On Friday, February 26, Saturday, February 27, and Sunday, February 28, the Rago Arts and Auction Center will hold six auctions of Early 20th Century and Modern Design.

Una Buona Vita…A Private New Jersey Collection: Friday, February 26, 4:00 p.m., 101 lots

A fine collection of Tiffany Studios works put together in the 1970s, including a Dragonfly hanging shade, Dragonfly table lamp, Bellflower table lamp, and wheel-carved, paperweight, Cypriote, Agate, and Tel-el-Amarna vases. Fine French Art Nouveau glass including a Daum cameo and martelé glass vase, a Vallerysthal gourd vase, and a large Muller Frères aquamarine vase. Rare KPM plaques, fine French Art Nouveau furniture, and decorative bronzes round out this exceptional single-owner collection.

Frank Maraschiello, 20th C. Design Specialist: “This collection of decorative arts assembled over the course of 40 years by a New Jersey couple is wonderfully eclectic, but with a keen eye for quality. It contains strong selections from the work of Tiffany Studios, including Favrile glass lamps and vases, Art Nouveau sculpture, glass, ceramics, and furniture, and a remarkable group of painted porcelain plaques by Königliche Porzellan-Manufaktur (KPM).”

The Collection of James and Rose Ryan: Friday, February 26, 5:30 p.m., 94 lots

An outstanding collection of early 20th century European and American ceramics, lighting, furniture, sculpture, and painting. Top lots include an important Symbolist vase by Pierre-Adrien Dalpayrat and Alphonse Voisin-Delacroix; a Tiffany Studios Persian Chain Mail chandelier; six exceptional Zsolnay vessels; an Eduard Stellmacher “Fates” vase; and superb ceramics by Delaherche, Decoeur, the Lachenals, the Massiers, Chaplet, Deck and more.  

Early 20th C. Design: Saturday, February 27, 11: 00 a.m., 320 lots

Featuring a unique pair of hand-carved columns from the Philadelphia Centennial Exhibition and a pair of Frank Lloyd Wright-designed windows. Ceramics by George Ohr, Grueby, Newcomb College, Saturday Evening Girls, Adelaide Robineau, Frederick Rhead, Teco, Rookwood, and a fine group of Fulper from the collection of Robert A. Ellison. European pottery by Auguste Delaherche, Ernest Chaplet, Emile Lenoble, Zsolnay, and Moorcroft. Furniture by Gustav Stickley, Charles Rohlfs, Limbert, Roycroft, Josef Hoffmann, Adolf Loos, Emile Gallé, and Louis Majorelle. Lighting by Tiffany Studios, Gustav Stickley, Handel, Dirk Van Erp, Suess, and Roycroft. Superb glass by Tiffany Studios, Gallé, Daum, Loetz, and Quezal. Metalwork by Dirk Van Erp and Joseph Heinrichs. Artwork by Gustave Baumann and Alphonse Mucha.

David Rago, Partner + Co-Director, 20th/21st Century Design Dept.: “This session includes a broad range of material by Period masters, from Ohr to Newcomb College, Stickley to Rohlfs, Zsolnay to Delaherche, and a fine array of Tiffany Studios lighting and accessories.”

Mid-Mod: Saturday, February 27, 3:30 p.m., 276 lots

Mid-priced 20th C. furniture and decorative objects: Paul Evans, George Nakashima, Tommi Parzinger, Wharton Esherick, Hans Wegner, Gaetano Pesce, James Bearden, Milo Baughman, Georg Jensen, Gio Ponti, Earl Pardon, Rookwood, Marblehead, George Ohr, Fulper, Grueby, Teco, Loetz, Lalique, Handel, Pairpoint, and more.

Modern Design: Sunday, February 28, 11:00 a.m., 233 lots

Furniture by Phil Powell, Paul Evans, George and Mira Nakashima, Wendell Castle, Albert Paley, Wharton Esherick, Pierre Jeanneret, Vladimir Kagan, Tommi Parzinger, Dirk Rosse, and Gio Ponti. Many fine works by Philip and Kelvin LaVerne including a rare Chan Li cabinet and Kuan Su mirror. Contemporary makers including Judy Kensley McKie, Silas Kopf, Jordan Mozer, James Bearden, and Cindy Wynn. Scandinavian wares designed by Hans Wegner, Edmund Spence, Finn Juhl, Alvar Aalto, Ole Wanscher, and Arne Jacobsen. A rare plaque by Pablo Picasso for Madoura. Lighting by Greta Grossman, Max Ingrand for Fontana Arte, Arredoluce, Lightolier, Carole Stupell, Paavo Tynell, and Cedric Hartman. Wall-hangings by Alexander Calder and Niki de Saint Phalle. Sculpture by Stan Dann, Val Bertoia, Alfredo Halegua, Antonio Grediaga Kieff, and Mario dal Fabbro. Silver and metalwork by Georg Jensen, Ronald Pearson, Jens Quistgaard, Louis W. Rice, and Albert Paley.

Jad Attal, Modern Specialist: “A Gio Ponti double dresser, a Paul Evans Pierced Front cabinet, and a Phillip & Kelvin LaVerne Chan cabinet: whether it’s walnut, welded and painted steel, or treated bronze, these pieces each have a very clear design vocabulary and a sort of architecture unto themselves. I hope you’ll enjoying looking at and thinking about these selections as much as we do.”

Modern Ceramics and Glass: Sunday, February 28, 2:30 p.m., 116 lots

An exceptional collection of glass by Lino Tagliapietra, Dale Chihuly, Stephen Rolfe Powell, Richard Marquis, Paul Stankard, “Toots” Zynsky, Joel Philip Myers, Vladimir Prochazka, Cappy Thompson, and more. A selection of rare vases by Ercole Barovier, Fulvio Bianconi, and Napoleone Martinuzzi. Ceramics by Waylande Gregory, the Scheiers, the Natzlers, Henry Varnum Poor, Lucie Rie, Betty Woodman, Brother Thomas Bezanson, Bennett Bean, Wayne Higby, and a spectacular Stack Pot by Peter Voulkos.

Suzanne Perrault, Partner + Co-Director, 20th/21st Century Design Dept.: “We have a critical mass of nice pieces by “Toots” Zynsky, Dale Chihuly, Richard Marquis, and Lino Tagliapietra in this sale to really draw attention to these artists’ work.  We also have a large and interesting floor sculpture by Vladimir Prochazka, several rare Venini vessels by Fulvio Bianconi and Napoleone Martinuzzi, and many other fine glass works. There is something here for every glass collector.”

Auction Exhibition/Preview/Bidding

• Saturday, February 20 – Wednesday, February 24, 12–5 pm and by appointment. Thursday, February 25, 12-7 pm. Doors open at 9 am on sale days.
• Rago’s is located midway between NYC (1 hr. 15 min) and Philadelphia (50 min). Directions online at ragoarts.com.
• Telephone/absentee/online bidding available at bidsquare.com for those unable to attend.

Catalogue

• Printed catalogues are available for $20 each ($70 for all four) by calling 609.397.9374 or emailing a request to info@ragoarts.com.
• View a complete online catalogue with color images at com and bidsquare.com, beginning February 5.

SELECT HIGHLIGHTS

Una Buona Vita…A Private New Jersey Collection: Friday, February 26, 4:00 p.m.

Lot 10: Tiffany Studios Paperweight Vase, $7,000 – 10,000

Lot 1: Tiffany Studios Dragonfly Hanging Shade, $75,000 – 100,000

Lot 11: Tiffany Studios Wheel-Carved Vase, $7,000 – 10,000

Collection of James and Rose Ryan: Friday, February 26, 5:30 p.m.

Lot 131: Zsolnay Large Vase, $14,000 – 18,000

Lot 118: Ludwig Graf, “The Turnip Harvest,” $15,000 – 25,000

Lot 134: Dalpayrat/Voisin-Delacroix Symbolist Vase, $70,000 – 95,000

Early 20th C. Decorative Arts: Saturday, February 27, 11:00 a.m.

Lot 478: Lalique “Noisetier” Chandelier, $15,000 – 20,000

Lot 438: Philadelphia Centennial Exhibition Columns, $75,000 – 100,000

Lot 521: Tiffany Studios “Daffodil” Table Lamp, $75,000 – 95,000

Lot 200: George Ohr Important Vessel, $15,000 – 20,000

Lot 215: Grueby/Unique Lamp, $20,000 – 30,000

Lot 229: Newcomb College Early Vase, $15,000 – 20,000

Mid-Mod: Saturday, February 27, 3:30 p.m.

Lot 553: George Ohr Bisque Teapot, $1,250 – 1,750

Lot 598: Gustav Gurschner Secessionist Vase, $1,500 – 2,500

Lot 562: Saturday Evening Girls Honey Jar, $1,000 – 1,500

Lot 638: Tommi Parzinger Console Table, $2,500 – 3,500

Lot 740: Gio Ponti/Reed & Barton Diamond Flatware, $2,500 – 3,500

Lot 655: George Nakashima/Widdicomb Sundra Coffee Table, $2,500 – 3,500

Modern Design: Sunday, February 28, 11:00 a.m.

Lot 1014: Paul Evans Important Cabinet, $25,000 – 35,000

Lot 1027: George Nakashima Double-Pedestal Desk, $30,000 – 60,000

Lot 1013: Wharton Esherick Music Stand, $25,000 – 35,000

Lot 1039: Philip and Kelvin LaVerne Chan Li Cabinet, $30,000 – 40,000

Lot 1036: George Nakashima Hanging Wall Case, $25,000 – 35,000

Lot 1150: Judy Kensley McKie Bronze Cat Bench, $25,000 – 35,000

Modern Ceramics and Glass: Sunday, February 28, 2:30 p.m.

Lot 1508: Lucie Rie Stoneware Vase, $5,000 – 7,000

Lot 1509: Peter Voulkos large Stack Pot, $40,000 – 60,000

Lot 1507: Thelma Frazier Winter Sculpture, $4,500 – 5,500

Lot 1556: Stephen R. Powell Screamers Sculpture, $8,500 – 12,500

Lot 1614: Fulvio Bianconi/Venini, Con Macchia Glass Vase, $12,000 – 15,000

Lot 1576: Lino Tagliapietra “Stromboli” Vessel, $10,000 – 15,000

About Rago Arts and Auction Center: Rago is a leading U.S. auction house with $33 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 Design Auctions, June 3-5, 2016