Alexander III Imperial Russian porcelain plate sells for $87,500; pear-shaped diamond ring sells for $68,750; Russian silver desk set by Mikhail Ivanov sells for $18,750; Morgan silver dollar complete business strike set sells from $11,250.

Lambertville, NJ:   Rago Arts and Auction Center ended the year in spectacular style with a three day sale that totaled $2,999,625 (reflects buyer’s premium of 25%).

·          Great Estates Weekend: $2,999,625

·          Percent sold: 91%

·          Friday - Silver, Coins and Currency: $609,156  

·          Saturday -  Great Estates: $652,156 

·          Sunday – Jewelry and Couture: $1,738,313 

·          Bidders in-house: 187

·          Absentee bidders: 173

·          Bidders on phone: 212

·          # of lots: 1205

“This weekend topped off the best year Rago has ever seen – over $28 million in sales – with three strong auctions in succession. There was no quarter where the bidding wasn’t strong– online, the in phones, in the room, absentee. Coins, which is a relatively new pursuit at Rago’s had its best showing ever. The rare and unusual drove a very successful Great Estates auction – from the Imperial Russian plate to the rhino horn libation cup and a narwhal tusk. Jewelry shone above all, which just seems right. We’re delighted and we’re accepting consignments.”   

Friday, December 7, 2012: Silver, Coins, Currency

·          Hammer: $487,325 (estimate: $423,550 – 590,750)

·          Hammer + b.p.:  $609,156

·          Percent sold: 95%

·          763 internet bidders from: United States, Canada, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Nigeria, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Turkey, Bulgaria, Romania, Ukraine, Russia, Italy, Croatia, Poland, Slovakia, Germany, Austria, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, United Kingdom, Ireland, Netherlands, Sweden, Norway, China, Thailand, Malaysia, Taiwan, Japan, Australia and New Zealand.

·          Top Lot: 6  -  Russian Silver Desk Set by Mikhail Ivanov, Estimated at $8,000-12,000, sold for $18,750

Silver and Judaica, Friday, December 7, 2012

1.     6    Russian Silver Desk Set by Mikhail Ivanov   $ 18,750

2.     82  Tiffany & Co. Extensive Coffee Service   $ 13,750

3.     187 Tiffany & Co. "English King" Silver Flatware   $ 12,500

4.     1     Russian Silver Fruit-Form Teapot   $ 10,000

5.     85   Tiffany & Co. Silver Coffee Service and Cake Stand   $ 10,000    

6.     158  Georg Jensen "Acorn" Silver Flatware   $ 10,000 

7.     107  Mexican Sterling Coffee Service   $ 9,375 

8.     157  Georg Jensen "Pyramid" Silver Flatware   $ 8,750

9.     84   Gorham Silver Coffee Service   $ 8,125

10.  143  Georg Jensen "Blossom" Silver Tray   $ 8,125   

Coins and Currency, Friday, December 7, 2012

1.     367  Morgan Silver Dollar Complete Business Strike Set   $ 11,250

2.     327  U.S. $2 1/2 Gold Coins   $ 7,500

3.     301  Mexico 8 Reales   $ 5,938

4.     359  U.S. Silver Dollar Coins  $ 2,500

5.     314  Chinese and Japanese Coins   $ 2,375

Saturday, December 8, 2012: Great Estates

·          Hammer: $521,725

·          Hammer + b.p. $652,156

·          Percent sold: 83% 

·          1184 Internet bidders from U.S., Canada, Mexico, Chile, Brazil, Puerto Rice, Russia, Australia, New Zealand, Nigeria, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Cyprus, Turkey, Portugal, Spain, France, Italy, Netherlands, Germany, Switzerland, Bulgaria, Romania, Czech Republic, Austria, Croatia, Poland, Sweden, Norway, Ukraine, Slovakia, Denmark, United Kingdom, Ireland.

·          Top Lot: Alexander III Imperial Russian porcelain plate, estimate: $6,000-8,000; sold for $87,500

1.     531   Alexander III Imperial Russian Porcelain Plate   $ 87,500

2.     694   Chinese Rhinoceros Horn Libation Cup   $ 62,500

3.     682   Narwhal Whale Tusk   $ 11,250 

4.     573a  Style of Shishkin Russian Painting    $ 8,750

5.     697   Shiy De-Jinn, Two Watercolor Landscapes   $ 8,750     

6.     778   Paul Manship, Glazed Ceramic Figure of a Goat   $ 8,750 

7.     530   Vasili Grachev, Bronze of a mounted Cossack   $ 8,125 

8.     587   Pennsylvania Dutch Cupboard   $ 7,500 

9.     573   James M. Hart (Attr.), Oil on Canvas of a Misty Morning  $6,875      

10.  509   Victor Salmones, Bronze Sculpture, "Kneeling Figure"   $ 6,250

11.  556   Hermann O. Herzog, Oil on Canvas of a Landscape   $ 6,250

12.  847   Turkish Bokhara Suzani Embroidery   $ 6,250

Sunday, December 9, 2012 Jewelry and Couture

·          Hammer: :   $1,390,650

·          Hammer + b.p.  $1,738,313

·          Percent sold:  92%

·          1226 Internet bidders from U.S., Canada, Puerto Rico, Brazil, Russia, China, Japan, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Nigeria, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, Australia, New Zealand, Spain, France, Germany, Italy, Bulgaria, Romania, Turkey, India, Pakistan, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Ireland, United Kingdom, Lebanon, Israel, Ukraine, Poland, Croatia, Slovakia, Austria, Switzerland, Netherlands, Taiwan.

·          Top Lot:  1429, 9.33 Cts. Pear-Shaped Diamond Ring, estimated at $60,000-80,000, sold for: $ 68,750

1.     1429  9.33 Cts. Pear-Shaped Diamond Ring   $ 68,750

2.     1341  Platinum Diamond Garland Necklace   $ 62,500

3.     1422  Untreated Sapphire, Diamond and Platinum Ring   $ 40,625

4.     1331  Art Deco Pearl, Emerald and Diamond Necklace   $ 27,500

5.     1336  Cartier Art Deco Rose Quartz Diamond Pendulette   $ 18,750

6.     1424  LaCloche Freres Enameled Gold Necessary   $ 18,750    

7.     1334  Diamond Double Crescent Clip Brooches   $ 17,500 

8.     1057  Louis Comfort Tiffany Moonstone Bracelet  $15,000

9.     1001  Egyptian Revival Enameled Gold Fringe Necklace  $12,500

10.  1026  Victorian Jeweled Gold Beetle Brooch  $6,250

Consignments are now being accepted for Rago’s April 2013 sales of jewelry, estate property and coins; December 2013 jewelry; Spring sales of 20th/21st C. design and fine art: 609.397.9374 or info@ragoarts.com.  

TO THE EDITOR

High resolution images/more information available on request.

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. One of the top auction houses in the field of  in 20th century design since its inception, 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.

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