On Saturday, February 25, a record was set for work from the Arts and Crafts colony Rose Valley when a large trestle table sold at the Rago Arts and Auction Center for $237,500 against an estimate of $30,000-40,000. The buyer is a private collector.

"The Rose Valley table is truly a treasure - ," said Brock Jobe, Professor of American Decorative Arts at Winterthur Museum, "one of the very best statements of the Arts and Crafts Movement in America."

Some of the finest decorative arts of the American Arts and Crafts Movement were created in utopian communities in the Northeast at the turn-of-the-last-century.  The output from these communities - Roycroft in East Aurora, New York; Byrdcliffe in Woodstock, New York; Arden in Arden, Delaware; and Rose Valley in Rose Valley, Pennsylvania - is small, hand wrought, and highly desirable.

The ca. 1901 table was designed by William L. Price, founder of Rose Valley, for "Yorklynne", the residence of John O. Gilmore. It came to Rago's from a private Delaware collector. Sold as lot 97, it is unsigned and measures 29 ½" x 84" x 40".  This masterwork has been recognized from the time of its creation, published in "American Homes and Gardens" and "House and Garden magazine in 1906 and in "William L. Price: Arts and Crafts to Modern Design" by Princeton Arch. Press and "On the Brink of the 20th Century: The Architecture of William L. Price," by Univ. of Penn in 2000.

Rago's is currently accepting consignments for its next sale of 20th C. Design in June and for all other auctions, including fine art, 18/19th century decorative arts, jewelry, silver, coins and currency, ethnographic, militaria, books and ephemera, musical instruments. Email photos to info@ragoart.com or call 609.397.9374.   

About Rago Arts and Auction Center

Since 1994, Rago's has served thousands of sellers and buyers with a singular blend of global reach and personal service. Originally specialists in 20th century design, today Rago's expertise covers centuries of fine art, decorative arts, furnishings, jewelry and ethnographic property.  It is a world-class venue through which to buy and sell. It is also a destination for those who seek to learn and share knowledge about art, antiques and collecting, offering free valuations for personal property (from a single piece to collections and estates), appraisals and auction exhibitions in house and online. Rago's, the largest and leading auction house in New Jersey, is located midway between Philadelphia and New York.