A CARTIER BROOCH clinches $514,000 in RAGO’S $4.3 MILLION DECEMBER AUCTION. Janson collection tops $579,000.

Lambertville, NJ:  Rago Arts and Auction Center ended the year in spectacular style with a weekend sale that totaled $4,313,164. The coveted collection of Art Deco and Art Nouveau jewelry belonging to Dora Jane Janson was 100% sold and, at a total selling price (with buyer’s premium) of $579,063, exceeded its high estimate of $451,550 by 28%. The top selling lot was a Cartier Art Deco “Pinecone” shoulder brooch in diamond encrusted platinum (lot 1427). The top lot in the Coins/Currency auction was a collection of coins from China and Chinese provinces (Lot 786) which sold for $43,380. In the Great Estates auction, the top lot was a Persian Tabir Zin Axe Head (Lot 603) which sold for $46,875. Both of these were brought to the auction house for valuation from private homes by owners who had no knowledge of value. The Chinese coins were among 800 pounds of coins brought to Chris Wise, who directs the Great Estates auctions, in the trunk of a car. Another lot from a walk-in valuation was correctly identified by Sarah Churgin, Director of Rago’s Jewelry department, despite the absence of markings, as a pin by Rene Lalique. As lot 1009, it sold with attribution for $46,875 against an estimate of $3,000-$5,000, confirming Sarah’s judgment.  

• Weekend Total: $3,465,905 (hammer)
• Weekend Total: $4,313,164 (hammer + b.p.)
• Percent sold: 86%
• Bidders in-house: 165
• Absentee bidders: 114
• Bidders on phone: 226
• Number of lots: 1243

Sunday, December 6, 2015, Fine Jewelry, Couture and Objets de Vertu

• Hammer: $2,784,300
• Hammer + b.p. $3,469,375
• Low Estimate: $2,041,350
• High Estimate: $2,836,700
• Number of lots: 533
• Percent sold: 93%
• Internet Bidders: 991 from the USA, Canada, U.K., Mexico, Brazil, Netherlands, Ireland, Poland, Norway, Pakistan, Kuwait, Israel, Sri Lanka, Czech Republic, Greece, Sweden, Spain, Italy, Demark, Austria, Czech Republic, Russia, New Zealand, Belgium, Australia, India, Taiwan, Germany, France, United Arab Emirates, Hungary, Panama, China, Japan, and Hong Kong.

• 1427 Cartier Pinecone Diamond Platinum Shoulder Brooch  $514,000
• 1389 Nadja Buckley Pink Tourmaline and Diamond Necklace  $65,625
• 1013 Lalique Pinned "Dragonfly Woman" Gold Cane Handle  $62,500
• 1431 Cartier Art Deco Diamond, Platinum Strap Bracelet   $59,375
• 1009 Art Nouveau Plique-A-Jour Pressed Glass Gold Jewel  $46,875
• 1405 Art Deco Burma Sapphire, Diamond Platinum Bracelet  $46,875
• 1000 Andre Kauffer Diamond Thistle Corsage Ornament  $40,625 
• 1426 Burma Ruby and Diamond Three-Stone Platinum Ring  $37,500 
• 1003 Rene Lalique "Ombelles" Horn and Diamond Hair Comb  $33,750  
• 1012 Plique-a-Jour Wisteria Brooch, Attrib. Vever   $31,250
• 1422 Art Deco Diamond and Burma Ruby Platinum Strap  $31,250
• 1339 Art Deco Chinese Tourmaline & Seed Pearl Necklace $30,000

Saturday, December 5, 2015: Great Estates

• Hammer:$499,005
• Hammer + b.p. $623,756
• Low estimate: $676,200
• High estimate: $1,007,700
• Number of lots: 596
• Percent sold: 80%
• Internet Bidders: 1183 from the USA, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Panama, UK, France, Germany, Belgium, Italy, Netherlands, Denmark, Austria, Poland, Lithuania, Ukraine, Russia, Norway, Spain, Portugal, Egypt, Romania, Turkey, Bulgaria, Greece, United Arab Emirates, Pakistan, India, Czech Republic, Hungary, China, Malaysia Vietnam, Hong Kong, Japan, Taiwan, New Zealand and Australia.

• 603  Persian Tabar Zin Axe Head   $46,875
• 347  Louis XVI Style Amaranth Writing Table  $6,875
• 408  Adolphe Itasse after William Bouguereau   $6,875
• 516  Two Pairs of Wooly Chaps $6,875
• 353  George III Mahogany Bureau Bookcase  $6,250
• 198  Isidore Jules Bonheur (French, 1827-1901), Untitled, Bronze   $5,938
• 142  Painted Automobilia Tin Sign  $5,625
• 199  Isidore Jules Bonheur (French, 1827-1901), Taureau Beuglant   $5,625
• 344  Pair Louis XV Style Gilt Bronze Mounted Commodes  $5,625
• 56   Paul Cadmus (American, 1904-1999), Jonathon    $5,313

Saturday, December 5, 2015: Coins and Currency

• Hammer: $182,600
• Hammer + b.p.: $220,033 (b.p.=20.5%)
• Low Estimate: $132,950
• High Estimate: $230,200
• Number of lots: 114
• Percent sold: 93%
• Internet Bidders: 469 from the USA, Canada, Brazil, Panama, Russia, U.K., Germany, Hungary, Spain, Sweden, Italy, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Poland, Belgium, Austria, India, United Arab Emirates, China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Australia, and New Zealand.

• 786 Coins of China and Chinese Provinces $43,380
• 714 Hawaii 1928 Commemorative 50C. Coins   $12,050
• 757 S. 1799 Draped Bust $1.00 Coin  $9,640
• 756 S. 1799 Draped Bust $1.00 Coin $7,230
• 759 S. 1799 Draped Bust $1.00 Coin $6,025

Consignments are now being accepted for Rago’s April 2016 Great Estates, Jewelry and all of Rago’s Winter/Spring sales: 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 $30 million in sales in 2013. 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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