Art Market Monitor

Global Coverage ~ Unique Analysis

  • AMMpro
  • AMM Fantasy Collecting Game
  • Podcast
  • Contact Us

Tiny Irish Gems

August 30, 2010 by Marion Maneker

Art collecting is by definition an exclusionary pursuit. As an artist’s body of work increases in value, any artifact created by the painter becomes more valuable and less accessible. In Ireland, that’s leading a gallery to breakup a sketch book of watercolors by Jack B. Yeats into a sale of 30 tiny works. Of course, there’s another reason to break up the images and that’s because the middle market for Irish art is slow right now:

Ian Whyte, managing director of Whyte and Sons Auctioneers, explained the sketchbook will be split up into 30 individual pieces, which will allow more modest collectors the chance to purchase at a more affordable estimate of €200 upwards.

“Many would love to own a Jack Yeats work but they can fetch anywhere from €5,000 to €1m on the open market,” Mr White explained. […]

“The art market like every other has been hit by the recession. Art is discretionary,” Mr Whyte said, adding that the rare works were still fetching millions of euro on world markets.

“The middle market is very quiet. Pictures from €5,000 to €100,000 have come back 20pc to 50pc on the peak price of 2007. The good thing is the genuine collector is back in the market.”

The more traditional artists such as Sir John Lavery, William Orpen, Walter Osborne and Jack Yeats remain in demand. The works in the auction by artists including Orpen, Evie Hone, Cecil Maguire, Louis le Brocquy and Markey Robinson are expected to fetch €300,000 to €400,000 in total.

Mr Whyte said there were works for “recessionary collectors” with estimated prices from €200 to €20,000.

Now you can own a Jack B Yeats for €200 (Irish Independent)

More from Art Market Monitor

  • Bonhams Believes in Irish ArtBonhams Believes in Irish Art
  • Bank of Ireland Sale = €1.5mBank of Ireland Sale = €1.5m
  • Graham Greene's Jack B. Yeats Pictures To Be SoldGraham Greene's Jack B. Yeats Pictures To Be Sold
  • Irish Bank Art ConundrumIrish Bank Art Conundrum
  • The Irish Still Like Their ArtThe Irish Still Like Their Art
  • Great ScottGreat Scott

Filed Under: General Tagged With: Irish

About Marion Maneker

Want to get Art Market Monitor‘s posts sent to you in our email? Sign up below by clicking on the Subscribe button.

Top Posts

  • Keith Haring’s 1989 Retrospect Comes to Sotheby’s London Prints Sale
  • Tony Podesta's Secret Art Buying
  • Four of Picasso's Women Valued at $28m Come to Christie's from Rose-Walters Collection
  • Norman Rockwell's Not Gay. But Is He a Great Artist?
  • Basquiat's Last Girlfriend
  • Aboudia, Zemba Luzamba, Dickens Otieno Anchor Contemporary African Art Sale at Artcurial in Marrakesh
  • Selection Bias In Art Is What Creates Value
  • How to Chant Like an Auctioneer
  • Cave Painting Porn Discovered
  • Roy Lichtenstein’s Top Ten Auction Prices
  • About Us/ Contact
  • Podcast
  • AMMpro
  • Newsletter
  • FAQ

twitterfacebooksoundcloud
Privacy Policy
Terms & Conditions
California Privacy Rights
Do Not Sell My Personal Information
Advertise on Art Market Monitor