High-society Ulster treasures

Adam's is giving away little about the provenance of "A Distinguished Ulster Collection' going under the hammer in Dublin on Wednesday (April 6th). Nick Nicholson, spokesman for the sale, would say, only, that the collection was created mainly during the 1960s and 1970s by a "continental lady" who had settled in Northern Ireland. She is now deceased and her collection of art and antiques is being sold by her family. He expects the sale to realise up to €500,000.

There are more than 400 lots and viewing begins at 1pm tomorrow (Sunday, April 3rd) in the saleroom at 26, St Stephen’s Green. ‘Ulster’ sounds drearily provincial but, in fact, the lots are truly international – ranging from French porcelain to Russian bronzes – and include paintings, furniture, silver and glass.

Many of the items were bought by the lady at big house auctions in Northern Ireland in the 1960s including Lot 170 (which she acquired in the 1964 auction of the contents of Professor Mayr's Colingrove House, Belfast), an oil painting, on a marble panel, depicting 'The Israelites Attacking the Amalekites' – a subject taken from the 'Book of Exodus' – and attributed to Italian artist Antonio Tempesta (1555-1630) estimated at €15,000- €20,000.

Lot 190 is an 11-inch high bronze of a stallion by 19th century French sculptor Pierre Jules Mene [note to ed, the first e in Mene has a chapeau] acquired in 1961 at the auction of the contents of Lord Glentoran’s Ballyalloly House, and now estimated at €3,000- €5,000.

Painting highlights

Among the other highlights are Irish and European paintings including: Lot 163, a Spanish 18th century oil-on-canvas by an unknown artist of A Still Life of Vegetables including Cabbage, Artichoke, Lemons, Carrots, Gherkins and a String of Garlic, with a Brass Basket on a Stone Ledge” estimated at €15,000-€20,000

Lot 116, is an oil-on-panel entitled ‘A Wooded Landscape with Figures with figures on a Path, a Lake Behind’ by James Arthur O’Connor – bought from the Richard Green Gallery in London and estimated at €15,000-€20,000.

Lot 166 “Portrait of a boy, seated three quarter length in a park, a dog beside him” signed and dated 1797 by John Russell is €10,000-€15,000.

Early 19th century watercolours of Dublin by John Henry Campbell include Lot 118, "A View of the Shipyard at Ringsend' dated 1814 and estimated at €3,000-€5,000; and, Lot 122, "Harbour of Howth, and arrival of His Majesty George IV: 12th August 1821" (€1,000-€1,500). According to Adam's the monarch's "distribution of beer and apparent support of Catholic Emancipation ensured a rapturous reception in decaying post-union Dublin. His footprints, cut into the old stone quay of Howth are still there".

Adam's expects overseas interest in Lot 88, a bronze group "Returning from Market, a Cossack woman and child riding a horse with a foal" – signed in Cyrillic by 19th century Russian sculptor Evgeni Alexandrovich Lanceray (€4,000-€6,000).

Among the furniture lots, the top items are 283, a set of 17 Irish Regency framed mahogany chairs and lot 295, an 18th century Milanese neo-classical inlaid walnut and marquetry commode, reputedly from Westport House – both estimated at €15,000-€20,000.

Lots 377-382 inclusive are examples of 18th-century Liège 'A Troforato' glass (Belgian 'spun' glass) with estimates ranging from 100-700. For collectors of porcelain, items of interest include various pieces of Sèvres including Lot 142A – Cabinet cup (painted with a goose on the edge of a lake) and saucer depicting an eagle grappling with a snake) estimated at €300-€500.

Viewing at Adam's, 26 St Stephen's Green, Dublin 2, from 1pm on Sunday, April 3rd, until the auction on Wednesday, April 6th, at 11.30am. See adams.ie