Inthe SALEROOMS

JOHN WELDON AUCTIONEERS

A large sapphire, carved in the shape of a lion’s head, is among the more unusual pieces coming up at John Weldon Auctioneers’ next sale of fine jewellery and silver. The auction takes place in Cow’s Lane, Temple Bar, Dublin 8, on Tuesday at 2pm. The sapphire is estimated to sell for between

€3,400 and €3,800. The sale also includes a diamond and onyx ring (pictured) in the Art Deco style (est

€80,000 to €90,000). “It’s the largest diamond of this quality that I’veever been asked to auction,”

John Weldon says, pointing out that the stone is about 13 mm in diameter and dates from the

1890s, while the ring was made in the

1920s or 30s. An eye-catching emerald, enamel and diamond brooch/pendant (est €1,500 to €2,500) shows Saint George, mounted on a white horse, killing a dragon. It’s an engaging narrative piece with a bright green dragon and lots of bright red enamel blood. Viewing is tomorrow and Sunday (12 noon to 5pm); Monday (11am to

5pm); and on the day of sale (10.30am to 12.30pm). See jwa.ie.

DUBLIN PAINTING & SKETCHING CLUB

The Dublin Painting & Sketching Club (DPSC) is celebrating its 140th anniversary with a return to its urban origins. This year, instead of the usual Dun Laoghaire venue, the historical artists’ association will hold its annual exhibition in CHQ on Dublin’s Custom House Quay, near to where it was founded. “Our roots are beside the Liffey. Settled there again, we can reflect on the life and energy of the city,” says the club president Aidan Hickey. The exhibition runs from Monday 16 to April 29 and incorporates a “River Liffey” theme, but will also include other subjects executed in oil, watercolour, pastel and ink, drawing, lithograph and print. Works on show range from €250 (for a small print or drawing) to €4,000; most are €750 and €1,000. Exhibiting artists include club members: Margo Banks, Patrick Cahill, Betty Christie, Fergal Flanagan, Bridget Flinn, Edward Freeney, Michael Gemmell, Olivia Hayes, Tomas King, Vincent Lambe, Pamela Leonard, Padraig Lynch, Tom Roche, Tom Scott, Tom Ryan and Aidan Hickey. See dublinpaintingandsketchingclub.ie.

ADAM’S

The wonderful — and very large — sculpture Bird Barking (1959) by Hilary Heron sold for €7,000 at Adam’s Important Irish Art auction on March 27. Heron (1923-1976) was a pioneering Irish sculptor and one of the first to make art in the alluring material of welded iron. Bird Barking was made in a London studio that she shared with Elizabeth Frink. At 213cm long, it’s one of her largest sculptures, made in welded steel, and inspired by the comment of an urban friend who found it difficult to sleep in the countryside “because of the cuckoo barking”. See adams.ie.