Rago Arts and Auction Center’s Fine Art Auctions on May 17 Bring an Impressive $1,795,906.

Lambertville, NJ:  Rago Auctions Fine Art auctions on May 17 totaled $1,795,906 in sales. Top results included a Louise Nevelson sculpture and Paul Guiragossian painting, which each sold for $87,500. Other strong sales in the Post-War and Contemporary Art sale included work by Andy Warhol, Keith Haring, Richard Pettibone and Willem de Kooning.  The 19th/20th C. American and European Art auction was led by work from Fern Isabel Kuns Coppedge, John F. Folinsbee, Joan Miro, Jean Dupas, David Davidovich Burliuk and Jane Freilicher.

“Rago saw many successes in this auction, setting records with robust bidding at a range of price points,” said Meredith Hilferty, Director of Fine Art.  “We sold a masterwork by Lebanese artist Paul Guiragossian for $87,500 - the highest price achieved for his work at a US auction house. We are just as proud that we set a record price for a multiple by contemporary artist Karen Kilimnik at $6,875. The painting that sells for $45 million makes the big noise in the media, of course. But there’s so much beautiful work to be had in this sector of the art market, and we are excited to offer it.”

HIGHLIGHTS/STATS

- Hammer:  $ 1,436,725

- Hammer + bp:  $ 1,795,906

- Number of Lots: 465

- In-House Bidders: 63

- Phone Bidders: 169

- Internet Bidders: 512, From: USA, Canada, Mexico, Venezuela, Bolivia, Columbia, France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Lithuania, Ukraine, , Luxemburg, Netherlands, UK, Sweden, Russia, Belgium, Czech Republic, Spain, Austria, Israel, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, United Arab Emirates, Cyprus and Lebanon.

- Percent sold: 78%

Post-War and Contemporary Art

- Hammer:  $ 858,425

- Hammer + 25% bp =  $ 1,073,031

- Low estimate: $ 1,281,700

- High estimate: $ 1,864,300

- Percent sold: 78%

- Absentee bidders: 54

- 521 Louise Nevelson (American, 1899-1988), Open Zag VIII   $87,500

- 582 Paul Guiragossian (Lebanese, 1925-1993), Untitled   $87,500

- 616 Keith Haring (American, 1958-1990), Untitled (WFUNA)   $81,250

- 510 Andy Warhol (American, 1928-1987), Mick Jagger   $36,250

- 513 Richard Pettibone (American, b. 1938), Frank Stella, Union Pacific   $22,500

- 606 Raymond Pettibon (American, b. 1957), Untitled (Let our hid flames…)   $21,250

- 659 Kenny Scharf (American, b. 1958), Kaosorder   $20,000

- 604 Raymond Pettibon (American, b. 1957), Untitled (I Looked Around The Room…)   $17,500

- 540 Willem de Kooning (Dutch/American, 1904-1997), Untitled   $15,000

- 603 Raymond Pettibon (American, b. 1957), Untitled   $15,000

19th/20th C. American and European Art

- Hammer:  $ 578,300

- Hammer + 25% bp =  $ 722,875

- Low estimate: $ 607,600

- High estimate: $ 922,300

- Percent sold: 79%

- Absentee bidders: 52

- 28  Fern Isabel Kuns Coppedge (American, 1883-1951), Near New Hope   $59,375

- 50  Jane Freilicher  (American, b. 1924), Poppies and Peonies   $57,500

- 23  John F. Folinsbee (American, 1892-1972), Golden Morning   $37,500

- 7   Joan Miro (Spanish, 1893-1983), Barcelona: One Plate   $33,750

- 70  Dean Cornwell (American, 1892-1960), Untitled  $25,000

- 14  Jean-Gabriel Domergue (French, 1889-1962), Untitled (At the Races)   $16,250

- 1   Jean Dupas (French, 1882-1964), Untitled (Figure with Bird)   $15,000

- 29  Fern Isabel Kuns Coppedge (American, 1883-1951), The Fishing Fleet, Gloucester   $15,000

- 80  Louis McClellan Potter (American, 1873-1912), Untitled, Two bronze andirons   $15,000

- 56  David Davidovich Burliuk (Ukrainian/American, 1882-1967), Eve in the Apple Tree   $11,875

Consignments are now being accepted for Rago’s November 2014 Fine Art auctions and all of Rago’s Fall 2014 auctions: 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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