Art & Antiques By Michael Drake

Art & Antiques

With only a few short weeks left until Brexit really kicks in – in the United Kingdom – has anyone really given a serious thought about how its implementation will affect the sales of art, antiques and anything else we cherish. For make no mistake about it, Brexit, while bringing problems for practically everything that is bought and sold, will undoubtedly impact as well on the art and antiques trade in Ireland and elsewhere.

Just in what manner this will manifest itself I am not sure, but it will. After all, come January Northern Ireland will no longer be a part of a member state of the European Union. The Republic of Ireland will of course retain its status quo within the EU. So where does this leave us when bringing art or antiques into

Northern Ireland from the south or sending them the other way. What will the VAT arrangements be on the sales and purchases of art and antique items.

Will there be a uniformity between both parts of the island of Ireland or will there be two different rates and two different systems? Who knows whether it will be more economical to buy or sell in the Irish Republic or vice versa?

What will happen to the Artist Resale Rights Directive or droit de suite as it is known in France? For almost twenty years now living artists, if they are natives of a country in the European Economic Area, have been entitled to at least 4pc of the resale value of artworks worth €1000 or more when sold by a professional art trader in the EEA.

So what happens to that advantage which some artists have come to enjoy? At one time the United Kingdom was an attractive place to sell art because it had not implemented the Directive. Maybe that thought will be in some people heads again. Will it continue to be paid in the south of Ireland and, if so, what happens north of the border.

Auction houses are still existing, but

Diamond cuff bracelet by Fred Paris which realised €60,000 (ADAMS) I doubt if any new millionaires have government. been created during the present Covid There is no doubt, however many 19 crisis. Of course sales are taking members of the general public have, in place but without the facility of online some cases, a bit more disposal cash outlets most, if not all sales houses in around than they had this time last year. Ireland, would have had to put their Summer vacations were, to put it mildly shutters up for a very long time. We are a wash out, so families probably saved not out of the woods yet, not by a long some money on staying at home. chalk, but we can only hope and pray Expensive days and nights of eating out that things will continue to improve and over the past six months were almost that some form of sales normality will wiped off the menu. So there were once again return to our scene. savings there too. If I am right then The international scene extra cash at their disposal. And what

On the international scene, where better way to spend it than on those who have few worries about purchasing a work by a living artist or money buy and sell art and antiques at an item of antiquity. No one has to be will, we will continue to see earthshattering record prices paid. But away from that particular area, and nearer home, many will have to re-build their art and antiques businesses once again. For some of them it will not be easy. For the best part of a year Covid 19 has played havoc with the commercial lives of many. People who took years to build up their antique shops, A diamond necklace their art galleries and by Van Cleef & their sales houses have Arpels, sold for €25,000 (Adams) been sorely hit. They need help and I don’t believe much of it will be forthcoming from the there are people around with a bit of

living rooms, kitchens and who knows where: and they will be doing it all online.

What that will mean for the more distant future is difficult to predict. For so long as people create a demand for art, antiques, memorabilia and items of nostalgia there will always be some one there to sell to them. But the sales places could be a lot different to the past and the conditions and commissions a lot different too.

Nevertheless sales, large and small will continue to be held so long as people have something to sell and others have a longing to buy. There will always be a bargain to be had, a ‘sleeper’ to be found and a gallery or auction house to visit.

But will there be as many as there were ten years ago? I doubt it.

AROUND THE SALES

Dublin-based ADAMS’ Fine

Jewellery and Watchessale in September attracted many fine items including an exquisite diamond cuff bracelet by Fred Paris which made its low estimate of €60,000, a striking coral, pearl and gold sautoir necklace by Cartier, circa 1965-70 which went at €40,000 and an impressive pair of diamond pendent ear-clips at a similar price.

A fine18k gold, diamond and sapphire-set automatic ‘Pearlmaster Datejust’ bracelet watch by Rolex, 2017 made €30,000, while a pair of early 20th century sapphire and diamond pendent earrings sold for €28,000 as did a diamond single-stone ring mounted in 18k gold.

An important diamond necklace by Van Cleef & Arpels, circa 1995 made €25,000 and a rare 18k gold ‘day date’ Rolex Oyster bracelet watch, 2017 realised €20,000.

Earlier in the month, at the Important Irish Artsale, a Paul Henry’s ‘Hay Stooks with Collages’ found a new home after a hammer bid of €100,000 while a work by Jack Butler Yeats, ‘Bound for the Islands’ realised €90,000 and another Paul Henry, Connemara landscape went at €70,000.

A Louis le Brocquy Aubusson tapestry found favour at €65,000; a Gerald F Kelly portrait in oils made €36,000 and a Donald Teskey oil, €34,000.

Northern artist Colin Middleton’s oil, ‘Birth of David sold for €28,000; a Norah McGuinness oil, €26,000 and Daniel O’Neill’s Four Provinces of Ireland (a set) at €20,000.

Belfast based Bloomfield’s

Auctionsis a regular Mecca for collectibles and fine items and recently an attractive silver oil lamp with blue shade made £700, a gold antique 9 ct. rose gold Albert chain a similar amount and a pair of unique Oriental figures, £420.

We are well served across Ireland, north and south by many small auction houses and long may they continue to ply their wares.