Celebrating Artistic Milestones: Highlights from a Year of Auctions
Mainie Jellett’s “Achill Horses”
For Ian Whyte, chairman at Whyte’s, one painting stood out in 2025: Mainie Jellett’s Achill Horses. Sold on May 26th, this piece is celebrated as the largest in a series Jellett created following her 1935 exposure to a Chinese art exhibition in London. Whyte passionately describes the painting’s unique blend of Chinese influence and Jellett’s evolving cubism, accentuated by a captivating range of colors that establish it as a true masterpiece.
The recent National Gallery exhibition titled “Mainie Jellett and Evie Hone: The Art of Friendship” proved pivotal, elevating the painting to a world record price of €210,000 (€261,660 with buyer’s premium and VAT). This exhibition not only showcased Jellett’s work but also featured two smaller versions of Achill Horses, drawing substantial interest and attention.
Oscar Wilde’s Iconic Desk
Moving from the realm of painting to literature, George Fonsie Mealy of Kilkenny’s Fonsie Mealy Auctioneers shared an exceptional piece from their 2025 auction: Oscar Wilde’s desk. Unearthed from a Wilde family descendant, this desk is believed to have been where Wilde penned some of his most celebrated works during a prolific creative period.
Crafted around 1830 by renowned cabinetmakers Gillows, the oversized slope-top rosewood Davenport desk is not merely a functional object but a tangible connection to the literary giant of the 19th century. It was estimated at €6,000 – €8,000, but the final hammer price reached €29,000, highlighting the strong interest from both local and international bidders.
Roderic O’Conor’s Landscape: “Paysage aux Arbres”
For Rory Guthrie of deVeres, identifying his favorite artwork in 2025 was straightforward: Paysage aux Arbres by Roderic O’Conor. This painting, a pivotal piece in the artist’s transition from Impressionism to Post-Impressionism, had previously been auctioned by Guthrie in 2022 and returned to the market in November 2025.
Highlighting its beauty and significance, art critic Jonathan Benington remarked that this work reflects O’Conor’s evolution as an artist, influenced by contemporaries such as Van Gogh and Cezanne. With a guide price of €200,000 – €300,000, it fetched a remarkable €340,000 at auction, cementing its status as one of the standout pieces of the year.
The Rare Kashmir Sapphire
On the jewelry front, Claire-Laurence Mestrallet, director at Adam’s auctioneers, proclaimed the Kashmir sapphire as her most impressive sale of the year. Sold in May for an astonishing €660,000, this exquisite stone exemplifies rarity and quality. Initially estimated at a modest €8,000 – €12,000, its value skyrocketed after precise gemmological tests revealed its prestigious origins.
Mestrallet explains the stone’s allure: “It was not only one of the highest qualities of Kashmir sapphires but also made waves on the international auction scene, joining the ranks of the top ten price-per-carat records achieved in the past decade.”
Literary Treasures: Patrick Kavanagh’s “Tarry Flynn”
In a captivating auction tale, Conor Purcell from Purcell Auctioneers shared the excitement around Patrick Kavanagh’s book Tarry Flynn. Found in the late Tommy Smith’s home, this copy is notable for its connection to the notorious 1952 court case between Kavanagh and Brendan Behan, where it served as pivotal evidence.
During the auction on September 3rd, bidding kicked off at €3,000, surging through 54 bids from 22 individual bidders, eventually reaching €13,000. Purcell emphasizes the importance of investigation in the auction process, reminding us that treasures often lie hidden in the most unexpected places.
The Curated Collection of Lord O’Neill
Joe Mullen of Mullens Auction House highlights the joy of auctioning entire collections, specifically the Railwayana collection of Lord O’Neill. Showcasing a lifetime of curated items, this sale featured remarkable travel posters by Paul Henry and paintings by Jack Hill.
Mullen noted a standout piece: an enamelled Guinness bar advertisement, which, initially estimated at €300 – €500, sold for an impressive €1,600. Such collections provide rich insights into the personal tastes and lives of collectors.
Auction Highlights Breakdown
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The Dead Tree by John Luke
- Estimate: €100,000 – €150,000
- Hammer price: Not sold
- Auction House: Whyte’s
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Vacheron & Constantin bracelet watch
- Estimate: €8,000 – €12,000
- Hammer Price: €21,000
- Auction House: Adam’s
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Diamond tiara
- Estimate: €5,000 – €7,000
- Hammer Price: €40,000
- Auction House: Adam’s
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Still Life with Pumpkin by Martin Mooney
- Estimate: €4,000 – €6,000
- Hammer Price: €4,400
- Auction House: Morgan O’Driscoll
As we look back at these highlights, it’s evident that the worlds of art and antiques continue to captivate, offering a rich tapestry of history, culture, and personal narrative woven through each auction item.