World record price for a Paul Henry at Adam’s Dublin Auction
As expected, Lot.21. Paul Henry’s “The Potato Diggers” topped the bill at Adam’s sale of Important Irish Art in Dublin yesterday (29th May, 2013) – and exceeded the high end of its pre-sale estimate by €50,000!
The second highest price paid was for another work by the same artist – Lot.22. “Thatched Cottages with Lakes & Mountains Beyond” which went for €130,000.
The third highest price was paid for a fine work by Walter Osborne Lot.44. “A Grey Morning in a Breton Farmyard” (pictured below) which sold for €100,000.
The full catalogue with results is available here: 
Strong results at Whyte’s Sale of Important Irish Art
Some interesting stats provided by Whyte’s show that their sale at the RDS on the 27th May, 2013, grossed €450,000 with 73% of the lots on offer sold. Sold above estimate 24% and within estimate 51%. The growing importance of Internet bidders is shown by the fact that they accounted for 25% of bids and bought 20% of the lots sold. Bidders were from Ireland , UK , France , Netherlands , Switzerland , UAE , USA , Canada , Hong Kong and Australia .
The top price was paid for Lot.69. a pair of 19th century equestrian paintings by the artist William Brocas (c.1794-1868) which reached the lower end of their estimate and were knocked down to a London buyer for €29,000.
Lot.38. “Bringing in the Turf” by William Conor achieved the second highest price going to an American buyer for €21,000.
The third highest price was paid by another London collector for Lot.45. an early Paul Henry (pic below) for €13,000 – (pre sale estimate €8,000-10,000). Surely a very shrewd investment!
Lot.45. “Connemara Landscape c.1910/11 by Paul Henry (1876-1958) sold for €13,000
The sale catalogue with prices realised is available here:
Sheppard’s Sale for St.Fin Barre’s – Fota House – Tuesday 28th May
Just a quick reminder that Sheppard’s (Durrow) are holding a sale at Fota House, Co.Cork, tomorrow (Tues. 28th) in aid of St.Fin Barre’s Cathedral. There’s much of interest in the sale including this evocative Cunard poster – modestly estimated at €150-200 . Live online bidding also available.
Full details/catalogue links here: http://www.sheppards.ie/
A Feast of Irish Art at Whyte’s and James Adams’ forthcoming Important Irish Art Sales
Art Lovers – at least those with deep pockets – are spoilt for choice this coming week with Whyte’s sale of “Important Irish Art” at the RDS on Monday 27th May followed by James Adams sale on Wednesday 29th May also aptly titled “Important Irish Art”.
Both sales contain much to drool over and if only you hadn’t bought that second apartment in Bulgaria….Anyway, for those still with some spare cash, Whyte’s have some attractive early works by Paul Henry with relatively affordable estimates see video below. Also included are many landscape paintings by artists such as Frank Egginton, William Percy French, James Humbert Craig, Maurice Canning Wilks etc. many with very realistic estimates. Check out the sale details/catalogue links here: http://www.whytes.ie
James Adams sale at their St.Stephen’s Green salerooms on Wednesday 29th has more works by Paul Henry but this time with seriously high estimates – no Nama refugees need attend! Lot 21 a superb oil on canvas ‘The Potato Diggers’ has never been seen at auction before and carries a serious €250,000.00 – €350,000.00 estimate. Four other Paul Henry works make it into the top seven lots of the sale price-wise but none are as special.
Lot.21. ‘The Potato Diggers’ by Paul Henry. Est. €250,000-350,000
Once away from the top ten lots, prices come down from the stratosphere to more affordable levels and include some nice William Percy French watercolours – just a pity that so many of his works are so small! Better value, and covering the same ground, are several larger works of more recent origin by Frank Egginton – Lot.169., below, carries a modest €500-700 estimate. Obviously the name doesn’t have the same cachet but if you’re buying for art rather than investment they are worth a look.
Lot.169. ‘West of Ireland Bogland’ by Frank Egginton. Est. €500-700
Full details of Adams sale here: 
Strong results at Adams Irish History sale
Unsurprisingly the copy of the 1916 Proclamation was the star item in Adams recent sale of “800 Years of Irish Political, Literary & Military History” fetching an incredible €96,000. Quite a sizeable sum for a single, weather beaten sheet of paper regardless of its historical importance!
Full list of results here:
Time for a change!
I’ve grown very tired of the old blog theme, as I’m sure have many readers, so as the site approaches half a million hits I’m going for a major revamp. There will be all sorts of glitches (strange fonts, lines etc.) for the next week or so but all the information will still be kept up to date. Please bear with me while I struggle with the technology and do let me know what you think of the new look.
David Parks
Collect Ireland 