MARTIN BROTHER’S TRIPLE BIRD TOBACCO JAR SELLS FOR $111,750 AND VIKTOR SCHRECKENGOST “LADY GODIVA” CHARGER SELLS FOR $93,750 IN RAGO’S $5.6 MILLION DOLLAR 20TH C. DECORATIVE ARTS AND DESIGN AUCTIONS, MARCH 1 AND 2.

“Both auctions, all four sessions, were fairly solid across the board,” said David Rago.  “We sold over 80% of the lots and hammered well into the estimate range, the sale totaling nearly $5.7 mil.  This is probably our strongest March sale ever.  The Martin ware performed unusually well, as did some of the American art pottery.  The Modern ceramics sale did similarly well, with most pieces selling in the estimate range and the occasional fireworks, this time from the rare Schreckengost charger at $93,750. Finally, the Modern design session had an exemplary selection of Nakashima, Evans, and other studio modernists.  Prices were consistently in or above estimate range for nearly every lot.  There was more competition than usual for this session, perhaps because we intentionally kept the number of lots close to 500, raising the bar to focus on pieces mostly at $2,000 or above.”

Rago Arts and Auction Center’s 20th C. Decorative Arts and Design Auction: $5,634,344, March 1 and 2, 2014.

- Weekend Total Hammer: $4,508,075

- Hammer + B.P.: $5,634,344

- Bidders in-house:  111

- Bidders on phone:  303

- Absentee Bidders: 155

- Bidders online:  487 (Early 20th C. and Modern Ceramics); 583 (Modern)

- Number of lots:  1149

- Percent sold:  82%

Saturday, March 1: Early 20th C. Decorative Arts and Modern Ceramics 

- Hammer:  $2,109,900

 - Hammer + 25% buyer’s premium = $2,636,625

 - Low Estimate:  $1,791,800

 - High Estimate:  $2,510,900

 - Number of lots: 583

 - Percent sold:  83%

 - 9% of online bidders outside the U.S. (Early 20th c. and Modern Ceramics): Canada, Mexico, , Brazil, France, Italy, Hungary, Germany, Netherlands, Switzerland, Czech Republic, UK, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Egypt, India, Japan, Australia and New Zealand.  

Early 20th C Decorative Arts:

- Hammer:  $1,801,550

- Hammer + 25% buyer’s premium = $2,250,188

 - Number of lots: 450

 - Percent sold:  85% 

Early 20th C. Decorative Arts Highlighted Lots:

- 18   Martin Brothers Triple Bird Tobacco Jar  $111,750

- 100 Mary Sheerer/Newcomb College Oil Lamp  $93,750

- 17   Martin Brothers Frog Tobacco Jar  $87,500 

- 435 Tiffany Studios Favrile Glass Jack-in-the-Pulpit Vase  $62,500

- 1     John Dee Wareham / Rookwood Black Iris Vase  $31,250

- 42  University City Glazed Porcelain Gourd Vase  $26,250

- 443 Tiffany Studios Fine Desk Lamp with Turtleback Shade  $26,250

- 139 John Bennett Vase Painted with Clematis  $23,750 

- 167 Gustav Stickley Early Trapezoidal Grandfather Clock  $20,000

- 346 Roseville Della Robbia Vase with Daisies  $20,000

Modern Ceramics:

- Hammer:  $309,150

- Hammer + 25% buyer’s premium:  $386,438

- Number of lots: 133

- Percent sold:  75% 

Modern Ceramics Highlighted Lots:

- 500 Viktor Schreckengost Charger, "Lady Godiva"  $93,750 

- 509 Otto and Gertrud Natzler Bottle-Shaped Vase  $17,500  

- 516 Peter Voulkos Stoneware Rice Jar  $16,250 

- 604 Claude Conover Vessel with Engobe Decoration, "Hogzah"  $10,000 

- 600 Wayne Higby Raku-Fired Covered Vessel  $8,125

Modern Design: Sunday, March 2, 2014

- Hammer:  $2,398,175

- Hammer + 25% buyer’s premium:  $2,997,719

- Low estimate:  $2,252,300

- High estimate:  $3,159,500

- Number of lots: 565

- Percent sold:  82% 

- 12% of online bidders outside the U.S.: Canada, Mexico, France, Italy, Spain, Turkey, Greece, Austria, Ireland, UK, Netherlands, Poland, Russia, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Finland, United Arab Emirates, Philippines, Japan, Australia and New Zealand.

Modern Design Highlighted Lots:

- 980  Albert Paley Dining Table  $59,375

- 719  Paul Evans / Directional Deep Relief Cabinet   $53,125

- 711  George Nakashima Wall Hanging Cabinet   $50,000

- 971  Harry Bertoia Stainless Steel Willow Sculpture  $46,875

- 728  Wharton Esherick Sculpture “Cat with Snake”  $45,000

- 722  Paul Evans Important Steel Patchwork Sculpture   $43,750

- 709  George Nakashima Six Rare Laurel Conoid Chairs   $37,500

- 718  Paul Evans Pair of Lounge Chairs  $37,500

- 700  George Nakashima Rosewood Double Pedestal Desk  $36,250

- 969  Phil Powell Floor to Ceiling Headboard/Panel  $23,750

Consignments are now being accepted for the next 20th C. Design auctions, June 14/15, 2014 and all Rago 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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