Lambertville, NJ: On Friday, June 5, Saturday, June 6, and Sunday, June 7, the Rago Arts and Auction Center will hold auctions of Early 20th Century Decorative Arts and Modern Design.

Early 20th C. Decorative Arts: Friday, June 5, 11 am, 324 lots

Ceramics by Newcomb College, Grueby, Teco, Walrath, Overbeck, Marblehead, Rookwood, and George Ohr. A fine group of Fulper from the Collection of Robert A. Ellison. European pottery by Zsolnay, Edmond Lachenal, Auguste Delaherche, and Emile Diffloth. Furniture by Gustav Stickley, Limbert, Roycroft, Emile Galle, and Louis Majorelle. A rare drop-front desk and music cabinet by Harvey Ellis for Gustav Stickley. Lighting by Tiffany Studios, Handel, Dirk Van Erp, and Wilkinson. Glass by Lalique, Loetz, and Tiffany Studios. Metalwork by Joseph Heinrichs, Dirk Van Erp, Marie Zimmerman, and Jarvie. Silver by Porter Blanchard and Charles Grosjean for Tiffany & Co.

“One of our best Arts and Crafts sessions in years,” said David Rago, Partner and Co-Director, “including some exceptional period furniture, lighting by all the period masters, and the usual retinue of high end art pottery.  Featured are two collections of George Ohr pottery, an important peacock tile panel by Frederick Rhead, a Purcell and Elmslie chair, and prints by Dow and Baumann.”

Modern Ceramics and Glass: Saturday, June 6, 11 am, 180 lots

An exceptional selection of glass by Lino Tagliapietra, Dale Chihuly, Frantisek Vizner, Yoichi Ohira, William Morris, Jon Kuhn, Libensky & Brychtova, Howard Ben Tre, Michael Taylor, Paul Stankard, Michael Glancy, “Toots” Zynsky, Dan Dailey, Richard Marquis, Sonja Blomdahl, Harvey Littleton, and more. Ceramics by the Scheiers, Claude Conover, Maija Grotell, Carl Walters, Waylande Gregory, Robert Arneson, Paul Soldner, David Shaner, Harrison McIntosh, the Natzlers, the Cabats, and Peter Vandenberge.

“The strongest collection of glass I believe we’ve presented so far,” said Suzanne Perrault, Partner and Co-Director, “with a spectacular 700-piece chandelier by Chihuly, exceptional groupings of Lino vessels, luscious Yoichi Ohira pieces, Stankard paperweights, Vizner glass, and some good representation by the finest contemporary glass makers such as Littleton, Morris, Libensky & Brychtova, and Ben Tre.  I am really excited about this sale.”

Mid-Mod: Saturday, June 6, after Mod Ceramics and Glass, 319 lots

Mid-priced 20th C. furniture and decorative objects: Van Briggle, Marblehead, Newcomb College, Teco, Rookwood, Gustav Stickley, Liberty & Co., Martin Brothers, Rorstrand, Tiffany Studios, Steuben, Vladimir Kagan, Edward Wormley, T.H. Robsjohn-Gibbings, Harvey Probber, Paul Evans/Directional, Silas Seandel, James Bearden, Guido Gambone, Jacques Adnet, Arne Jacobsen, Milo Baughman, and more.

Modern Design:  Sunday, June 7, 11 am, 259 lots

Furniture by Paul Evans, George and Mira Nakashima, Wendell Castle, Wharton Esherick, Pierre Jeanneret, Vladimir Kagan, Piero Fornasetti, Oscar Bach, Gio Ponti, and Philip & Kelvin LaVerne. Scandinavian wares designed by Hans Wegner, Finn Juhl, and Josef Frank. Italian glass by Flavio Poli, Fulvio Bianconi, Sergio Asti, and Ercole Barovier. Ceramics by Pablo Picasso at Madoura, Guido Gambone, and Edouard Cazaux. Lighting by Charlotte Perriand, Lunel, Boris Lacroix, Arredoluce, Ettore Sottsass, and Verner Panton. Wall-hangings by Alexander Calder and Alessandro Mendini. Sculpture by Harry Bertoia, Miguel Berrocal, Gaetano Pesce, David Savage, and Pedro Friedeberg. Jewelry by Albert Paley, Carolyn Kriegman, and Svetozar & Ruth Radakovich. Silver by Georg Jensen, Christofle, Carlo Scarpa, Ettore Sottsass, and Michael & Maureen Banner.

“Cabinets can be as artful as they are functional,” said Jad Attal, Modern Specialist. “We feature many fine ones in this sale, three of the best being Oscar Bach’s early and rare Vargueno cabinet, John Cederquist’s playful cabinet “Kosode That Built Itself,” and James Bearden’s sculptural metal Array cabinet. From Art Deco to brutalist, we have something for everyone in this sale.”

Auction Exhibition/Preview/Bidding

• Saturday, May 30 - Wednesday, June 3, 12–5 p.m. and by appointment. Thursday, June 4, 12-7 p.m. Open at 9 a.m. on June 5, 6 and 7.
• Open House with guest speaker, Arlene Silvers PhD, Curator of Contemporary Glass for the National Liberty Museum, “Contemporary Glass: Life Beyond Chihuly”, Thursday, June 4, the auction house opens at noon, a reception begins at 5 p.m., lecture at 6 p.m. RSVP to 609.397.9374 ext. 119 or raac@ragoarts.com.
• Rago’s is located midway between New York City and Philadelphia. Directions online at www.ragoarts.com.
• Telephone/absentee/online bidding available at www.ragoarts.com and www.bidsquare.com for those unable to attend.

Catalogue

• Printed catalogues are available for $25 each ($60 for all three) by calling 609.397.9374 or e-mailing a request to info@ragoarts.com.
• View a complete online catalogue with color images at www.ragoarts.com and www.bidsquare.com, online May 15.

SELECT HIGHLIGHTS

Early 20th C. Decorative Arts: Friday, June 5, 11 a.m.

Lot 118: Van Briggle, Early Lorelei vase, $35,000 – $45,000

Lot 102: Frederick H. Rhead/University City, Rare peacock tile panel, $250,000 – $350,000

Lot 125: Overbeck, Exceptional urn, $15,000 – $20,000

Lot 73: Harvey Ellis/Gustav Stickley, Rare music cabinet, $60,000 – $80,000

Lot 282: Emile Galle, Fine marquetry sideboard, $30,000 – $40,000

Lot 170: Harvey Ellis/Gustav Stickley, Rare inlaid desk, $80,000 – $120,000

Lot 30: Harriet Joor/Newcomb College, Rare jar with witches, $20,000 – $30,000

Lot 261: Lalique, Rare green “Bouchon Cassis” perfume bottle, $12,500 – $17,500

Lot 43: George Ohr, Exceptional two-handled vase, $40,000 – $45,000

Modern Ceramics and Glass: Saturday, June 6, 11 a.m.

Lot 372: Frantisek Vizner, Red bowl with peak, $15,000 – $20,000

Lot 360: Dale Chihuly, Important chandelier, $60,000 – $80,000

Lot 351: Lino Tagliapietra, Sculptural vessel, $15,000 – $20,000

Lot 521: Maija Grotell, Large vase, $9,000 – $12,000

Lot 533: Robert Arneson, Self-portrait Trophy Bust, $11,000 – $15,000

Lot 527: Waylande Gregory, Unique sculpture, $25,000 – $35,000

Mid-Mod:  Saturday, June 6, after Mod Ceramics and Glass  

Lot 708: Nakashima/Widdicomb, Tall Origins dresser, $3,000 – $4,000

Lot 679: Vladimir Kagan, Shorty sofa, $4,000 – $6,000

Lot 764: Angelo Mangiarotti, Dining table, $5,000 – $7,000

Lot 791: Geoffrey Harcourt, Lounge and ottoman, $1,500 – $2,000

Lot 816: Finn Juhl/Kay Bojesen, Eight bowls, $3,000 – $5,000

Lot 792: Pierre Paulin/Artifort, Pair of Ribbon chairs w/ ottomans, $3,500 – $5,500

Modern Design:  Sunday, June 7, 11 a.m.

Lot 1199: John Cederquist, Cabinet, $15,000 – $20,000

Lot 1007: Paul Evans, Two-door Sculpture Front cabinet, $90,000 – $120,000

Lot 1001: Albert Paley, Room divider, $25,000 – $35,000

Lot 1168: George Nakashima, Fine coffee table, $25,000 – $35,000

Lot 1194: Harry Bertoia, Massive split gong, $30,000 – $40,000

Lot 1071: Gio Ponti, Occasional table, $14,000 – $18,000

Lot 1139: Johan Rohde/Georg Jensen, Large tazza, $15,000 – $20,000

Lot 1009: Paul Evans, Early sculpture, $18,000 – $24,000

Lot 1144: Michael and Maureen Banner, Sterling coffee/tea set, $20,000 – $30,000

NOTES FOR THE EDITOR

• High-resolution images available on request.
• About Rago Arts and Auction Center  Rago is a leading U.S. auction house with $30 million in annual sales. It serves thousands of sellers and buyers yearly with a singular blend of global reach, personal service and competitive commissions for single pieces, collections and estates. Rago holds auctions of 20th/21st c. design, fine art, decorative arts, furnishings, jewelry, Asian, militaria, coins and currency, silver, historic ephemera, and ethnographic property. Rago also provides a range of appraisal services conducted by USPAP (Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice) compliant appraisers, performed to the highest standards set by the IRS, insurers and the Appraisers Association of America. Rago is located in New Jersey, midway between New York City and Philadelphia.
• Next 20th C. Design Auctions: October 16-18, 2015.

END OF PRESS RELEASE