At Sheppard's four-day auction in Durrow, Co Laois, last week, 73 per cent of lots sold. More than 2,500 items went under the hammer including many last-minute lots which were not in the catalogue.
The exceptionally hot weather meant the saleroom was not as busy as might be expected but Sheppard’s said “500-plus internet bidders” made up for the shortfall.
The top three lots were in the Asian Art section on the final day: a Chinese Qing period jade ewer and cover which sold for €36,000, more than four times the highest estimate (€6,000-€8,000) to a collector in the US; a Chinese Qing period gilt bronze figure of a warlord, €18,000 (€8,000-€12,000); and a Chinese white gold and jadeite pendant, €16,000 (€4,000-€6,000).
A collector in Paris bought a 19th century French table, inset with painted portraits on porcelain, for €13,500 (€9,000-€12,000). A gold and enamel travel clock from the imperial Russian jeweller, Bolin, sold for €6,400 (€5,000-€8,000). A pair of Irish George I walnut armchairs made €6,400 (€4,000-€6,000). A superb example of British Raj Victorian taxidermy of two cobras and a mongoose, inspired by Kipling's Jungle Book, made €600 (€400-€600).
Among the sleepers were a Staunton ivory chess set in a green leather box, estimated at only €200-€300 but sold for €2,400. A set of 24 19th-century zoological prints by Werner made €4,200 (€1,000-€1,500). A sheet of George V postage stamps overprinted with the words Saorstát Éireann made €2,800 (€1,400-€1,800).
However, the top lot, a pair of Irish demi-lune console tables estimated at €30,000-€50,000, failed to sell. – MP
