Adam's IMPORTANT IRISH ART Auction Wednesday 29th September 2021

www.adams.ie Important Irish Art | 29 th September 2021 129 127 RORY BRESLIN (b.1963) The October Mask Bronze, 75cm high x 41.5cm wide (35 x 16”) Number 1 from an edition of 3 € 5,000 - 8,000 The Clew Bay Series chronicles and celebrates the emer- gence of a selection of native flora and fauna as they appear by month in the Mayo bay area. Rhythmically framing the countenance of a native to the area, the rendition of the flora is modelled with a baroque vitality, it is rich and dense, a mimetic and uplifting tribute to the beauty and tenacity of the local environ- ment. The October Mask belongs to this series, with the countenance of the mask being determined and reticent, perhaps reflecting the shortening of days and the month of Deireadh Fómhair or “end of har- vest”. The barn owl’s enclosing wings reflect the slow cessation of growth in a protective and blanket- like embrace of the natural flora. On either side of the head of October, from the crown of her head to below her chin, a cascade of Mica Inkcap mushrooms steadily transforms to acorns and oak leaves. A flurry of Iris Pseudacorus seedpods or Feileastram, cure for rheumatism in Irish fokelore, radi- ates from her forehead, held in check by a headband of a leaf of the Iris. Two further leaves frame the lower face like a chinstrap. On either side of the seedpods two large Birch Milkcap mushrooms at her temples frame the lower part of the mask while the head of the Barn owl dominates the apex of the piece. The owl is brash, noisy and redolent of the ancient Irish legend of the Banshee. Our thanks to the artist for his help in cataloguing this lot.