Gabriel Hayes Sold at Auction Prices

Sculptor

Gabriel Hayes (1909–1978) was an Irish artist born in Dublin (according to her birth certificate). She was a sculptor who studied in Dublin, France, and Italy. Hayes was also an accomplished painter with one of her works "The Cork Bowler" selling at Christies in London in May 2000 for 23,500 stg.[1] Most of her works are in private hands.

Hayes designed several artworks in public and religious buildings in Ireland. Her best known works were the halfpenny, penny, and two pence coins she designed for the Irish decimal currency introduced in 1971.[2] She submitted ideas at her own initiative when no design competition was held. She is also responsible for the other aspects of the decimal currency such as lettering and decoration.

In February 2005, when An Post issued a set of stamps celebrating female Irish artists, Hayes was commemorated on the 65c stamp with a picture of her work, The Three Graces (1941).

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  • Gabriel Hayes (1909-1978) AN TÓSTAL COMMEMORATIVE PLAQUE
    Mar. 11, 2024

    Gabriel Hayes (1909-1978) AN TÓSTAL COMMEMORATIVE PLAQUE

    Est: €3,000 - €4,000

    Gabriel Hayes (1909-1978) AN TÓSTAL COMMEMORATIVE PLAQUE bronze signed lower right h:19.75  w:19.75 d:2 in. Provenance: Whyte's, 31 May 2021, lot 111; Private collection Lesser known Irish female artists were celebrated in the publication Irish Women Artists 1800-2009 Familiar But Unknown (ed. Éimear O'Connor) in 2010 and among those highlighted was Kildare sculptor Gabriel Hayes. Although she exhibited almost annually with the RHA from 1932 to 1947, was the recipient of the coveted Taylor Art Prize (1934), received numerous public and ecclesiastical commissions and, when Irish currency went decimal in 1971, designed several of the coins, little recognition has been awarded her since her death in 1978. Among her major commissions are the panels for the then Department of Industry and Commerce, Kildare Street (1941) and the more than life size 14 Stations of the Cross for Galway Cathedral. In 1977 she won gold medal for sculpture at the Oireachtas Exhibition with The Gráinne Mhaol carved from American walnut. This sizeable bronze is likely to have been a presentation plaque for An Tóstal (inaugurated in 1953). Irish life is celebrated in this piece around a central figure holding a torch to symbols of the provinces. It is typical of her style with its flat stylised rendering of figures and animals. Hayes' husband was Professor Seán P. Ó Ríordáin who became a household name in the 1950s for his appearances on the BBC television program 'Animal, Vegetable or Mineral?'

    Whyte's
  • Gabriel Hayes (1909 - 1978) An Tóstal Commemorative Plaque Bronze, 38 diameter (15) Signed
    Sep. 29, 2021

    Gabriel Hayes (1909 - 1978) An Tóstal Commemorative Plaque Bronze, 38 diameter (15) Signed

    Est: €2,000 - €3,000

    Gabriel Hayes (1909 - 1978) An Tóstal Commemorative Plaque Bronze, 38 diameter (15) Signed

    Adam's
  • Gabriel Hayes (1909-1978) AN TÓSTAL COMMEMORATIVE PLAQUE
    May. 31, 2021

    Gabriel Hayes (1909-1978) AN TÓSTAL COMMEMORATIVE PLAQUE

    Est: €3,000 - €4,000

    Gabriel Hayes (1909-1978) AN TÓSTAL COMMEMORATIVE PLAQUE bronze signed lower right h:19.75  w:19.75 d:2 in. Lesser known Irish female artists were celebrated in the publication Irish Women Artists 1800-2009 Familiar But Unknown (ed. Éimear O'Connor) in 2010 and among those highlighted was Kildare sculptor Gabriel Hayes. Although she exhibited almost annually with the RHA from 1932 to 1947, was the recipient of the coveted Taylor Art Prize (1934), received numerous public and ecclesiastical commissions and, when Irish currency went decimal in 1971, designed several of the coins, little recognition has been awarded her since her death in 1978. Among her major commissions are the panels for the then Department of Industry and Commerce, Kildare Street (1941) and the more than life size 14 Stations of the Cross for Galway Cathedral. In 1977 she won gold medal for sculpture at the Oireachtas Exhibition with The Gráinne Mhaol carved from American walnut. This sizeable bronze is likely to have been a presentation plaque for An Tóstal (inaugurated in 1953). Irish life is celebrated in this piece around a central figure holding a torch to symbols of the provinces. It is typical of her style with its flat stylised rendering of figures and animals. Hayes' husband was Professor Seán P. Ó Ríordáin who became a household name in the 1950s for his appearances on the BBC television program 'Animal, Vegetable or Mineral?'

    Whyte's
  • Gabriel Hayes (1909-1978) Portrait of a Young Boy Oil on board, 61 x 48.4cm (24 x 19'') Signed and dated 1949
    Sep. 02, 2020

    Gabriel Hayes (1909-1978) Portrait of a Young Boy Oil on board, 61 x 48.4cm (24 x 19'') Signed and dated 1949

    Est: €2,000 - €4,000

    Gabriel Hayes (1909-1978) Portrait of a Young Boy Oil on board, 61 x 48.4cm (24 x 19'') Signed and dated 1949 Hayes was taught by Sean Keating at the Metropolitan School of Art in Dublin, and his influence is seen in the realist tradition of this rare Co. Kildare artist’s work. Aside from painting, Hayes designed the new decimal coins in 1971 and was also an accomplished sculptor. She is perhaps best known for her bas relief panels on the facade of the Department of Industry & Commerce on Kildare Street in Dublin. She was awarded the Oireachtas gold medal for sculpture in 1977 and died in Dublin on the 28th of October 1978.

    Adam's
  • Gabriel Hayes (1909-1978) Peonies in Pewter Mug
    Dec. 04, 2013

    Gabriel Hayes (1909-1978) Peonies in Pewter Mug

    Est: €1,500 - €2,500

    Gabriel Hayes (1909-1978) Peonies in Pewter Mug Oil on canvas, 61 x 51cm (24 x 20'') Signed Exhibited: ''A Private Collection'', The Frederick Gallery, December 1999, where purchased by current owner Gabriel Hayes was born in Kildare and spent time travelling and studying in the USA and France before returning to Ireland and entering the Dublin Metropolitan School of Art. She is best remembered for her wonderful sculpture panels on the Department of Industry on Kildare Street which she worked on in situ, 23 metres from ground level suspended in a wooden cage. These sculptures are generally symbolic, representing themes connected with industry and commerce in general, but there are also some heads, one representing St Brendan as personifying navigation and another 'Eire' over the main entrance. From 1957, she began the life size Stations of the Cross for Galway Cathedral which took her twelve years to complete. During this time she also made designs for the new decimal coins and a series of medals. She worked in bronze, limestone and Portland stone but, although there are few examples, this work shows that she was extremely adept at painting with oils too. Here she skilfully captures the effects of sunlight on the hard reflective surface of the jug and tray, contrasted elegantly with the soft full blooms.

    Adam's
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