WORK BY PAUL EVANS, GEORGE NAKASHIMA, TOMMI PARZINGER, GREENE & GREENE, LALIQUE, MICHAEL LUCERO, AND DALE CHIHULY AMONG HIGHLIGHTS OF RAGO’S OCTOBER 16-18 AUCTIONS

Lambertville, NJ:  On Friday, October 16, Saturday, October 17, and Sunday, October 18, the Rago Arts and Auction Center will hold its auction of Early 20th Century Decorative Arts and Modern Design.

Lalique: Friday, October 16 at 10 am, 81 lots

The finest collection of Lalique glass we have seen in years featuring many rare pieces and a rainbow of colors, including a Cluny vase, red and butterscotch Poissons, teal and electric blue Perruches, a Caravelle centerpiece, a Normandie table lamp, an Eléphants bowl, and a Thomery cocktail-shaker.

“We are proud to offer, in its entirety, a single-owner collection of Lalique glass. All pieces are in excellent original condition (please see individual condition reports) and reserved below their low estimates,” said David Rago, Partner + Co-Director, 20th C. Design Dept.

Highlights:

Lot 1: Rare “Cluny” vase, $80,000 – $120,000

Lot 46: Rare “Caravelle” centerpiece, $70,000 – $90,000

Lot 20: Red “Perruches” vase, $20,000 – $30,000

Lot 55: Yellow amber “Tourbillons” vase, $15,000 – $20,000

Lot 45: Enameled “Antilopes” vase, $18,000 – $22,000

Lot 51: Butterscotch opalescent “Poissons” vase, $15,000 – $20,000

The James and Diane Cook Collection: Friday, October 16 at 12 pm, 278 lots

The collection of James and Diane Cook, owners of Investment Rarities in Minneapolis, Minnesota, encompasses the finest of American ceramics, glass, and lighting, including: Newcomb College, Teco, North Dakota School of Mines, Fulper, Rookwood, Weller, Roseville, Jugtown, Polia Pillin, Steuben, Quezal, Tiffany Studios, Durand, Handel, Pairpoint, Duffner & Kimberly, and more.

“The Cooks collected decorative ceramics and glass, mostly American, for nearly the past two decades,” said David Rago. “Their collection is offered here intact, including an important selection of Newcomb College pottery and Tiffany glass.”

Highlights:

Lot 320: Quezal, tall Jack-in-the-Pulpit vase, $6,000 – $9,000

Lot 331: Tiffany Studios, blue Favrile Jack-in-the-Pulpit, $10,000 – $15,000

Lot 325: Quezal, large vase with applied elements, $5,000 – $7,500

Lot 100: Newcomb College, large vase with swans, $45,000 – $65,000

Lot 152: Fulper, rare Vasekraft lamp, $9,000 – $12,000

Lot 101: Newcomb College, early vase with wisteria, $25,000 – $30,000

Early 20th C. Decorative Arts: Saturday, October 17 at 10 am, 265 lots

Ceramics by George Ohr, Marblehead, Rookwood, Van Briggle, Pewabic, Frackelton, and a fine group of Fulper from the Collection of Robert A. Ellison. European pottery by the Martin Brothers, Clement Massier, Ernst Wahliss, and Moorcroft. Furniture by Gustav Stickley, Charles Rohlfs, Limbert, Roycroft, Emile Galle, Rose Valley, and Louis Majorelle. Lighting by Tiffany Studios, Handel, Dirk Van Erp, Suess, and Roycroft. Superb glass by Tiffany Studios, Galle, Daum, Loetz, Muller Freres, and Gabriel Argy-Rousseau. Metalwork by Jauchen’s, Dirk Van Erp, and Stickley Brothers. Artwork by Gustave Baumann, Margaret Patterson, and Bertha Lum. Silver by Gorham and Lebolt.

“Our upcoming Arts and Crafts session features several important lots of 20th century design,” said David Rago, “including a unique Greene & Greene lamp from the Blacker House, an Argyle Street coat stand by Charles Mackintosh, and a large Marblehead panther bowl.”

Highlights:

Lot 602: Martin Brothers, bird tobacco jar, $17,500 – $22,500

Lot 506: George Ohr, large ewer, $15,000 – $20,000

Lot 724: Gabriel Argy-Rousseau, “The Apple Picker” vase, $8,000 – $12,000

Lot 580: Gustav Stickley, early bookcase, $15,000 – $25,000

Lot 551: Greene & Greene, Blacker House table lamp, $40,000 – $60,000

Lot 586: Charles Rohlfs, hall chair with cut-outs, $12,000 – $18,000

Mid-Mod: Saturday, October 17 at 2 pm, 386 lots

Mid-priced 20th C. furniture and decorative objects: Paul Evans, George Nakashima, Tommi Parzinger, Gilbert Rohde, Paul Frankl, Alvar Aalto, Edmund Spence, Willy Daro, Miguel Berrocal, Arredoluce, Silas Seandel, James Bearden, Milo Baughman, Rookwood, Marblehead, George Ohr, Wedgwood, Grueby, Teco, and more.

“Mid-Mod, our newest 20th century session, continues with our strongest offering to date,” said David Rago. “The sale offers a broad range of moderately priced furniture, lighting, and decorative art, fully guaranteed and conservatively priced.”

Highlights:

Lot 897: Paul Evans/Directional, coffee table, $4,000 – $6,000

Lot 893: Paul Evans, Patchwork stool, $4,500 – $6,500

Lot 906: George Nakashima, Sliding Door cabinet, $8,000 – $10,000

Lot 1129: Edward Wormley/Dunbar, Listen to Me chaise, $4,000 – $6,000

Lot 1097: Kinkeldey, glass chandelier, $3,000 – $4,000

Lot 1071: Tripp Carpenter, coffee table, $3,000 – $4,000

Modern Design: Sunday, October 18 at 10 am, 339 lots

Furniture by George and Mira Nakashima, Wendell Castle, Wharton Esherick, Pierre Jeanneret, Vladimir Kagan, Arthur E. Carpenter, Philip & Kelvin LaVerne, and a single-owner collection of Tommi Parzinger. Rare and custom works by Paul Evans and Phil Powell, including an extra-long Deep Relief cabinet and spectacular Evans/Powell wall unit. An unprecedented number of designs by contemporary makers such as Clare Graham, Jordan Mozer, and James Bearden. Scandinavian wares designed by Hans Wegner, Ib-Kofod Larsen, Finn Juhl, Arne Norell, and Poul Henningsen. Italian glass by Flavio Poli, Fulvio Bianconi, Dino Martens, and Ercole Barovier. Two rare plaques by Pablo Picasso for Madoura. Lighting by Charlotte Perriand, Arredoluce, Karl Springer, and Hans-Agne Jakobsson. Wall-hangings by Alexander Calder and Niki de Saint Phalle. Sculpture by Harry Bertoia, Miguel Berrocal, Mario dal Fabbro, and Pedro Friedeberg. Jewelry by Albert Paley and Henry Shawah. Silver and silver plate by Georg Jensen, Tias Eckhoff, Donald Colflesh, and Lurelle Guild.

“Our Sunday Modern session is strong on two fronts, in both cases offering a wealth of material new to the marketplace,” said David Rago. “We have nearly 100 lots of New Hope Modernist furniture and objects that have not been offered for sale since they were initially placed by Paul Evans, George Nakashima, and Phil Powell.  Our Contemporary Designer series features two dozen works, many of which are from the private collections of the artist.”

Highlights:

Lot 1563: Phil Powell, sofa, $10,000 – $15,000

Lot 1551: Paul Evans/Phil Powell, large wall unit, $30,000 – $50,000

Lot 1789: T.H. Robsjohn-Gibbings/Widdicomb, Mesa table, $30,000 – $50,000

Lot 1501: Tommi Parzinger, Studded cabinet, $12,000 – $18,000

Lot 1547: Paul Evans, extra-long Deep Relief cabinet, $40,000 – $60,000

Lot 1535: George Nakashima, Minguren I dining table, $30,000 – $40,000

Modern Ceramics and Glass: Sunday, October 18 at 2 pm, 163 lots

An exceptional selection of glass by Lino Tagliapietra, Frantisek Vizner, Yoichi Ohira, William Morris, Jon Kuhn, Libensky & Brychtova, Paul Stankard, “Toots” Zynsky, Benjamin Moore, Laura de Santillana, Richard Marquis, Stephen Powell, Karla Trinkley, and more. Nineteen works by Dale Chihuly including a massive Jerusalem Cylinder and multiple eye-catching Seaform Sets. Ceramics by Waylande Gregory, the Scheiers, the Natzlers, Harrison McIntosh, David Gilhooly, Claude Conover, Cliff Lee, Jason Walker, Erik Gronborg, Bennett Bean, and a rare Peter Voulkos bronze.

“The West Coast is well represented in this sale, with many fine and large examples of glass sculpture by Dale Chihuly, William Morris and its adopted son, Lino Tagliapietra,” said Suzanne Perrault, Partner and Co-Director. “Once again, we have an exceptional collection of Yoichi Ohira vessels, starring a large, faceted murine vessel, ‘Casta Diva’; also several very good Czech pieces in rich, original colors.  We’re quite pleased with this offering of contemporary glass, and hope you will be, too.”

Highlights:

Lot 2143: William Morris, Reliquary Vessel, $15,000 – $20,000

Lot 2100: Dale Chihuly, massive Jerusalem Cylinder, $15,000 – $20,000

Lot 2152: Mary Ann “Toots” Zynsky, Filet-de-Verre vessel, $14,000 – $19,000

Lot 2053: Kurt Weiser, two lidded jars, $8,000 – $12,000

Lot 2000: Waylande Gregory, Electron, $6,000 – $9,000

Lot 2055: Michael Lucero, unique bronze sculpture, $14,000 – $19,000

Auction Exhibition/Preview/Bidding

• Saturday, October 10 through Wednesday, October 14, 12–5 pm and by appointment. Thursday, October 15, 12-7 pm. Open at 9 am on October 16, 17 and 18.
• Open House with Guest Speaker James Zemaitis, Visiting Curator of Decorative Arts at the Indianapolis Museum of Art, “The Necessity of Connoisseurship in 20th Century Design”. Wednesday, October 14. The auction house opens at noon, reception at 5 pm, lecture at 6 pm. RSVP: 609.397.9374 ext. 119 or raac@ragoarts.com.
• Ragos is located midway between NYC (1 hr. 15 min) and Philadelphia (50 min). Directions online at ragoarts.com
• Telephone/absentee/online bidding available at www.bidsquare.com for those unable to attend.

Catalogues

• Printed catalogues are available for $20 each ($80 for all five) by calling 609.397.9374 or emailing a request to info@ragoarts.com.
• View a complete online catalogue with color images at ragoarts.com and bidsquare.com, online Sept. 25.

NOTES FOR THE EDITOR

• High-resolution images available.
• 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: February 26-28, 2016.

END OF PRESS RELEASE