MEMBERS of the legal profession may wish to keep an eagle eye on proceedings at Woodward’s auction of art and silver in Cork next Wednesday evening. Nothing untoward, of course, but, in these troubled times, m’learned friends will surely empathise with an appropriately-titled portrait of a senior counsel by Harry Kernoff.
The Concerned Barristerwears a pained and appalled expression suggesting that he's just been handed the most disconcerting brief. Kernoff is best-known for the painting A Bird Never Flew on One Wing, which was part of the décor at O'Brien's bar on Leeson Street before being sold at auction by Adam's two years ago for the astonishing sum of €180,000.
The sale also features two River Lee scenes by 19th century watercolourist John Claude Bosanquet and works by 20th century Irish artists including Robert Ballagh, Michael Gemmell, John Kingerlee, John Morris and Patrick Scott. Auctioneer Tom Woodward says the paintings come from a private collection assembled over 40 years by the late Alphonsus J O’Brien of Ballincollig and there is “something for everyone with paintings ranging from €200 to €5,000”.
The silver lots include examples of Georgian Irish including a circular salver by John Locker (Dublin, 1771). Among the 20th century pieces are an attractive Edwardian christening mug; an art deco pepper pot in the shape of a lighthouse and, perfect for afternoon tea with a merchant prince, a Cork silver three-piece service on tray by William Egan, dated 1971.
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