Sheppard's held an unprecedented four-day series of auctions last week – including an evening art auction – and 76 per cent of the more than 2,000 lots were sold. The top price – €34,000 – was achieved for a painting Breton Reapers by 19th century Irish artist Augustus Burke (€15,000-€25,000). The most-watched lot, Michael Flatley's painting 'Rossmore Island' attracted online and telephone bidders before selling to an unnamed Irish bidder for €22,500 (€20,000-€30,000).
Flatley told The Irish Times by phone after the auction he was "delighted with the result" and hoped the new owner would "enjoy the painting" which he was "crazy about". He had not yet decided when or where he would sell more of his paintings.
A striking portrait of the famous Victorian jockey Fred Archer by Rosa Corder sold to an Irish bidder for €2,600 (€3,000-€5,000).
Returning Home, Connemara, attributed to James John Hill – which, subject to further research, might be the original famous lost painting, The Rush Gatherers, Lough Corrib, Connemara, Ireland, which so captivated the public in 1860 – sold for €3,700 (€3,000-€4,000).
A pair of Chinese 18th century cloisonné enamelled and gilded urns and lids made €18,000 (€8,000-€10,000) and a late 19th-century French mantel clock and candelabra by Samuel Martil, Paris, fetched €17,000 (€15,000-€25,000).
