Gerard Dillon amazes Dublin: historic record at auction for Tea Party

The exceptional auction of a work by Gerard Dillon has redefined the value of 20th-century Irish art. During a recent session in Dublin, a masterpiece by the author shattered initial estimates. This important result confirms the growing interest of collectors in historical works from this geographical area.

How was the new auction record achieved?

The painting titled Tea Party (1955) was sold by Adam’s Auctioneers on May 27. Offered with an initial estimate of 150,000–200,000 euros, the work sparked a lively competition. An anonymous bidder on the phone finally secured the canvas for the record sum of 1.4 million euros.

Moreover, the incredible result exceeds the forecasts by 450%. Compared to the previous record of 378,000 pounds set by Sotheby’s in London in 2020, this value represents an extraordinary growth of three times.

What is the historical importance of the work?

The work is considered fundamental in the artist’s catalog for its quality and exhibition history. For the auction house’s management, it is the most refined painting by Gerard Dillon to appear on the market in the last 35 years. That said, the work boasts an excellent provenance and a significant exhibition history.

First exhibited in 1955 at the Irish Exhibition of Living Art, the oil on board depicts six people sitting in a cottage in Roundstone. However, the facial expressions of the subjects reveal a unique and character-rich irony. Finally, it is hypothesized that the character with the red scarf is a self-portrait of the artist.

What are the prospects for this market?

Historical data shows that this is the first major exploit for Gerard Dillon since the beginning of the new millennium. Furthermore, according to the findings of the Artnet Price Database, auction activity had peaked in 2006, experiencing a contraction after 2008.

However, this memorable exploit could reignite global interest in the post-war Irish school. Born in Belfast in 1916 and passed away in 1971, the self-taught artist found inspiration in the coastal village of Roundstone. Overall, the critical rediscovery of his painting marks the beginning of a new phase of reassessment.

Image: Tea-party. Image courtesy of Adam’s Auctioneers

Amelia Tomasicchio

As expert in digital marketing, Amelia began working in the fintech sector in 2014 after writing her thesis on Bitcoin technology. Previously author for several international crypto-related magazines and CMO at Eidoo. She is now the co-founder and editor-in-chief of The Cryptonomist and Econique.

She is also a marketing teacher at Digital Coach in Milan and she published a book about NFTs for the Italian publishing house Mondadori, while she is also helping artists and company to entering in the sector. As advisor, Amelia is also involved in metaverse-related project such as The Nemesis and OVER.