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With a consolidated result of €320,000,the At Home sale in Stephan’s Green, was a great success.
The top lot comprised of a gem-set and diamond ‘tutti frutti’ bracelet that sold under the hammer for €10,500. Composed of sapphires and rubies resembling berries and blossoms along with carved emerald leaves, the bracelet is based on the ‘tutti frutti’ style first seen in early Cartier designs. The style sought to be emblematic of Indian tradition, with its vibrantly coloured stones and almost tropical design. Although many stones were sourced in India, pieces made for Indian royalty omitted sapphires as they were often considered bad luck, and so brought an abundance to the continent.
The popularity of the style rose in the1920’s and 30’s when society’s elites such as Lady Mountbatten and Daisy Fellowes, the heiress to the Singer sewing machine fortune began to don the designs. During that period Vogue included a two-page spread on the jewellery, describing the style as ‘Eastern Splendour’ with ‘barbaric’ gemstones, due to the fact they were not cut in the smooth manner that the ‘civilised’ individuals of European and American high society had become so used to.
It wasn’t until the 1970’s when the jewellery was coined with its unique ‘tutti frutti’ title, which despite being a name intended to describe the celebration of the texture, colour and design that it encapsulates, was actually meant to describe the specific combination of the three precious stones.
Indeed the bracelet was not the only thing to catch the eyes of our buyers. A sculptural sapphire and diamond engagement ring soared past its estimate selling for €6,500, while a sapphire and diamond line bracelet went for €5,000.
Similar success was experienced with furniture and fine art lots, with a pair of Louis Seize Style Ormolu side tables making €3,800 and a Ziegler Carpet, €3,600. A painting by Georgette Tave titled, “Les Mimosas aux Palmiers” also went for €2,400, proving yet another fruit-bearing auction at Adam’s.
Buying at Auction and the Role of Antiques in a Modern Home
Important Irish Art Auction Highlights
Oliver Dowling Collection by Aidan Dunne
2024 is a year in which Adam’s wants to recognise the key role buying antique furniture and furnishings at auction contributes greatly to the sustainable initiative. In 2019 the Environmental Protection Agency reported stark figures that each year in Ireland 1.2 million reusable bulky items, primarily furniture goes into landfill. Similar to the problem of ‘fast fashion’, the constant production and consumption of new items is leading to rapidly growing waste problem. We want to acknowledge those who are already buying second hand or antique furniture at auction and to encourage new buyers by highlighting the benefits of acquiring affordable, well-made quality items that are built to last.
Irish author, recipe creator and lifestyle influencer, Indy Parsons, selects her favourite pieces from our upcoming Fine Jewellery & Watches auction
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Cork-born Irish actress, Sarah Greene, selects her favourite pieces from our upcoming Fine Jewellery & Watches auction
Yvonne Aupicq had met Orpen, we understand, while working as a nurse during the war. He had been admitted to hospital with a suspected case of scabies which ended up being a far more serious case of blood poisoning as he recounts in his wartime memoir ‘An Onlooker in France’. Their relationship continued after 1918 when Orpen was appointed as the official artist to The Paris Peace Conference. They relocated to capital and over the following decade he painted her numerous times, often nude as in Amiens 1914, or The Rape and Nude Girl Reading (1921). Working with her as his model during these early years after the war allowed Orpen an opportunity to re-fuel his creativity.
Editor-in-Chief of IMAGE Publications, Lizzie Gore-Grimes, selects her favourite pieces from our upcoming Fine Jewellery & Watches auction
Our upcoming Fine Jewellery & Watches auction on September 13th features a prime example of Van Cleef & Arpel's renowned 'Mystery Setting'
Our June auction offers a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to acquire one of the great masterpieces of Irish art and icons of Dublin’s history.
Georgia Chiesa selects some of her favourite lots in the upcoming Vintage Wine & Spirits Auction
"Beating the bounds is a tradition that can be traced back to the medieval period. At this time, land was divided into parishes and the clergy and church wardens held the responsibility for its upkeep and management. It was up to the Church to ensure that its parishioners knew the local boundary lines and, before maps became commonplace, this had to be kept as a mental record."
Adam’s in conjunction with Suzanne MacDougald are proud to host an online timed auction of artworks to aid the Irish Red Cross’s humanitarian work in delivering vital services to millions of people impacted by the conflict in Ukraine. With no buyers premium 100% of the hammer price will go directly to the Irish Red Cross.
Ros Drinkwater writes of Jack B Yeats' 'The Boat' in the Business Post:
James Adam & Sons Ltd, Fine Art Auctioneers and Valuers, 26 St. Stephen’s Green, Dublin 2,
D02 X665, Ireland
