Ended

The Irish Sale

Vision & Voice

17 – 28 November 2023

VIEWING AT CITY ASSEMBLY HOUSE - DUBLIN

Friday 24 November – 10am–4pm
Saturday 25 November – 11am–3pm
Sunday 26 November – 11am–3pm
Monday 27 November – 10am–5pm
Tuesday 28 November – 10am–1pm

COLLECTION & STORAGE

All lots will be available to collect for 1 day only from City Assembly House on Wednesday 29th November 10am – 5pm.
Following that, all lots will be available to collect from 31 Molesworth Street, Dublin on Friday 1st December 9.30am – 5pm and the following week Monday 4th – Friday 8th 9.30am – 5pm inclusive. Lots not collected after this time may be removed to a third party storage facility and transport and storage charges may apply.

Please click here for Post-Auction information on Collections, Shipping & Storage

Bonhams is proud to announce its first sale on the island of Ireland with The Irish Sale: Vision & Voice. This special auction will be on view at City Assembly House, Dublin from the 24 – 28 November with the sale online and live for bidding from 17-28 November.

Bonhams will be celebrating those whose vision and voice shaped the cultural and artistic identity of Ireland through Irish art, culture, design, literature, history, and pop culture. This multi-category sale offers a rich and diverse selection of works from private collections as well as the remarkable Irish News Collection, property from the collection of Mary Hobart and property from the collection of Theo Waddington.

Comprising over 30 works, The Irish News Collection will lead the sale. Formed over 40 years by the late Jim Fitzpatrick, former owner of The Irish News, Ireland's largest selling morning newspaper, the collection features Irish art from the 19th century to the modern day. Among the highlights is a portrait by Sir William Orpen of his daughter Christine, universally known as Kit. Portrait of Kit, estimated at €80,000 – 120,000, was painted in 1912, when she was just six years old. Other artists represented in this impressive collection include Basil Blackshaw, Gerard Dillon, Margaret Clarke, Harry Kernoff, William Conor, Frank McKelvey, and John Behan.

This sale will also showcase artworks from the collection of Mary Hobart including artists such as Michael Farrell, William Leech, John Butler Yeats and William Orpen. Nine drawings by Jack B. Yeats will be offered as part of the collection of Theo Waddington.

Paul Henry is represented in this sale with one of the best examples to come to market in some time, a quintessential west of Ireland landscape, Killary Bay, Connemara, estimated at €120,000-€180,000. Another sale highlight is the annotated typescripts from James Joyce's novel, Finnegans Wake. Written over a period of 17 years and first published in 1939, it was Joyce's final work. The typescripts have an estimate of €40,000-60,000.

Other sale highlights include Coastal Narrative by contemporary painter Donald Teskey (Irish, born in 1956), which has an estimate of €30,000-50,000. A rare bust of Micheal Collins (1890-1922) by sculptor, Francis William Doyle Jones (British,1873-1938) with an estimate of €5,000-10,000 will also be offered. Handwritten lyrics of Your Song saved my Life by Bono estimated at €10,000-€15,000 are one of the highlights of the rock/pop culture category and amongst the Irish historical artefacts on offer is an early mediaeval baptismal font associated with the Round Tower of Antrim, Steeple Desmaine, County Antrim.

•	Exempt from tax
	Zero rated for tax, no tax will be added to the Hammer Price or the Buyer's Premium.
*	Import low rate
	VAT on imported items at a reduced rate of 13.5% on the hammer price and the prevailing rate on buyer's premium if the item remains in EU.

The Irish Sale

Auction highlights

Lot gallery

1 — George Campbell RHA(Irish, 1917-1979)Still life with crayfish 51 x 76.2 cm. (20 x 30 in.)

2* — Cecil King(Irish, 1921-1986)On the Quays 38 x 45 cm. (14 7/8 x 17 5/8 in.)

3* — Colin Middleton R.H.A.(Irish, 1910-1983)Landscape with bridge and chimney 51 x 61 cm. (20 x 24 in.)

4 — Mainie Jellett(Irish, 1897-1944)Abstract Composition 63.5 x 48 cm. (25 x 19 in.)

5 — Patrick Scott H.R.H.A.(Irish, 1921-2014)Gold Painting No.9 117.5 x 127 cm. (46 1/4 x 50 in.)

6 — Cecil King(Irish, 1921-1986)Vent 30.5 x 17.5 cm. (12 x 7 in.)

7 — Gerard Dillon(Irish, 1916-1971)Flower Sellers 22.6 x 20.1 cm. (8 7/8 x 7 7/8 in.)

8 — Colin Middleton R.H.A.(Irish, 1910-1983)Abstracted figure 30.5 x 15 cm. (12 x 6 in.)

9 — Colin Middleton R.H.A.(Irish, 1910-1983)Still Life 51 x 61 cm. (20 x 24 in.)

10 — John Luke(Irish, 1906-1975)St. Patrick 30 cm. (11 3/4 in.) high

11 — F.E. McWilliam R.A., H.R.U.A.(Irish, 1909-1992)Good Pleases 35.5 cm. (14 in.) high

12 — William Conor R.H.A., R.U.A.(Irish, 1881-1968)Figures on a Street 27 x 20 cm. (10 5/8 x 7 7/8 in.)

13 — William Conor R.H.A., R.U.A.(Irish, 1881-1968)Fares Please? 37.8 x 49 cm. (14 7/8 x 19 1/4 in.)

14 — Terence P Flanagan R.H.A., P.P.R.U.A.(Irish, 1929-2011)Bullwire, Bogwater 67.5 x 67.5 cm. (26 1/2 x 26 1/2 in.)

15 — Terence P Flanagan R.H.A., P.P.R.U.A.(Irish, 1929-2011)Cloonagh Bawn 63.3 x 76 cm. (24 7/8 x 29 7/8 in.)

16 — Terence P Flanagan R.H.A., P.P.R.U.A.(Irish, 1929-2011)River through a landscape 41 x 73 cm. (16 1/8 x 28 3/4 in.)

17 — Terence P Flanagan R.H.A., P.P.R.U.A.(Irish, 1929-2011)Road to the Sea 41 x 40.5 cm. (16 1/8 x 16 in.)

18 — Basil Blackshaw H.R.U.A., H.R.H.A.(Irish, 1932-2016)Horse and jockey 18 x 15.5 cm. (7 1/8 x 6 1/8 in.) irregular

19 — Basil Blackshaw H.R.U.A., H.R.H.A.(Irish, 1932-2016)Greyhound

20 — Basil Blackshaw H.R.U.A., H.R.H.A.(Irish, 1932-2016)Landscape with trees 51.5 x 41 cm. (20 1/4 x 16 in.)

21* — F.E. McWilliam R.A., H.R.U.A.(Irish, 1909-1992)Woman of Belfast 23 cm. (9 in.) long

22* — F.E. McWilliam R.A., H.R.U.A.(Irish, 1909-1992)Girl Resting on Her Elbows II 35 cm. (13 3/4 in.) wide

23* — F.E. McWilliam R.A., H.R.U.A.(Irish, 1909-1992)Abstract figure 33.6 cm. (13 1/4 in.) wide (excluding the marble base)

24* — Basil Blackshaw H.R.U.A., H.R.H.A.(Irish, 1932-2016)The First Tractor in Randalstown 36.5 x 56.7 cm. (14 3/8 x 22 1/4 in.)

25* — Basil Blackshaw H.R.U.A., H.R.H.A.(Irish, 1932-2016)Game Cock 40.5 x 51 cm. (16 x 19 7/8 in.)

26* — John Shinnors(Irish, born 1950)Black & White Scarecrow, Green Field 41 x 49.2 cm. (16 1/8 x 19 3/8 in.)

27 — Barrie Cooke H.R.H.A.(Irish, 1931-2014)Two Boys (1916 Series No.3) 23.5 x 23.5 cm. (9 1/4 x 9 1/4 in.)

28* — Barrie Cooke H.R.H.A.(Irish, 1931-2014)Pompano in the Surf, Long Bay 38.2 x 43.2 cm. (15 x 17 in.)

29 — Barrie Cooke H.R.H.A.(Irish, 1931-2014)Portrait of Seamus Heaney 76.5 x 76.5 cm. (30 x 30 in.)

30* — Sir John Lavery R.A., R.S.A., R.H.A.(Irish, 1856-1941)A Moonlight Night, Tangier 36 x 64 cm. (14 1/8 x 25 1/8 in.)

31* — Sir John Lavery R.A., R.S.A., R.H.A.(Irish, 1856-1941)The Grand Canal, Venice 14 x 23 cm. (5 1/2 x 9 in.)

32* — Paul Henry R.H.A.(Irish, 1876-1958)Killary Bay, Connemara 35.7 x 40.6 cm. (14 x 16 in.)

33 — James Humbert Craig(Irish, 1878-1944)Red Bay, Co. Antrim 61 x 76.2 cm. (24 x 30 in.)

34 — James Humbert Craig(Irish, 1877-1944)Driving the first pile at the Belfast Corporation Electricity Supply Station, Musgrave Channel Road, Thursday 11 September 1919 (White Star Liner 'Olympic' in the background) 46 x 56 cm. (18 1/8 x 22 in.)

35* — James Le Jeune(Irish, 1910-1983)Portrait of a Man

36* — William Conor R.H.A., R.U.A.(Irish, 1881-1968)At the Markets 37 x 27.3 cm. (14 1/2 x 10 3/4 in.)

37* — Roderic O'Conor(Irish, 1860-1940)Seated Nude with Red Hair (La Toilette) 82 x 65 cm. (32 1/4 x 25 1/2 in.)

38 — Walter Frederick Osborne RHA, ROI(Irish, 1859-1903)Portrait of a Boy 38 x 30.5 cm. (14 7/8 x 12 in.)

39 — Erskine Nicol RSA ARA(British, 1825-1904)Thunder and Turf - It Never Rains But It Pours 25.5 x 20.3 cm. (10 x 8 in.)

40* — Edward William Cooke, RA(British, 1811-1880)A view of Valentia Island, looking across from Knightstown to the lighthouse on the island

41 — Francis William Doyle-Jones(British, 1873-1938)Bust of Michael Collins 48.2 cm. (19 in.) high

42 — John Doyle(Irish, 1797-1868)A portrait of Daniel O'Connell, half-length, leaning through a window and holding a pistol 59.5 x 46.5 cm. (23 1/2 x 18 1/4 in.)

43 — Lily Yeats(Irish, 1866-1949)Fisa Playing His Harp, after a design by Boris Anrep 96 x 74 cm. (38 x 28 in.)

44* — William H Bartlett(British, 1858-1932)A quiet backwater 28.5 x 24 cm. (11 1/4 x 9 3/8 in.)

45* — Percy French(Irish, 1854-1920)Bog landscape with clouds 17.6 x 25.8 cm. (6 7/8 x 10 1/8 in.)

46* — William John Leech R.H.A.(Irish, 1881-1968)Portrait of Guy Botterell 72.8 x 57.3 cm. (28 5/8 x 22 1/2 in.)

47* — William John Leech R.H.A.(Irish, 1881-1968)Portrait of Percy Botterell 76.4 x 63.7 cm. (30 x 25 in.)

48* — John Butler Yeats(Irish, 1839-1922)Portrait of Jenny Yeats 51 x 40.6 cm. (20 x 16 in.)

Specialist contacts

Kieran O'Boyle

Kevin Gaines

Penny Day

Katie Kennedy

Additional information

Auction information

Lot Symbols

Related Departments

Conditions of Sale

1 —
George Campbell RHA
(Irish, 1917-1979)
Still life with crayfish 51 x 76.2 cm. (20 x 30 in.)

2^* —
Cecil King
(Irish, 1921-1986)
On the Quays 38 x 45 cm. (14 7/8 x 17 5/8 in.)

3^* —
Colin Middleton R.H.A.
(Irish, 1910-1983)
Landscape with bridge and chimney 51 x 61 cm. (20 x 24 in.)

4 —
Mainie Jellett
(Irish, 1897-1944)
Abstract Composition 63.5 x 48 cm. (25 x 19 in.)

5 —
Patrick Scott H.R.H.A.
(Irish, 1921-2014)
Gold Painting No.9 117.5 x 127 cm. (46 1/4 x 50 in.)

6 —
Cecil King
(Irish, 1921-1986)
Vent 30.5 x 17.5 cm. (12 x 7 in.)

7 —
Gerard Dillon
(Irish, 1916-1971)
Flower Sellers 22.6 x 20.1 cm. (8 7/8 x 7 7/8 in.)

8 —
Colin Middleton R.H.A.
(Irish, 1910-1983)
Abstracted figure 30.5 x 15 cm. (12 x 6 in.)

9 —
Colin Middleton R.H.A.
(Irish, 1910-1983)
Still Life 51 x 61 cm. (20 x 24 in.)

10 —
John Luke
(Irish, 1906-1975)
St. Patrick 30 cm. (11 3/4 in.) high

11 —
F.E. McWilliam R.A., H.R.U.A.
(Irish, 1909-1992)
Good Pleases 35.5 cm. (14 in.) high

12 —
William Conor R.H.A., R.U.A.
(Irish, 1881-1968)
Figures on a Street 27 x 20 cm. (10 5/8 x 7 7/8 in.)

13 —
William Conor R.H.A., R.U.A.
(Irish, 1881-1968)
Fares Please? 37.8 x 49 cm. (14 7/8 x 19 1/4 in.)

14 —
Terence P Flanagan R.H.A., P.P.R.U.A.
(Irish, 1929-2011)
Bullwire, Bogwater 67.5 x 67.5 cm. (26 1/2 x 26 1/2 in.)

15 —
Terence P Flanagan R.H.A., P.P.R.U.A.
(Irish, 1929-2011)
Cloonagh Bawn 63.3 x 76 cm. (24 7/8 x 29 7/8 in.)

16 —
Terence P Flanagan R.H.A., P.P.R.U.A.
(Irish, 1929-2011)
River through a landscape 41 x 73 cm. (16 1/8 x 28 3/4 in.)

17 —
Terence P Flanagan R.H.A., P.P.R.U.A.
(Irish, 1929-2011)
Road to the Sea 41 x 40.5 cm. (16 1/8 x 16 in.)

18 —
Basil Blackshaw H.R.U.A., H.R.H.A.
(Irish, 1932-2016)
Horse and jockey 18 x 15.5 cm. (7 1/8 x 6 1/8 in.) irregular

19 —
Basil Blackshaw H.R.U.A., H.R.H.A.
(Irish, 1932-2016)
Greyhound

20 —
Basil Blackshaw H.R.U.A., H.R.H.A.
(Irish, 1932-2016)
Landscape with trees 51.5 x 41 cm. (20 1/4 x 16 in.)

21^* —
F.E. McWilliam R.A., H.R.U.A.
(Irish, 1909-1992)
Woman of Belfast 23 cm. (9 in.) long

22^* —
F.E. McWilliam R.A., H.R.U.A.
(Irish, 1909-1992)
Girl Resting on Her Elbows II 35 cm. (13 3/4 in.) wide

23^* —
F.E. McWilliam R.A., H.R.U.A.
(Irish, 1909-1992)
Abstract figure 33.6 cm. (13 1/4 in.) wide (excluding the marble base)

24^* —
Basil Blackshaw H.R.U.A., H.R.H.A.
(Irish, 1932-2016)
The First Tractor in Randalstown 36.5 x 56.7 cm. (14 3/8 x 22 1/4 in.)

25^* —
Basil Blackshaw H.R.U.A., H.R.H.A.
(Irish, 1932-2016)
Game Cock 40.5 x 51 cm. (16 x 19 7/8 in.)

26^* —
John Shinnors
(Irish, born 1950)
Black & White Scarecrow, Green Field 41 x 49.2 cm. (16 1/8 x 19 3/8 in.)

27 —
Barrie Cooke H.R.H.A.
(Irish, 1931-2014)
Two Boys (1916 Series No.3) 23.5 x 23.5 cm. (9 1/4 x 9 1/4 in.)

28^* —
Barrie Cooke H.R.H.A.
(Irish, 1931-2014)
Pompano in the Surf, Long Bay 38.2 x 43.2 cm. (15 x 17 in.)

29 —
Barrie Cooke H.R.H.A.
(Irish, 1931-2014)
Portrait of Seamus Heaney 76.5 x 76.5 cm. (30 x 30 in.)

30^* —
Sir John Lavery R.A., R.S.A., R.H.A.
(Irish, 1856-1941)
A Moonlight Night, Tangier 36 x 64 cm. (14 1/8 x 25 1/8 in.)

31^* —
Sir John Lavery R.A., R.S.A., R.H.A.
(Irish, 1856-1941)
The Grand Canal, Venice 14 x 23 cm. (5 1/2 x 9 in.)

32^* —
Paul Henry R.H.A.
(Irish, 1876-1958)
Killary Bay, Connemara 35.7 x 40.6 cm. (14 x 16 in.)

33 —
James Humbert Craig
(Irish, 1878-1944)
Red Bay, Co. Antrim 61 x 76.2 cm. (24 x 30 in.)

34 —
James Humbert Craig
(Irish, 1877-1944)
Driving the first pile at the Belfast Corporation Electricity Supply Station, Musgrave Channel Road, Thursday 11 September 1919 (White Star Liner 'Olympic' in the background) 46 x 56 cm. (18 1/8 x 22 in.)

35^* —
James Le Jeune
(Irish, 1910-1983)
Portrait of a Man

36^* —
William Conor R.H.A., R.U.A.
(Irish, 1881-1968)
At the Markets 37 x 27.3 cm. (14 1/2 x 10 3/4 in.)

37^* —
Roderic O'Conor
(Irish, 1860-1940)
Seated Nude with Red Hair (La Toilette) 82 x 65 cm. (32 1/4 x 25 1/2 in.)

38 —
Walter Frederick Osborne RHA, ROI
(Irish, 1859-1903)
Portrait of a Boy 38 x 30.5 cm. (14 7/8 x 12 in.)

39 —
Erskine Nicol RSA ARA
(British, 1825-1904)
Thunder and Turf - It Never Rains But It Pours 25.5 x 20.3 cm. (10 x 8 in.)

40^* —
Edward William Cooke, RA
(British, 1811-1880)
A view of Valentia Island, looking across from Knightstown to the lighthouse on the island

41 —
Francis William Doyle-Jones
(British, 1873-1938)
Bust of Michael Collins 48.2 cm. (19 in.) high

42 —
John Doyle
(Irish, 1797-1868)
A portrait of Daniel O'Connell, half-length, leaning through a window and holding a pistol 59.5 x 46.5 cm. (23 1/2 x 18 1/4 in.)

43 —
Lily Yeats
(Irish, 1866-1949)
Fisa Playing His Harp, after a design by Boris Anrep 96 x 74 cm. (38 x 28 in.)

44^* —
William H Bartlett
(British, 1858-1932)
A quiet backwater 28.5 x 24 cm. (11 1/4 x 9 3/8 in.)

45^* —
Percy French
(Irish, 1854-1920)
Bog landscape with clouds 17.6 x 25.8 cm. (6 7/8 x 10 1/8 in.)

46^* —
William John Leech R.H.A.
(Irish, 1881-1968)
Portrait of Guy Botterell 72.8 x 57.3 cm. (28 5/8 x 22 1/2 in.)

47^* —
William John Leech R.H.A.
(Irish, 1881-1968)
Portrait of Percy Botterell 76.4 x 63.7 cm. (30 x 25 in.)

48^* —
John Butler Yeats
(Irish, 1839-1922)
Portrait of Jenny Yeats 51 x 40.6 cm. (20 x 16 in.)