Meghan and Harry – aka the Duke and Duchess of Sussex – have a pretty full programme for their visit to Dublin this week. Top of the list, needless to say, is a trip to Trinity College to see the Book of Kells – usually billed, outside this country, as “one of the Emerald Isle’s greatest treasures”.
Should they decide to skip the isle and go straight for the emeralds, however, the young royals would do well to plan a late lunch and pop in to John Weldon’s auction of jewellery and watches where some outstanding stones will be coming under the hammer.
“We have been instructed by 70 clients this month to auction their goods,” Weldon says. “We have some outstanding pieces of jewellery and some quirky interesting pieces.”
The most expensive item on offer is a diamond and emerald bracelet set with round brilliant-cut and baguette-cut diamonds. The stones have an estimated weight of 26 carats (diamonds) and 4.50 carats (emeralds). The estimate is €70,000-€90,000.
Lot 200 is an emerald and diamond ring with a Colombian emerald of 3.34 carats (€19,000-€22,000) while Lot 225 is an emerald and diamond necklace (€5,000-€7,000). Should Prince Harry prefer to commission a pair of earrings to match the engagement ring he had made for Meghan to his own design, meanwhile, he might consider Lot 197, two loose diamonds with HRD certificates stating them to be, respectively, of 3.01 carats, J colour SI1 clarity, and 3.02 carats, I colour and SI2 clarity (€35,000-€40,000).
Diamond cluster bracelet
The sale also offers a diamond cluster bracelet with a total estimated weight of 16 carats (Lot 199, €25,000-€30,000), a sapphire and diamond cluster ring containing a Sri Lankan sapphire and signed Missiaglia (Lot 198, €30,000-€35,000), a diamond pendant on a chain (Lot 208, €25,000-€30,000) and a diamond cluster ring with a total of nearly five carats (Lot 154, €18,000-€20,000).
There are plenty of stones to appeal to those in search of a sparkling bargain, including a dainty single-stone diamond ring with GIA certificate which sets the value at €3,600 (Lot 162, €700-€900), a Tiffany ring with paperwork stating the value to be £3,050 (€600-€900) and a diamond and pink sapphire cluster ring with a valuation of €1,900 (Lot 100, €400-€600).
The sale also includes, silver, glass, ceramics, coins and collectibles, including a Queen’s South Africa Medal 1899-1902 with five clasps, Cape Colony, Tugela Heights, Orange Free State, Relief of Ladysmith, Transvaal (3407 Private J Moore, 1st Connaught Rangers), with accompanying paperwork which shows him living at 13 Christchurch Place, Dublin, and a copy of the death certificate showing an address of 34 Marlborough Street, plus a copy of entitlements (Lot 288, €200-€300).
John Weldon Auctioneers, Cow’s Lane, Temple Bar, Dublin 8. Jewellery and Silver Auction, July 10th, 2pm. For online catalogue, viewing times and bidding details see jwa.ie
Bonhams, Montpelier Street, Knightsbridge, London
Modern British and Irish Art. Tuesday July 10th, 1pm. Following some exceptional recent results –the Banksy screen print Balloon Girl made £87,500 (estimate £40,000-£60,000) at Bonham's Print and Multiples sale on June 26th, while at the Post-War and Contemporary Art sale on June 27th, Figure on a Bed II by the British painter Frank Auerbach sold for £1,448,750 (estimate £800,000-£1,200,000) – this sale at Bonham's Knightbridge saleroom offers a range of more modestly priced British and Irish art. Among the Irish works to come under the hammer are Lot 178, Sean McSweeney, Irish Coast Scene (estimate €4,500-€6,800), Lot 177, John Kingerlee, Kilcatherine Gridscape (€3,400-€4,500), Lot 46, Medora Heather Bent, Turf Carriers at Evening (€1,100-€1,700) and two abstract pastels by William Scott (Lots 102 and 103, €6,800-€9,100 each) as well as works by Padraig Macmiadhachain, Jack B Yeats, John Turner and Hector McDonnell. For online catalogue and bidding details, see bonhams.com
Mullens Laurel Park, Woodbrook, Old Bray Road, Bray, Co Dublin
Classic and Contemporary Interiors, Monday July 9th, 11am. Good collection of 19th- and 20th-century furniture, clocks, glass, rugs and runners, garden statuary and decorative objects. Lot 29, Danemann boudoir grand piano, €1,000-€1,500. Lot 140, Regency rosewood library table, €1,800-€2,600. Lot 254, pair of art deco leather and chrome aviation elbow chairs, €1,800-€2,200. Lot 31, Georgian satinwood demi-lune foldover card table, €600-€800. Lot 391, Patrick O'Reilly, Between Pain and Boredom, bronze bear on Stilson wrench, €2,000-€3,000. For online catalogue, viewing times and bidding details see mullenslaurelpark.com
Forthcoming fairs
Sunday, July 8th: Antiques Fair at Newpark Hotel, Kilkenny. 11am to 6pm. More than 30 stands including furniture, jewellery, silver and collectibles. Admission €3.50, children go free.
Sunday, July 8th: North Dublin Antiques & Vintage Fair, Clontarf Castle Hotel, 11am to 6pm, admission €3.50. Antique and vintage jewellery, silver, furnishings and decor along with vintage fashions and accessories. Also rare coins, books, and film, television and music memorabilia.
Sunday, July 15th: Fota Island Resort Antiques and Fine Art Fair. Some 30 stands at the five-star resort in Co Cork, 11am to 6pm.
AUCTION RESULTS
Hegarty Antiques and Fine Art, Bandon, Co Cork
Antiques, Irish Art and Interiors Auction, July 1st. Lot 21, a pair of soft leather wing-backed armchairs, €1,250. Lot 62, white gold art deco-style emerald and diamond cluster ring, €1,600. Lot 279, three-stone diamond ring, €1,200. Lot 173, pair of pine church pew seats, €850.
Mullens Laurel Park, on-the premises sale at Springmount, Tullow, Co Carlow
On June 25th. Lot 96, John Ross Murphy, Fishing Boats off Hook Head, €2,800. Lot 89, William IV Rosewood pod table, €2,500. Lot 122, wood and brass inlaid games compendium by Leuchars of London, €2,200. Lot 35, set of 10 Chippendale dining chairs, €1,600. Lot 379, cast-iron two-tier fountain, €1,700.
