A SIGNIFICANT number of paintings sold at Adam’s first big art auction of 2011 were bought by Irish residents overseas. At the auction in Dublin on Thursday night there was strong bidding online and via telephone from Irish bidders living in Britain and the United States.
Adam’s managing director James O’Halloran said the sale achieved strong prices relative to estimates. Overall, 73 per cent of lots sold with the top price, €60,000 achieved by a Louis le Brocquy tapestry.
Other highlights of the sale included Sean Aloneby Patrick Hennessy which made €7,000 (€4,000-€6,000) and The Bandstandby John Doherty which made €4,200 (€2,000-€4,000).
Meanwhile in Cork, Woodward's Auctioneers sold an 1849 painting of The Visit of Queen Victoria to Cork Harbourby George Mounsey Atkinson for €20,000 (€20,000-€30,000). Auctioneer Tom Woodward said the painting was bought by an unnamed local bidder and would be staying in Cork.
He added that while the firm could not reveal the identity of the buyer, it is believed that the painting will be on show at one of the locations to be visited by Queen Elizabeth during her visit to Cork next month.
Top 5 sales at Adam’s
1 Travellers(tapestry, No 1 from an edition of nine) by Louis le Brocquy €60,000 (€40,000-€60,000)
2 A sunny morning in the fields, Pont-Avenby Walter Osborne €22,000 (€10,000-€15,000)
3 An old fountain, Madrid (watercolour) by Walter Osborne €17,000 (€10,000-€15,000)
4 Going Home, Connemaraby Leitita Marion Hamilton €13,000 (€7,000-€10,000)
5 At Low Tide, Connemaraby Maurice MacGonigal €12,000 (€6,000-€8,000)
