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In the auction world, the fall of the hammer often marks the beginning of a new chapter in a work’s life. In some cases, that chapter leads not to a private collection, but to a public one where the work is 'saved for the Nation' becoming part of Ireland’s shared cultural inheritance. Over the years, a number of exceptional pieces sold at Adam’s have been acquired by Irish national institutions, reflecting both their artistic importance and Adam’s longstanding role in bringing significant works to light and assisting National bodies in acquiring them.
Just last year two stunning pen, ink and watercolour works by celebrated Irish artist Harry Clarke, titled 'The Lady of the Decoration (1914)' and 'Faust (1924/25)' sold in the Important Irish Art auction, were acquired by the National Gallery of Ireland.
The Lady of the Decoration, is a masterful example of Clarke’s early illustrative work. Faust, produced a decade later, reflects a darker, more complex vision, inspired by Goethe’s timeless tale. They now hang in the Gallery forming part of the national collection and offering the public an opportunity to see Clarke’s brilliance on paper.
As the longest established auction house in Ireland, assisting with and facilitating acquisitions for National Institutions is an important part of our role as contributors to culture in Ireland, so when approached by a National Institution about an artwork we are happy to assist our clients with negotiations prior to the auction. In December 2025, a wonderful rediscovered masterpiece by Gabriele Ricciardelli was sold prior to auction to an Irish National Institution.
This panoramic view had previously been mis-attributed as being by the hand of William Ashford until it was examined by Stuart Cole, Adam's Managing Director, who recognised it as a work by Ricciardelli.
Italian-born painter Gabriele Ricciardelli spent much of his career in Ireland, producing atmospheric landscape views that document the country’s Georgian past. A View of Dublin Bay from Mount Merrion offers a rare and evocative glimpse of the capital in the 18th century.
The painting, having been acquired by an Irish national institution, serves both as a wonderful work of art and as an invaluable historical record of Dublin’s evolving landscape.
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You may have read more recently about the acquisition of the above portrait by Kathleen Fox by the National Gallery of Ireland. This painting was sold at Adam's in December 2024 and now hangs in Room 16 of the National Gallery.
Coincidently, the National Gallery recently announced the winner of the Sarah Cecilia Harrison Essay Prize 2025, Deirdre Kelly, who wrote an essay titled: ‘Kathleen Fox: Chronicler of Irish History’. You can read the announcement and the winning essay on the National Gallery of Ireland's website.
The Decorative Arts can be as culturally significant as painting or sculpture, the Blessington Commode is perhaps one of the most important examples of Irish craftsmanship to come on the market in decades. So much so, that this exceptional piece of furniture, notable for both its design and provenance, was purchased prior to auction at Adam’s by the National Musuem of Ireland in 2023.
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Its acquisition ensures the preservation of a rare and important object that speaks to Ireland’s decorative arts tradition and the skill of Irish makers working at the highest level.
These works highlight the breadth of material that has passed through Adam’s salerooms and have gone on to enrich Ireland’s national collections. Each acquisition reinforces the idea that auctions are not merely commercial events, but vital moments in the stewardship of cultural heritage.
At Adam’s, we are proud to have played a role in ensuring that these remarkable objects are preserved, studied and enjoyed by generations to come.
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John ffrench was an instrumental figure in the design industry in Ireland and a distinguished pioneer of Irish studio pottery.
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"I should declare my hand. I have a weakness for pictures that punch above their physical weight, and for artists who have been quietly underrated for too long. This pair is both. They are intimate enough to live with at close quarters and serious enough to repay any amount of looking. If the market has lately shown signs of catching up with eighteenth-century Irish painting and I think it has, these two small panels feel, to me, like exactly the sort of thing that will look obvious in twenty years’ time."
Adam’s is honoured to present works from the collection of Lord Rossmore in the upcoming Country House Collections auction at Howth Castle on 28th April. It is seldom that an influential Irish family collection that has survived through the generations comes to the open market.
A great opportunity to purchase both established and lesser-known artist’s work at an accessible price point, the Online Picture Auction is the first of many sales to be hosted at Adam’s in 2026. It is perfect for those looking to start a collection and the discerning collector alike.
Through this article, let our expert Adam Pearson guiding you to the (re)discovery of the once established Irish painter Richard O’Neill.
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
James Adam & Sons Ltd, Fine Art Auctioneers and Valuers, 26 St. Stephen’s Green, Dublin 2,
D02 X665, Ireland
