WHYTE'S IRISH ART 28 MAY 2018

109 Rory Breslin (b.1963) MASK OF THE BLACKWATER bronze; (no. 1 from an edition of 3) signed at top 24 by 18 by 5in. (61 by 45.7 by 12.7cm) On bronze base, dimensions 10 by 10 by 10in. An adaptation of Edward Smyth’s River-God keystone depiction on the East facade of Dublin’s Custom House, this mask rendition has a rather sad visage with deeply shadowed eyes. Over the brows are drip- ping river weeds and a multitude of small fishes while crowning the whole is a basket piled high with round fruits, dimpled on one face, apparently apples. No part of Ireland was so notable for apple cul- ture in the eighteen century as the upper valley of the Munster Blackwater. In Charles Smith’s History of Waterford (1746) he states that...” in the west of this county...our eider has of later years been brought to great perfection; and besides enough for our own consumption, some hundred hogsheads are yearly, in good fruit seasons, sent by sea to Dublin and other places.” €5,000-€7,000 (£4,390-£6,140 approx.) Click Here for Large Images & To Bid Lot 109