Lambertville, NJ: Rago Arts and Auction Center's 20th C. Decorative Arts and Design Auction brought $5,651,686 June 5, 6, and 7, 2015. New global auction records were established on all three days: in Friday's early 20th C. Design auction, a 1902 Van Briggle Lorelei vase brought $274,000; continuing the trend in Saturday's Contemporary Glass auction was a Chihuly chandelier selling for $200,000 and a Lino Tagliapietra vase which sold for $46,875. In Sunday's Modern Design auction Paul Evans stole the show, most notably with a rare Wavy Front cabinet bringing $286,000, also a new record for Evans. The entire weekend was a success, with results well above estimate overall.

• Weekend Total Hammer: $4,503,825
• Hammer + B.P.: $5,627,282
• Low Estimate: $3,939,350
• High Estimate: $5,590,900
• Bidders in-house:  97
• Bidders on phone:  252
• Absentee Bidders: 86
• Number of lots:  1079
• Percent sold:  80%

Friday, June 5: Early 20th C. Design

• Hammer:  $1,583,175
• Hammer + 25% buyer’s premium = $1,977,969
• Low Estimate: $1,464,350
• High Estimate: $2,060,500
• Number of lots: 321
• Percent sold:  78%
• Bidsquare, 120 bidders. Outside the U.S.: Canada, Italy, Netherlands, Hungary, Denmark, Luxembourg, and South Korea.
• RagoLive, 294 bidders. Outside the U.S.: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Hungary, Israel, Italy, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Singapore, and the United Kingdom.

Early 20th C. Design Highlighted Lots:

• 118  Van Briggle Early Lorelei vase, 1902   $274,000
• 102  Frederick H. Rhead; University City tile panel   $250,000
• 282  Emile Galle Fine “Epis de Blé” sideboard   $103,125
• 3      Arthur Baggs; Marblehead tile   $100,000
• 170  Harvey Ellis; Gustav Stickley Inlaid desk   $87,500
• 30    H. Joor; Newcomb College Humidor with witches   $53,125
• 43    George Ohr Two-handled vase   $46,875
• 261  Lalique Rare "Bouchon Cassis" perfume bottle   $25,000
• 287  Porter Blanchard Sterling flatware service   $25,000
• 70    Joseph Heinrichs (Attr.) Drinking set   $23,750

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

• Hammer:  $1,344,500
• Hammer + 25% buyer’s premium = $1,680,625
• Low Estimate:  $1,126,200
• High Estimate:  $1,629,500
• Number of lots: 498
• Percent sold:  79%
• LiveAuctioneers, 589 bidders. Outside the U.S.: Brazil, Canada, South Africa, Israel, Germany, France, Italy, Czech Republic, Austria, Netherlands, Ireland, UK, Belgium, Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong, and Japan.

Modern Ceramics and Glass:

• Hammer:  $895,375
• Hammer + 25% buyer’s premium = $1,119,219
• Low Estimate:  $612,850
• High Estimate:  $881,700
• Number of lots: 179
• Percent sold:  85%
• Bidsquare, 138 bidders. Outside the U.S.: Canada, France, Italy, Netherlands, Hungary, Denmark, Korea, Luxembourg, and United Kingdom.
• RagoLive, 330 bidders. Outside the U.S.: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Hungary, Israel, Italy, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Singapore, Sweden, and United Kingdom.

Modern Ceramics and Glass Highlighted Lots:

• 360 Dale Chihuly Important chandelier  $200,000
• 350 Lino Tagliapietra Sculptural vessel   $46,875
• 351 Lino Tagliapietra Sculptural vessel   $38,400
• 354 Lino Tagliapietra Sculptural vessel  $37,500
• 376 Yoichi Ohira Fiori Verdi e Blu vase  $26,250
• 419 Richard Marquis Patchwork Wizard Teapot  $25,000
• 527 Waylande Gregory Cubist sculpture  $25,000
• 386 Libensky; Brychtova Glass sculpture, "The Kiss"   $25,000
• 521 Maija Grotell vase  $13,750
• 533 Robert Arneson Self-Portrait Trophy Bust   $12,500

Mid-Mod:

• Hammer:  $449,125
• Hammer + 25% buyer’s premium:  $561,406
• Low Estimate: $513,350
• High Estimate: $747,800
• Number of lots: 319
• Percent sold:  76% 
• Bidsquare, 137 bidders. Outside the U.S.: Canada, France, Italy, Netherlands, Hungary, Denmark, Korea, Luxembourg, and United Kingdom.
• RagoLive, 328 bidders. Outside the U.S.: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Hungary, Israel, Italy, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Singapore, Sweden, United Kingdom.

Mid-Mod Highlighted Lots:

• 905 Donald Judd Prototype for a portfolio case   $41,250
• 711 Nakashima; Widdicomb Origins cabinet and mirror  $11,875
• 750 American Studio Five-panel screen   $10,000
• 713 Paul Evans; Directional Cabinet   $9,375
• 679 Vladimir Kagan Shorty sofa  $8,125
• 763  Ignazio Gardella; Santa & Cole Pr. Digamma chairs   $7,500
• 792 Pierre Paulin Pair of Ribbon chairs and ottomans  $7,500
• 897 Brueton Bench   $6,875
• 911 American Pair of andirons   $5,938
• 848 Milo Baughman; Thayer Coggin Cabinet   $5,938

Sunday, June 7: Modern Design

• Hammer:  $1,576,150
• Hammer + 25% buyer’s premium:  $1,968,688
• Low estimate:  $1,348,800
• High estimate:  $1,900,900
• Number of lots: 260
• Percent sold:  85% 
• Bidsquare, 142 bidders. Outside the U.S.: Canada, Denmark, France, Hungary, Italy, Korea, Luxembourg, Netherlands, and UK.
• RagoLive, 352 bidders. Outside the U.S.: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Hungary, Israel, Italy, Mexico, , Netherlands, New Zealand, Singapore, Sweden, and UK.

Modern Design Highlighted Lots:

• 1013 Paul Evans Wavy Front cabinet   $286,000
• 1007 Paul Evans Two-door Sculpture Front cabinet   $118,750
• 1015 Paul Evans Argente dining table   $56,250
• 1010 Paul Evans Deep Relief cabinet   $46,875
• 1144 M. & M. Banner Exceptional coffee/tea set   $33,750
• 1194 Harry Bertoia Massive Split Gong   $34,560
• 1006 Wharton Esherick Stool   $32,500
• 1168 George Nakashima Coffee table  $31,250
• 1061 Maria Pergay (Attr.) Desk   $28,750
• 1012 Paul Evans Disc bar   $26,250

Consignments are now being accepted for the next 20th C. Design auctions, October 16/17/18, 2015 and all Rago fall auctions: 609.397.9374 or info@ragoarts.com. 

TO THE EDITOR

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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.

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