Get outside with art and sculpture at the Castlemartyr Resort in Cork

Looking for a good buying opportunity in the world of antiques? Go for decorative art objects and ceramics, which are now selling for less money than in the past, is the view of the BBC’s Antiques Roadshow expert, Steven Moore. Moore, who has been a regular on the much-loved show since 2004, is an expert in antique ceramics and sees potential in this category. “If you consider how 18th century porcelain figures were until recently so desirable, but now they are worth a fraction of what they previously sold for,” he says. He also points to how 18th century drinking glasses were very sought after. “But most of these collectors are in their 80s and 90s now,” he says.Speaking to The Irish Times from his home in North Yorkshire, Moore will be the guest of honour at the Hunt Museum annual luncheon fundraiser in the Dunraven Arms Hotel, Adare, Co Limerick, on Saturday, June 6th.Moore says he inherited his love of antiques from his maternal grandmother and as a child collected Victorian bottles. However, he also believes a natural curiosity and yearning for beautiful objects with cultural and historic significance is shared by many people.“We live in a very uncertain world and people are drawn to things that have stood the test of time. We have a need for beautiful things in this era when so much is disposable,” he says.While he acknowledges that most of the habitués of the Antiques Roadshow are older, Moore has been attracting the attention of the next generation of antique lovers through Instagram and his book. The Stuff of History: A Curated Compendium of Curious Objects and Forgotten People. The book delves into the historical journeys of everything from the humble fork to the Russian crown jewels. Moore will speak about his various roles as an antique dealer, auctioneer, museum curator and writer at the Hunt Museum event. [ Co Down bookmakers’ art collection, ‘one of the finest in Ireland’, on sale at Adam’sOpens in new window ]The current exhibition at the Hunt Museum features four of Limerick silver and gold craftsmanship through precious objects from the Bronze Age right to the Georgian era. The museum’s historic collection is shown alongside contemporary art by Guggi, Cecilia Bullo, Qiuwen Lyu and Ibrahim Mahama. Holidaymakers and east Cork residents can grab the chance to see the luxurious surroundings of one of Ireland’s most prestigious hotels, while viewing art and sculpture at the Art and Soul exhibition at the Castlemartyr Resort, just outside Cork City. Run by Gormleys, the display of over 100 large sculptures in the grounds of the 18th century manor house runs from May 31st-28th. There will be a further 200 artworks by international artists, including Andy Warhol, Banksy and Tracey Emin, as well as Irish artists such as John Redmond and Jenny Belton on show inside the hotel. Admission is free. Salvador Dalí, The Unicorn, will feature on the grounds of Cork’s five-star Castlemartyr Resort. Eamonn Ceannt, Dance Dance Dance, will feature at Art and Soul in Castlemartyr. Photograph: gormleys.ie and castlemartyrresort.ie Ian Pollock, Acrobats of the Sky. The large-scale sculpture entitled The Unicorn, by surrealist Spanish artist Salvador Dalí (€775,000), is deemed to be one of the highlights. Works by Irish sculptors, such as Dance, Dance, Dance by Eamonn Ceannt (€5,750) and Acrobats of the Sky by Ian Pollock (€5,250) are also included. There will be an opera recital as part of the concurrent Blackwater Valley Opera Festival at the exhibition opening on Monday, June 1st at noon. Artists’ talks and daily guided tours will run during the exhibition. Hawthorn by Siobhan Larkin (€795) at the Botanical and Floral Art exhibition in the Phoenix Park visitors' centre during Bloom gardening festival Dormant Fen by Kathrine Geoghegan (€1,200) can be viewed at the Botanical and Floral Art exhibition in Phoenix Park visitors' centre Finally, two other art exhibitions of note. First, visitors to the Bloom gardening festival in Phoenix Park this weekend should spare some time to view the works in the Botanical and Floral Art exhibition in the nearby Phoenix Park visitor centre. Now in its 12th year, the show will feature watercolours, etchings, acrylic and oil paintings by 39 artists. These include Hawthorn by Siobhán Larkin (€795), and Dormant Fen by Kathrine Geoghegan (€1,200) The open submission exhibition continues until Sunday, June 21st.In Co Waterford, Lot 100 is holding a solo exhibition of works by American born, west Cork-based, artist Katherine Boucher Beug in the Old Library, Chapel St, Lismore, until June 1st, to coincide with the Lismore Opera Festival. Into the Wood I (€5,000) by Katherine Boucher Beug at Lot 100 rooms, The Old Library, Lismore Early Calendula (€4,000) by Katherine Boucher Beug at the exhibition in the Old Library, Lismore, Co Waterford The show, entitled Flowers & Sound, features large-scale works as well as works on paper including Into the Wood I (€5,000) and Early Calendula (€4,000). Boucher Beug’s work has been shown widely in solo and group exhibitions including at the National Gallery of Ireland, RHA Dublin, Crawford Art Gallery and Irish Historical Society in New York. Gormleys.ie; lot100.ie, huntmuseum.com What did it sell for?A watercolour on paper of one of Aloysius O’Kelly’s most famous paintings, Mass in a Connemara Cabin Mass in a Connemara Cabin, Aloysius C O’KellyEstimate: €20,000-€30,000Hammer price: €40,000Auction house: Whyte’sTravelling People, 1945, from Louis le Brocquy’s series of works on Irish Travellers. Travelling People, 1945, Louis le BrocquyEstimate: €100,000-€150,000Hammer price: €105,000Auction house: Whyte’sPaul Henry’s Dapping on Lough Mask. Dapping on Lough Mask, Paul HenryEstimate: €150,000-€200,000Hammer price: €230,000Auction house: Whyte’sHermés Black Togo Birkin 35 handbag Hermés Togo Birkin 35Estimate: €10,000 - €12,000Hammer price: €11,000Auction house: Adams Blackrock