Lambertville, NJ: A Ruth Asawa woven wire mobile with five lobes, measuring 61” in length sold for $627,750 at Rago’s  November 16 Fine Art auction, setting a record for like-sized, multi-lobed work. According to Artnet.com, there has been only one other sale at auction since the artist’s August death. It took place on November 12 in New York, when a larger 78” seven-lobed work sold for $389,000. (All prices quoted include buyer’s premium.)  

“The Asawa record is attributable to a number of market factors, from the beauty of her body of work to provenance to her recent death,” said Meredith Hilferty, Director of Fine Art. “In the final analysis, good is good and this is an impeccable thing. Still, I would hate for it to completely overshadow the many other successes in the sale, from Op Art to Pop Prints. I’d like to personally thank all our buyers and consignors, with special thanks to Steve Andersen for entrusting us with his personal collection of prints and original works.”

HIGHLIGHTS/STATS

All Sessions

- Hammer:  $2,103,650

- Hammer + bp:  $2,607,313

- Number of Lots: 579

- In-House: 73

- Internet Bidders: 555, From: USA, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, Puerto Rico, Columbia, France, Germany, Italy, Poland, , Netherlands, UK, Ireland, Sweden, Norway, Spain, Denmark, Austria, Czech Republic, Russia, India, Pakistan, Israel, Nigeria, Taiwan, Japan, Australia.

- Phone Bidders: 226, From: USA, Canada, UK, Columbia, Panama, Mexico, Brazil, Venezuela, British Virgin Islands, Italy, Poland, Spain, Switzerland, France, Netherlands, Germany, Greece, Belgium, Israel, China, Japan

- Absentee Bidders: 85, From: USA, UK, Brazil, Netherlands, Germany, Italy, Belgium, Australia, Japan

- Percent sold: 73%

Post-War and Contemporary Art

- Hammer:  $1,780,600

- Hammer + 25% bp =  $2,203,500

- Low estimate $ 1,302,200

- High estimate: $ 1,874,800

- Percent sold: 70% 

- 529 Ruth Asawa, Untitled   $627,750

- 611 Julio Le Parc, Serie 3 D N° 1   $87,500

- 571 Richard Anuszkiewicz, Crimson Sanctuary  $75,000

- 574 Julian Stanczak, Summaries of Light   $68,750

- 553 Sol LeWitt, Two works of art: Set 223 and Untitled   $62,500

- 576 Richard Anuszkiewicz, Feast of the Sun and the Moon   $56,250

- 596 Friedel Dzubas, Royal Skin   $50,000

- 550 Roy Lichtenstein, Shipboard Girl   $46,875

- 646 Andy Warhol, Howdy Doody   $33,750

- 540 Roy Lichtenstein, On   $30,000

- 579 Julian Stanczak,Passing Through   $30,000

19th/20th C. American and European Art

- Hammer:  $323,050

- Hammer + 25% bp =  $403,813

- Low estimate: $ $574,700

- High estimate: $812,200

- Percent sold: 81%

- 4     Frederick William MacMonnies, Pan of Rohallion   $53,125

- 122 Romare Bearden, Lonely Beach   $18,750

- 21   Arthur Lismer, Untitled   $17,500

- 102 Joseph Barrett, Yellow House on the Delaware   $17,500

- 129 Andre Brasilier, Marcilly Village de Touraine   $17,500

- 90   Charles F. Ramsey, Untitled   $12,500

- 112 Clark Hulings, The Grain Merchant   $12,500

- 46   Jean Louis Chauvin, Maternite   $8,750

- 69   Ida Wells Stroud, A Hillside - Clara's Garden   $8,750

- 93   Lloyd Raymond Ney,Composition No. 10   $8,750

Consignments are now being accepted for Rago’s May 2014 Fine Art auctions and all of Rago’s Spring 2014 auctions: 609.397.9374 or info@ragoarts.com. 

TO THE EDITOR

High resolution images/more information available on request.

About Rago Arts and Auction Center

Rago is a leading U.S. auction house with $28 million in sales in 2012. We serve thousands of sellers and buyers internationally with a singular blend of global reach and personal service. Rago holds auctions of 20th/21st c. design, fine art, decorative arts, furnishings, jewelry, militaria, coins and currency, Asian, historic ephemera, and ethnographic property.  A world-class venue through which to buy and sell, it offers valuations for personal property (from a single piece to collections and estates), appraisals, estate services, exhibitions and lectures in house and online. Rago is based in New Jersey, midway between Philadelphia and New York City.

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