. Highlights include Lot 728, a 17th century Dutch painting Wooded Landscape with Figures and Animals near a Farm by Gerrit van Hees €18,000-€22,000; Lot 668, a 20th century Irish painting West of Ireland Coastal Scene with Figures and Boats Unloading the Day's Catch, Co Donegal by Frank McKelvey €10,000-€15,000; Lot 867, a rare arts and crafts walnut diningroom suite (table and 12 chairs) €7,000-€10,000; Lot 640, Tramore (Co Waterford), a watercolour, dated 1911 and featuring a beach scene, by William Percy French €3,000-€4,000; Lot 80, an 18th Century Irish provincial silver tablespoon, dated 1716, "probably Galway" and thus very rare, €3,000-€4,000; Lot 897, a full-size reproduction furniture replica of the "Resolute Desk" used in the Oval Office of the White House €1,500-€2,000. Viewing begins on Sunday (March 4th) at 12 noon. Online catalogue and bidding registration details at fonsiemealy.ie.