Antique pieces in modern settings at James Adam
Upholstered An James Art Howard Style Sofa And At Maritime Adam Some
In their appealing catalogue for an At Home sale in Dublin next Wednesday (August 28) Adams has very consciously set out to stage antique pieces in fresh contemporary settings. The aim is to highlight the versatility of antique furniture and show how easy it is to adapt to a 21st-century setting, not to mention sustainability in a country where the EPA reckons over 1.2 million reusable bulky items, primarily furniture, go into landfill each year.
So how about it? Take a long look at this photograph of an upholstered Howard-style sofa (lot 22, estimated €400-€600) in a New England style painted panelled setting under a maritime oil on canvas of the clipper Manalope painted in 1889 by the Russian American artist Herman R Dietz (1860-1923) (lot 21, estimate €2,000-€3,000). Howard & Sons created this iconic chair design in 1866. It is not old and stuffy - timeless and classical is a description that would fit the bill, which in any case will not be large.
The online-only sale, which is on view in Dublin from today, presents 394 lots of interesting and affordable furnishings for the home. The idea that you do not need an old house to own antiques should not be a novel one, but at a time of crisis in the antique furniture trade not nearly enough auctioneers in Ireland market furniture in a way that shows this.
Antique furniture is beautiful and serviceable yet an entire generation of younger buyers appear to be uninterested. In an era when many fine old pieces are practically given away at auction new ways of selling day-to-day antiques must be found to get this cohort back to the saleroom. A presentation which demonstrates that antique pieces can stylishly embellish a contemporary setting might be the answer. Maybe a sale presented and marketed like this one points to a better way forward.
You could build an atmospheric and comfortable room around a Chesterfield sofa like the one in this sale (€ 800-€1,200) and if you must have a big brand and only a big brand there is a Louis Vuitton trunk on offer (€2,000-€3,000). With estimates from €60 (for a Victorian stationery box) to €3,000-€5,000 for an oil of an American Clipper in full sail by Henry Scott and everything from silver goblets to hall chairs to a Chinese camphor wood blanket chest in between there is much to choose from here.
Many lots will be sold without reserve at de Veres house contents auction of antique and designer modern furniture, art, collectibles and garden pieces at 25 Wellington Road, Dublin at 2 pm next Tuesday (August 27). The online auction embraces everything from the Camilla mirror designed by Christopher Guy to commemorate the hat Camilla Parker Bowles wore at her royal wedding (€600-€1,000) to a watercolour of Wexford by Maurice MacGonigal, an Afghan carpet and a club fender. There is a viewing at the house today, tomorrow and on Monday.
Hegarty's will offer a c1850 Killarney davenport at their live online auction next Wednesday (August 28). The estimate is €3,500-€5,500 in a sale of antiques, collectibles, art and jewellery. An oil on canvas of a west Cork long boat by Martin Stone is estimated at €700-€800.