4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Irish Independent
In the salerooms: Record-breaking sale prices, a 1927 Free State florin design and mind-bending art on display
Noonan's
The coin, with a harp on one side and a salmon on the other, was discovered in an antiques market in Italy over 40 years ago. It was designed by the Italian sculptor, Publio Morbiducci, who was invited to submit designs for Ireland's first coinage.
The competition was won by the British engraver Percy Metcalfe and Morbiducci's florin never made it into circulation.
Officially, only two sets were minted for presentation to the Irish Currency Commission. Unofficially, it's thought that Morbiducci minted several more sets for private use.
Whyte's
Achill Horses 1933 by Mainie Jellett (est €70,000-€100,000) sold for €210,000 at Whyte's Irish and International Art Auction on May 26.
The outcome of a battle between two telephone bidders, the price broke the artist's world record. The previous record was for The Land Éire 1940, which fetched €110,000 at Whyte's in 2019.
See
Gormleys
Art and Soul, the annual art and sculpture event at Castlemartyr resort, Cork, continues until June 29 with an outdoor exhibition of 90 large sculptures and an indoor show of smaller works.
Exhibiting artists include Andy Warhol, Damien Hirst, Banksy, Julian Opie, Salvador Dali, and Peter Monaghan – the Dublin artist known for three-dimensional pieces that play with geometry, optical effects and illusions.
Guided tours run at 12 pm, 3 pm, and 5 pm daily, see and
