Effects of Lady Gregory — Low bidding for art treasures — Unsold Works
Galway Observer, August 13, 1932
The disposal by auction of the effects of the late Lady Gregory attracted many bidders at her residence in Gort, Co. Galway on Monday.
Buyers came from Galway, Ennis, Limerick, Cork, Sligo, Dungannon and Dublin.
The collection contained works of art and ornaments from many parts of the world — Japanese plaques, Viennese vases, and Chinese brass ornaments.
Bidders, however, displayed greater interest in the furniture and carpets. The prices obtained for these articles were considered satisfactory. The offers for the art treasures were low. Engravings and portraits — some of them autographed — were sold early in the morning at prices ranging between five and ten shillings a pair.
Signed letters from donors of presents to the late Sir. Wm. Gregory and engravings of Wm. Pitt and Fox, the English statesmen, were withdrawn owing to the lack of reasonable bids.
Mr. T. Bodkin, Director, National Art gallery, Dublin, secured a number of portraits by Yeats. The subjects included Douglas Hyde at an early age, Standish O'Grady, W. B. Yeats and John Eglington. The prices averaged slightly over 30s per picture.
The entire library of Lady Gregory, comprising thousands of volumes, literary, fiction and art and science, and religion, was sold for less than $50.
Other pieces were a drawing by Mancine, for 25s, and a chalk sketch after Orphen for 7/6 two Arundel prints for 35s. "Watchman and Dog" by Teniers, and "Beggarman," for $5 2s 6d; a Van de Berghe paining (1884) for $10 10s, about 200 volumes, including the works of Moliere and Virgil, for 32s.
Forty—five volumes of an encyclopedia were sold for 10s, and book cases containing 25 Waverley novels for $2 5s. Mr. Claude Chevasse, the well known Gaelic scholar, was among the buyers.
An old Irish harp was purchased by Mrs. O—Cleary, Galway, for $3 5s.
Low prices were obtained for valuable tea and dinner services, glass and silver ware etc.
Mr. A. M. Toole, Loughrea, was auctioneer.