THE COUNTRY may be broke, the wolf may have broken down the door and devoured the Celtic Tiger and the Government threatening years of austerity ahead but, at Adam’s saleroom in Dublin on Wednesday, bidders were tempted by an auction featuring jewellery, luxury items, mink coats, designer watches and fine wines.
Possibly bought as Christmas gifts, the highlights included an art deco diamond and emerald pendant which sold for €7,200 (€7,500-€8,000); and an emerald, ruby and pearl brooch, in the form of a bird, by Cartier €3,600 (€3,600-€4,000).
A cigar-smoking man, who presumably has everything, is destined to receive a humidor, of dyed green sycamore, by Elie Bleu, Paris €900 (€800-€1,200); while any woman faced with the hassle of caring for her silk Hermès scarves while travelling will surely appreciate “a scarf travel case by Hermès, Paris” which sold for €3,900 (€1,000-€1,500).
A vintage Hermès handbag – a black crocodile Pullman from the 1930s – made €4,000 (€1,500- €2,000). A pair of 18ct white gold mounted ruby and mother-of-pearl cufflinks sold for €1,000 (€1,000-€1,500); while an art deco tie pin, decorated with amethysts and pavé diamonds, and stamped with Austro-Hungarian assay marks, made €300 (€300-€500).
A case (12 bottles) of Château Lynch Bages 1995 made €1,300 (€1,000-€1,500) but a single bottle of Château Mouton Rothschild 1948, estimated at €1,500-€2,000, failed to sell.
– MP
