Eclectic mix at Ballsbridge contents sale of interior designer

September sales season kicks off with surge in sales and fairs

Drawing room in the Ballsbridge home of designer and retailer Bronach Rowell.
Drawing room in the Ballsbridge home of designer and retailer Bronach Rowell.

In Dublin, de Vere’s is selling the contents of 25 Raglan Road, the former home of interior designer Bronach Rowell. With her children grown up, Rowell, who ran Rowell Design in Donnybrook for many years, decided to downsize and now that her house is sale agreed is selling the contents of her Ballsbridge home. The catalogue is a window into the world of an Irish interior designer and includes an eclectic mix of period and modern furniture, soft furnishings, lighting, cushions, mirrors, prints, porcelain and garden items. “It represents an ideal buying opportunity for both homeowners and interior designers to acquire ‘as new’ pieces,” according to Rory Guthrie of de Vere’s who is handling the sale of the 250 lots. The online sale ends September 19th, with viewings at the house September 16th-18th. deveres.ie

Heaney first edition

On Sunday, September 11th, Vintage Ireland will host North Leinster Antiques, Vintage and Collectables Fair at the Pillow Hotel in Ashbourne, Co Meath. A broad range of traders will offer everything from jewellery and fashion to banknotes and memorabilia. One of the highlights is a signed first edition copy of Seamus Heaney’s Beowulf, which is being exhibited by well-known book dealer Jim Magill of Belfast, priced at €500. vintageireland.eu

Up to 70 per cent off in Mayo

Vanessa Parker, who died in June, was a celebrated book dealer described as a 'maverick who knew her trade inside out'.
Vanessa Parker, who died in June, was a celebrated book dealer described as a 'maverick who knew her trade inside out'.

IADA member Roger Grimes, of Greenway Antiques in Mulranny, is closing his Mayo Aladdin’s cave after 16 years. Grimes moved to the west of Ireland in the 1970s from the UK with his partner in life and work, Vanessa Parker, the well-known book dealer who passed away in June. She was described as a “maverick in the industry who knew her stuff inside and out” by Robin O’Donnell of Hibernian Antique Fairs, who she exhibited with for 35 years. With the lease for his shop due to end, he is on the look out for a new venue and has decided to hold a sale due to the sheer volume of books and antiques he has in stock. “Everything has a 30 per cent discount on the advertised online price and some stuff in the shop, such as old china and glass, is reduced by 70 per cent.” Also in stock are 10,000 prints, “the largest selection in the country” according to Grimes, which are reduced by 30 per cent. antiquesandbooks.com

60 dealers in one spot

A selection of diamond rings will be on offer at the National Antiques Fair at Limerick Racecourse this weekend
A selection of diamond rings will be on offer at the National Antiques Fair at Limerick Racecourse this weekend

Limerick Racecourse is the new venue for one of Ireland’s largest antique fairs which will take place this weekend with top coin and banknote dealers, jewellery, furniture and everything in between, with estimates €5-€50,000 from the 60 dealers on show.

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Daniel O’Neill and Evie Hone

Ending on Monday is Morgan O’Driscoll’s Important Irish Art online sale. Highlights include Old Time Dance, an unusual oil by Daniel O’Neill (€20,000-€30,000); West of Ireland Famine Ship, a bronze by John Behan (€8,000-€12,000); St Elizabeth of Hungary, St Mura’s, Fahan, Co Donegal oil on board by Evie Hone (€5,000-€7,000); and a small untitled work by Hughie O’Donoghue (€1,000-€1.500). Morganodriscoll.com

Diamond solitaires

On Tuesday, Damien Matthews will host an online sale of 631 lots, 200 of which are antique jewellery. Highlights are two diamond solitaires: a 2.8ct transitional cut from 1905 (€18,000-€25,000) and a 3.8ct diamond on yellow gold from 1900 estimated at €15,000-€25,000. matthewsauctionrooms.com

Specimens in Cork

Large Kashan Persian rug, €800-€1,200, Hegarty's
Large Kashan Persian rug, €800-€1,200, Hegarty's

Also on Tuesday is Hegarty’s September Fine Interiors live sale, with 200 lots to include silver and furniture. Of particular interest is a large Kashan Persian rug in vibrant red (€800-€1,200) and an Irish carved cabinet, with the verso label reading: “Specimens of Carving from Viscountess De Vesci’s Carving Class, Abbeyleix, Ireland, 1886″ (€200-€300). hegartysantiques.com

Paintings to start a collection

Ending this Wednesday is Adam’s of St Stephen’s Green’s online art auction. Eight artworks feature by Peter Collis, the London-born painter who moved to Ireland in 1969. His work, which is found in many public collections, including those of AIB and Limerick University, carry estimates from €100-€150 to €800-€1,200, offering those starting a collection works at reasonable prices.

Also featured is The Red Precipice, Croaghaun Cliffs, Achill Island, by Raymond McGrath which was exhibited at the Royal Hibernian Academy in Dublin, 1958 (€600-€800) and Figure Studies, a small set of pencil on paper works in one frame by Paul Henry (€500-€700).

Casting Office, an etching by Raphael Soyer, €350-€500, Adam's
Casting Office, an etching by Raphael Soyer, €350-€500, Adam's

Also in there is Casting Office, an etching by Raphael Soyer (€350-€500), the Russian-born American painter. Art collector Victor Ganz, whose collection was sold in 1997 and at the time was the largest private owner art sale in history, began his collection in his teenage years with a work by Soyer. adams.ie

Elizabeth Birdthistle

Elizabeth Birdthistle

Elizabeth Birdthistle, a contributor to The Irish Times, writes about property, fine arts, antiques and collectables