In the SALEROOMS

SOME people think that gemstones have healing powers (some other people think that they’re bananas). Whatever your opinion on this, it’s certainly true that turquoise has a remarkable history as a healing stone. It has been used as protection against falls by Turkish cavalry, as an oriental protection against all evil things, and in Tibet, to clear blockages of self-expression. It’s also the birthstone for those born in late March and early April. The next auction at O’Reilly’s Auction Rooms, Dublin, which takes place on Wednesday at 10am, includes some nice examples.

There’s an 18ct gold and turquoise marine link bracelet

(right), in textured satin finish (est

€1,800 to €2,500) and a pair of turquoise and diamond daisy style clip earrings, set with diamonds and mounted in 14ct white gold (est

€1,200 to €1,800). There are also some interesting animal-shaped pieces in the sale: a diamond pavé pointer hound brooch (est

€3,500 to €4,500); a ruby, emerald and diamond parrot brooch by Kutchinsky, (est €4,000 to €5,000); and a diamond pavé scottie dog brooch, with black and red enamel coat, mounted in platinum (€3,500 to

€4,500). Viewing is from Sunday to Wednesday, see oreillysfineart.com. Catherine Hayes. A marble bust of Hayes, which captures the presence that the journalist describes (only without the colour) fetched €3,200 at Mealy’s Spring Sale on March 13. It was carved by the sculptor Richard Barter in 1863. In the same sale, a large blue and white Chinese bottle vase, decorated with pomegranates and flying bats, sold for €10,000. A painting by Charles Henry Cook (1830-1903), A Welcome Rest, fetched €3,600. The painting shows a group of characters clustered by the edge of a Killarney lake and sharing something out of a big black bottle. A pub mirror advertising “Corbett’s Old Irish Whiskey, Belfast” and measuring 196 x 41 cm, sold for €3,400. See mealys. ie.