Treasures from Four Centuries in Four Days at Rago’s April Unreserved/Reserved Auctions 

Gemstone jewelry to modern design. Federal coins to Persian and Asian textiles.

Lambertville, NJ: Join Rago from Thursday, April 14 through Sunday, April 17 for unreserved and reserved auctions of decorative arts, furnishings, coins and currency, modern design and fine jewelry. More than 2,500 lots will be offered over the course of the four days. 

Great Estates: Thursday, April 14 at 10 a.m. (Lots 1-688)

The sale begins with fine porcelain by KPM, Meissen, Minton and early Worcester and includes a collection of fine early English porcelain and furnishings from a private New York collection.  Of note are an English Delft “Adam and Eve” low bowl and pair of Minton pâte-sur-pâte Moon Flasks. Paintings and photographs include works by Richard Stone Reeves and Kenojuak Ashevak. Sculpture and Bronzes include Marcel Bouraine’s “Penthesilea, Queen of the Amazons”.  Silver by Tiffany, Schwartz & Steiner and Gustav Klingert. Fine Furniture of American, English, and Continental design includes a Louis XVI Style Kingwood Bookcase. Asian carved jade, porcelain, textiles and furnishings include a Chinese silk Imperial robe and a pair of Chinese Qianlong porcelain tea bowls. Textiles and Rugs include a Joshaghan rug and a Flemish tapestry panel and feature a curated corporate textile collection. Also art glass by Daum and toy trains by Lionel as well as books and ephemera, Native American art, tribal art, clocks, militaria and Americana.

Featured lots:

Lot 38: English Delft Adam and Eve Low Bowl, $3,000-5,000

Lot 43: Joshaghan Carpet, $10,000-15,000

Lot 163: Chinese Silk Imperial Robe, $8,000-12,000

Lot 206: Vanuatu Sprirt Totem, $3,000-5,000

Lot 248: Circle of Jan Dirksz Both, $6,000-10,000

Lot 262: Pair of Civil War Carved Pine Eagles, $7,000-10,000

Lot 302: Lionel Pre-war 5344 Locomotive and Tender, $600-800

Lot 303: Marcel Bouraine “Penthesilea, Queen of the Amazons”, $10,000-15,000

Lot 334: Louis XVI Style Kingwood Bookcase, $7,000-10,000

Lot 418: Pair of Chinese Qianlong Porcelain Tea Bowls, $25,000-35,000

Lot 554: Pair of Minton Pâte-sur-pâte Moon Flasks, $4,000-6,000

Lot 572: French Perpetual Calendar Table Regulator Clock, $2,500-3,500

Lot 617: Daum Pate de Verre les Quatre Fils Atmon, $2,000-3,000

Lot 638: “Didactic Theology” by Charles Hodge, $1,000-1,500

Lot 665: Kenojuak Ashevak, $10,000-15,000

Coins and Currency: Friday, April 15 at 10 a.m. (Lots 700-899)

U.S. coins include finely toned examples of early American dollars, half dollars, dimes and quarters, both graded and raw. Also featuring Morgan and Peace silver dollars, draped and capped bust coins, mint error coins and an interesting grouping of 1920 Pilgrim U.S. commemorative coins with two purportedly from the workshop of the coin engraver/sculptor Cyrus E. Dallin. World and foreign coins from England, Germany, Spain, China, Australia, and more. Ancient coins including a Byzantine Theophilus Gold Solidus. Currency, U.S. and foreign currency including graded Chinese currency. Also featured in the auction is the single owner collection of Andrew “Ko Ko” Koltko, which includes many high grade and finely toned coins collected in the 1930’s – 1950’s, several in special NGC collection holders.

Featured Lots:

Lot 700: 1776 Pewter Continental Dollar, $40,000–60,000

Lot 703: U.S. 1798 Draped Bust Dollar, $3,000–5,500

Lot 733: U.S. 1826 Capped Bust 50C, $1,000–1,500

Lot 770: U.S. 1805 Draped Bust 10C, $4,000–6,000

Lot 802: 2014-P Australia $100 Gold Coin, $5,500–6,500

Unreserved Day 1: Friday, April 15 at 12:30 p.m. (Lots 900-1369)

Friday’s sale begins with sterling silver and estate goods including period English, American and Continental furniture, clocks, barometers and a telescope. Lighting, rugs, porcelain, glass, ephemera, posters, fine art and collectibles round out this session. Also featured, early 20th century designs including handsome examples of American Arts and Craft furniture by designers Gustav Stickley, L. & J.G. Stickley, Stickley Bros., Limbert and contemporary Arts & Crafts furniture from Stickley by E.J. Audi. Art pottery by Rookwood, Fulper, Teco, Zsolnay, Moorcroft, Weller and Roseville; art glass by Daum and Galle and lighting includes a handsome trumpet lamp in the style of Dirk Van Erp by master craftsman Michael Adams and Aurora Studios. Everything sells to the high bid no matter where the bidding stops.

Featured Lots:

Lot 901: Tiffany & Co. Sterling Silver Serving Spoon, $400-600

Lot 920: Johann Maresch Figural Tobacco Jar, $300-400

Lot 941: Meade ETX-90 Telescope, $200-300

Lot 974: English Chest of Drawers w/ Bracket Feet, $250-450

Lot 1093: Al Hirschfeld “Sinatra and Pavarotti” Etching, $600-800

Lot 1111: Chinese Rhodonite Carving, $500-700

Lot 1170: Secessionist Mantel Clock, $150-250

Lot 1171: Oscar Bath (attr.) Console Table, $800-1,000

Lot 1217: Fulper Vase, $500-700

Lot 1330: L. & J. G. Stickley China Cabinet, $1,200-1,800

Unreserved Day 2: Saturday, April 16 at 10 a.m. (Lots 1375-1988)

Saturday features 20th and 21st Century Modern and Post-War and Contemporary art by artists including Andy Warhol, Salvador Dali, Roy Lichtenstein, Ben Shahn, Pablo Picasso, Joan Miro, and Damien Hirst. Modern and contemporary furnishings from Charles & Ray Eames, Florence Knoll, the Saarinens, Harry Bertoia, Mies van der Rohe, Jonathan Adler, Calvin Klein Home and Ralph Lauren. Also, work by Scandinavian designers such as Alvar Aalto, Borge Mogenson, Jens Risom, Hans Wegner and Arne Jacobsen. Accent pieces and smalls by masters including Piero Fornasetti, Ettore Sotsass and Richard Meier for Swid Powell, Frankart, Edwin and Mary Scheier and Eva Zeisel. Lighting by Fontana Arte, Angelo Lelli, Laurel, Lightolier and Robert Sonneman. Designer rugs and textiles including a handsome room size rug after Wassily Kandinsky. Everything sells to the high bid no matter where the bidding stops.

Featured Lots:

Lot 1407a: Manuel Marin Table Top Mobile, $2,500-3,500

Lot 1440: Ettore Sottsass & Richard Meier; Swid Powell Silver Plated Candle Sticks, $700-900

Lot 1447: Miguel Berrocal Miniature Puzzle Sculptures, $800-1,200

Lot 1585b: Masatoyo Kishi “Kuki” Abstract Sculpture, $800-1,200

Lot 1612: Adrian Pearsall; Craft Associates Rocking Chair, $300-500

Lot 1719: Eva Zeisel; Great Western Stoneware Duck Vessel, $400-600

Lot 1833: C. Jere; Artisan House Owl Sculpture, $400-600

Lot 1909: Eero Saarinen; Knoll Womb Settee, $1,000-1,500

Lot 1919: Damien Hirst Saturn Spin Painting, $1,000-1,500

Lot 1965: Borge Mogensen; Fredericia 3 Seat ‘Coupe’ Sofa, $600-800

Unreserved Jewelry: Sunday, April 17 at 10 a.m. (Lots 2001-2284)

Offering a unique selection of antique and modern jewelry, watches and luxury accessories, from Victorian mourning jewelry and Art Deco Bakelite to the highly collectible, whimsical brooches of Lea Stein, as well as printed silk Hermès scarves and contemporary diamond, gem-set and gold jewelry. All will be sold at the highest price offered that day, whatever that offer may be.

Featured Lots:

Lot 2096: Hermès Silk “Ludovicus Magnus” Scarf, $200-300

Lot 2101: Chanel Vintage Black Lambskin Handbag, $400-600

Lot 2135: Ladies Cartier Gold Plated Tank Watch, $300-500

Lot 2245: Diamond and Emerald Platinum Ring, $700-900

Lot 2283: Diamond and White Gold Cluster Earrings, $400-600

Fine and Antique Jewelry, Couture, Objets de Vertu: Sunday, April 17, 1:30 p.m. (Lots 2500-2897)

Rago’s second annual spring fine jewelry auction presents a broad array of fine antique, diamond, gemstone, designer and contemporary jewelry, accessories, watches and objects de vertu from diverse estates by makers including Buccellati, Bvlgari, Cartier, Schlumberger, Tiffany & Co., Van Cleef & Arpels and David Webb, as well as an important collection of mid-20th century pieces by bespoke jewelry designer and sculptress Marianne Ostier, author of "Jewels and the Woman".

Featured Lots:

Lot 2500: Marianne Ostier Diamond and Platinum Necklace, $30,000-50,000

Lot 2502: Marianne Ostier Diamond and Platinum Ear Clips, $8,000-10,000

Lot 2519: David Webb Gold, Platinum and Diamond Bracelets, $8,000-10,000

Lot 2527: Cartier Bracelet Baguette Douplan Platinum Watch, $4,000-6,000

Lot 2547: Fine Sapphire, Diamond and White Gold Ring, $25,000-35,000

Lot 2556: Fine Ceylon Sapphire and Diamond Ring, $14,000-18,000

Lot 2627: Belle Epoque Jeweled Scarab Bracelet, $4,000-6,000

Lot 2677: Deep Salmon Colored Coral Bead Necklace, $5,500-7,500

Lot 2773: Van Cleef & Arpels, Paris “Alhambra” Gold Necklace, $12,000-18,000

Lot 2789: Tiffany & Co. Schlumberger 16 Stone Ruby, Diamond and Gold Ring, $3,000-4,000

Auction Exhibition/Preview/Bidding

• Saturday, April 9 through Tuesday, April 12, 12–5 pm and by appointment. Wednesday, April 13, 12-7 pm. Open at 9 am on April 14, 15, 16, and 17.
• Open House featuring David Leopold, “Hirschfeld Century: The Art of Al Hirschfeld”. Wednesday, April 12. The auction house opens at noon, reception at 5 pm, lecture at 6 pm.

RSVP: 609.397.9374, ext. 119 or raac@ragoarts.com.           

• Rago is located midway between NYC (1 hr. 15 min) and Philadelphia (50 min). Directions online at ragoarts.com
• For those unable to attend: Telephone/absent bidding available at ragoarts.com and if you wish to online bid, go to www.bidsquare.com

Catalogues

• Printed catalogues are available for $20 each 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, online March 25.

NOTES FOR THE EDITOR

• High-resolution images available.

• 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 Great Estate and Jewelry Auctions: December 3-4, 2016

END OF PRESS RELEASE