Gifts of enduring value: Whyte’s announces Christmas online auction

DUBLIN.- Looking for inspiration this Christmas? Why not decorate that home office? Whyte’s online only auction on 11-16 December will offer shoppers a chance to acquire something of lasting value for their walls, tables or Christmas stockings this festive season. From artworks to silver, sculpture and wine, Whyte’s have Christmas wrapped up!

From stunning contemporary paintings and prints by well-known Irish names such as Louis le Brocquy, Patrick Scott, Robert Ballagh, Cecil King, Graham Knuttel, John Kingerlee, Pauline Bewick, Gladys Maccabe, Kenneth Webb, Peter Collis, Arthur Maderson to international superstars such as Damien Hirst and Sean Scully there is something to suit all tastes, budgets and wall sizes. For music fans there are artworks by Bob Dylan and David Bowie (guides from €800-€3,000). A strong offering of traditional landscape paintings by James Humbert Craig, George Gillespie, Maurice Wilks, Charles McAuley, and Rowland Hill as well as Alan Kenny and Henry McGrane among others are included (from €400 to €2,000). A collection of four photogravures by Sir William Orpen (€200-€300 each) will satisfy those who cannot stretch to an original. Drawings by John Butler Yeats guide from €300 while prints by Jack B. Yeats start at €600. A rare lot by Celitc revival illustrator Art O’Murnaghan guides €2,000 €3,000 while a set of five woodcuts by John Luke represent good value at €2,000-3,000. Quirky ceramics by John ffrench (Arklow pottery) and bronzes by Joseph Sloan guide from €300.

ECLECTIC GIFTS
A nice range of collectibles that will make interesting gifts include a collection of silverware by Pádraig Ó Mathúna (1925-2019) (€100 to €1,200), earlier silver including an attractive 19th century Dutch photograph album (€600-€800) and an 18th century Chopard watch (€600 to €800). More unusual gifts could be an early 20th century gramophone (€150-€200) – an art object itself with its attractive large horn – or a mid 19th century music box playing Irish and Scottish airs €200-€300). For the aspiring Masterchef what about a 19th century “Mandoline All Vegetable Slicer by Arcadia Manufacturing Company, New York”? (€100-€150).

For the more cerebral there is The Book of Kells, the first and only complete facsimile, published in 1990 with the authority of Trinity College, Dublin – one of 1,480 and a snip at €6,000 to €8,000 in its beautiful binding and presentation box.

There’s a small but very good selection of fine wines including a case of 12 Chateau La Fleur-Pétrus 2000 (€1,000-€1,500) and a case of 12 Margaux, Chateau Kirwan Grand Cru Classé, 1984 (€300-€400). A few bottles of vintage whiskies round off this seasonal offering, including some scarcer such as Corbett’s and Hunter’s from 1920s Belfast (€150-€200) and some vintage port with a case of 12 Churchill’s vintage 1994
(€350-€450)