: David Rago, Jerry Cohen and Suzanne Perrault hosted an
outstanding two-day auction on September 20-21 at Craftsman's
Auctions. The depth of this sale was impressive, as it offered
exceptional examples of furniture, pottery, lighting and
artist-signed tiles in 1,043 lots. With 140 absentee bids, 106
phone bidder and a large in-house audience, the auction was
primed to succeed, and succeed it did - to the tune of $1.6
million.
The top lot of the day was a pre-1915 large and early Dirk Van
Erp table lamp with a hammered copper milk can base topped by a
four-panel copper and mica shade that came from the estate of the
original owner. An astounding price of $176,250 was achieved for
this desirable piece that was estimated at $50/70,000.
Rago auctions are indicative of high-quality items that appeal to
the most discriminating collectors and enjoy a prestigious
reputation far and wide. Architectural Digest magazine was
present at the sale and had been on the premises for two days
photographing and gathering material for a feature article on
Rago Arts that will appear in the December issue.
This particular auction was distinguished by a world-class
collection of tiles offered by Suzanne Perrault. Staggering
prices were realized for 83 tiles that sold in the first session
for more than $225,000. A wealth of information was given for
each tile, along with estimates, which proved invaluable for
those newly venturing into this up-and-coming market. Perrault
characterized tiles as the next obvious interest for serious
collectors. Perrault, a knowledgeable and well-respected tile
authority, stated that several of the tiles were so rare that she
had only seen them in books. She speculated that several records
were no doubt set for various pieces but that she had not yet
researched it. The greater majority of the tiles came into the
auction house individually and not as part of a comprehensive
collection.
The first tile lot, a Hartford faience mosaic tile titled
"Eventide," designed by Francis G. Plant and depicting a maiden
in Raphaelite style holding a bouquet of red flowers, more than
doubled its high estimate by commanding a price of $17,625. The
second lot achieved a price of $18,800 for an outstanding 1922
Newcomb College plaque depicting Spanish moss dripping above a
cottage under a full moon. And the third lot, which was described
as "phenomenal" by Perrault, sold for an equally phenomenal price
of $22,325.
The top lot was a pre-1915 large Dirk van Erp table lamp with a
copper and mica shade that came from the estate of the original
owner. It fetched $176,250.
Cataloged as an important Grueby mosaic example, the tile was
one of the most eye-catching items in the sale and one of the most
unique. The panel depicting Saint Louis on horseback, the horse
draped in a blanket with fleur-de-lys on a background of diamond
tiles in the same pattern as the blanket in matt polychrome glazes,
had a distinctive medieval appearance and was done in mosaic
design, which is atypical of any classic Grueby style. Measuring 48
by 421/2 inches, the tile is pictured in the Ceramics of William
Grueby by Susan Montgomery. And so it went, lot after lot of
magnificent tiles selling for awesome prices.
Another remarkable Grueby tile, decorated in cuenca and cuerda
seca and depicting Saint George slaying a dragon, sold for
$24,675 against a high estimate of $15,000. A group of Franklin
tiles was also offered, and leading this category was a large and
rare vertical panel excised with a Northern scene of a moose and
Canadian geese in purple silhouette on a yellow crystalline
ground. This appealing tile realized $7,050.
Three Rookwood scenic vellum plaques of special note included
"Hurley's Hidden Mountain Pool" by E.T. Hurley, 1946, that
yielded $21,150; "Evening," by Fred Rothenbush with a landscape
of trees in front of a green sky that brought $11,750; and
"Mirror Lake," painted by Ed Diers, 1919, showing tall trees
reflected in a mountain lake, which sold for $9,400. Another item
that attracted wide bidder interest was a Catalina table with six
tiles forming a panel with two bright red parrots. Although in
crude condition, this piece realized a handsome price of $6,463.
There was much to be said for the depth of the sale in general,
and it was a pleasure to see Arts and Crafts furniture return to
the landmark auction house where Rago once again auctioned it
under the watchful eye of the large photo of Gustav Stickley that
hangs above the gallery. With the acquisition of additional
warehouse space, Arts and Crafts furniture and an old tradition
have returned to the Lambertville auction house. Rago and Cohen,
partners in Craftsman Auctions, shared the podium at the outset
of the auction. Rago later stated that he was greatly pleased to
have his partner with him.
Key furniture items included a Gustav Stickley two-drawer vanity
(no. 914) with overhanging top and a lamp table (no. 436) with
legs mortised through the top and cross stretchers topped with a
finial. Both were in original and good condition except that
there were what appeared to be chew marks to the finial on the
table.
A photo of the two items as they stood in the home "Utopia,"
built by Dr Ferdinand Valentine in the early 1900s in Long
Island, N.Y., appeared in the catalog next to the two items. A
daschund sleeping under a table in the photo was fingered as the
probable finial-chewing culprit. The lamp table (chewed finial
notwithstanding) sold for $9,400 and the vanity brought $2,468.
Another furniture item of interest was an Arts and Crafts
custom-designed oak mantel centrally carved with a tree of life
that was flanked by stylized floral stained glass cupboard doors,
which sold for $4,113. An unusual Batchelder small chest with
incised daffodils on the front panel had several competing
absentee bids and realized $8,225. Roycroft sold well, with
several items far exceeding their top estimates. Among them was a
single-drawer dressing table with integrated mirror and Mackmurdo
feet that brought $7,638; a four-drawer dresser with integrated
mirror, brass pulls, and Mackmurdo feet sold for $10,575, and a
double bed with vertical slat headboard and footboard, also on
Mackmurdo feet, achieved $7,050.
Exceptional pottery is the norm at Rago, and this auction brought
with it some outstanding pieces. A Grueby Kendrick vase that was
used for the catalog cover had seven tooled and applied handles
and was covered with a rare organic matte mustard glaze. This
item opened the auction with a realized price of $52,875.
A Grueby Kendrick organic matte mustard glazed vase on the
catalog cover was also the opening lot and reached $52,875.
George Ohr's work has been attracting a good deal of
attention. While the appeal of his work is never surprising, some
of the prices achieved at the Rago auction were notable. A puzzle
jar with stepped handle under brown semigloss glaze and stamped
twice, "G.E Ohr, Biloxi," brought $9,400. An ovoid vase with deep
in-body twist and torn rim, covered in green and gunmetal speckled
amber glaze, sold for $16,450. Another Ohr bulbous vase with
ruffled rim under cobalt, pink, yellow and green flambé glaze,
marked "5-1-1897, E Dan Smith, 175 Mobile, Alabama," stamped "G.E.
Ohr, Biloxi, Miss.," brought $11,750. A one-of-a-kind early Newcomb
College charger painted by Mary Sheerer with a medallion of the
Newcomb chapel, circa 1900, which is pictured in the book
Newcomb Pottery: An Enterprise for Southern Women by Jesse
Poesch, was considered a buy at the selling price of $18,800.
On the light-hearted side was a rare Roycroft hammered copper and
Bakelite telephone inscribed "Property of the American Bell
Telephone Company." After topping out at $4,250 in
absentee bids, this appealing piece sold for $8,225. A large and
nostalgic Indiana porch glider with the original split reed seat
sold for $4,113.
Prices reflect a 171/2 percent buyer's premium.
