Star’s portrait part of a €3.8 million sell-off of Ryanair inheritance at Christie’s

CHRISTIE’S SALE in London on Thursday of art and antiques from the collection of the late Ryanair founder, Dr Tony Ryan realised £3.4 million (€3.8 million) soaring above the estimate which was “in excess of £2 million”.

Of the 447 lots that went under the hammer, 83 per cent sold. Although many of the lots were of British, French, German and Italian provenance, three of the top five prices paid were for works by Irish painters: Hugo Douglas Hamilton, Sir William Orpen and Thomas Roberts.

Christine Ryall, director of Christie’s in Ireland who was in London for the sale, said afterwards that “in spite of the current economic situation in Ireland, the depth of demand for Irish works by both international and Irish buyers remains strong”.

She was particularly pleased with the result for the Hugh Douglas Hamilton, which attracted fierce competition. A painting by Orpen made more than three times its highest estimate (see panel).

Among the furniture highlights, a pair of Georgian mahogany armchairs, believed to have originally been made for Russborough House, Co Wicklow, sold for £39,750 (€45,300), while a pair of Irish George III blue and white glass oval mirrors dating from about 1790 made £21,250 (€24,217).

Alongside the collection of lavish antique furniture, paintings, tapestries, sculpture and porcelain, a number of modern Irish pieces sold, including two bronze sculptures by John Behan : ‘Flock of Birds’ made £17,500 (€19,943) and ‘Skeletal Fish’, £6,000 (€6,837). A bronze, ‘Gaelic Footballers’ by Oisín Kelly, made £2,750 (€3,134).

The sale produced some surprises. A portrait, which at first glance seemed to show an elegant 19th century aristocratic lady in evening dress, was, in fact, of Elizabeth Taylor as Nadina Bulichoff in the 1988 Franco Zeffirelli film, Il giovane Toscanini, (Young Toscanini)which sold for £2,625 (€2,992).

TOP 5 AT CHRISTIE’S

Lyons Demesne: Works of art from the collection of the late Dr Tony Ryan

1'Portrait of Arthur Hill, 2nd Marquess of Downshire' by Hugh Douglas Hamilton £337,250 (€382,441) – estimate £200,000-£300,000

2A George III demi-lune jardinière cabinet £103,250 (€117,085) – estimate £30,000-£50,000.

3'Portrait of Captain Marshall Roberts, Master of the South Notts Foxhounds' by Sir William Orpen £97,250 (€110,281) – estimate £15,000-£25,000

4'A wooded landscape with a waterfall possibly at Powerscourt' by Thomas Roberts, £73,250 (€83,065) – estimate £40,000-£60,000.

5An Italian life-size marble and patinated bronze bust of Selika by Pietro Calvi, £67,250 (€76,261) – estimate £20,000-£30,000.