Lambertville, NJ:  The Rago Arts and Auction Center hosts an open house on Thursday, June 6, featuring a talk by Dr.  Martin Eidelberg on “The Men of Modern Design” at 6 p.m. The talk takes place during the preview week for Rago’s 20th C. Design auctions, which will take place on June 8th and 9th.

About 1930, the history of modern design in the United States took a decisive turn when a small group of very young men (almost all under 30) became aware of modern Dutch and German architecture, and they brought that functionalist, Bauhaus-oriented style to New York. Many of them, including Alfred Barr and Philip Johnson, worked at the newly founded Museum of Modern Art, and this institution became a center of advocacy for what they christened the "International Style." These men's private lives were as interesting as the many public architectural exhibitions they staged. Their chic urban apartments were furnished by the likes of Mies van der Rohe and Le Corbusier. Theirs was a world of complicated sexual liaisons, and their interests in all aspects of modern art brought them together with Sergei Eisenstein, Gertrude Stein, Aaron Copland, Lincoln Kirstein, and other important artists of that age.

Dr. Martin Eidelberg is a prominent American professor emeritus of art history at Rutgers University and expert on art pottery and Tiffany glass. Dr. Eidelberg has two principal fields of research:  He has published widely on the drawings and paintings of Antoine Watteau, as well as on many of the artists associated with him; his second field of specialization is modern decorative arts. In addition to publishing extensively on the American Arts and Crafts movement and Art Nouveau, with particular emphasis on American ceramics and the work of Louis C. Tiffany, he has written widely about mid-20th century design.

The auction house opens on Thursday, June 6 at Noon. A reception begins at 5 pm. Dr. Eidelberg will speak at 6 pm.

RSVP to 609.397.9374 ext. 119 or raac@ragoarts.com. If you unable to RSVP in advance, please join us if you can; all are welcome.

TO THE EDITOR

High resolution images 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. Originally specialists in 20th century design, 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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