A rediscovered private art collection auctioned in Dublin today sold for what was described by the auctioneers as an “astonishing” €2.53 million - €1 million above the pre-sale estimate.

James Adam Auctioneers sold the 69 lots, including previously unseen works by painters Jack B Yeats and Louis Le Brocquy.
The quality of the collection is, arguably, on a par with museum standards and is highly representative of 20th century Irish art history
James Adam auctioneers

The collection of the late Cork obstetrician Dr JB Kearney, who died last year aged 90, went on display for the first time in Cork last October.

The top selling lot of the collection was The Turf Gatherer by Paul Henry, which sold for €300,000 and is thought to be a new Irish record for the Belfast-born artist.

It sold to an anonymous private Irish bidder in the saleroom for over double its estimate, a spokeswoman for James Adam said.

Auctioneer James O’Halloran, managing director of Adam’s, said: “This collection of highly valuable Irish art has exceeded all expectations this evening reaching a soaring total and achieving new Irish records for a number of superb Irish artists.

“We feel extremely privileged to have been asked to handle the sale of such a prestigious portfolio of artwork and are delighted with the highly successful end result for the Kearney family.”

Posted: 12|5|07 at 10:31 am. Filed under: Auction News.