$216,000 Noguchi Sculpture Tops Sullo/Rago Modern Auction

LAMBERTVILLE, N.J. - An unusual magnesite sculptural relief believed to be a maquette for a playground design by Isamu Noguchi sold at more than six times the high presale estimate at the Sollo/Rago Twentieth Century Modern auction this past weekend, October 29 and 30. Sold among 1,500 lots, the auction grossed an impressive total of more than $4.3 million.

The unusual piece, incised "IN" on the reverse, featured an almost lunar quality with what was thought to be craterlike areas to hold the sand. Circa 1940, the lot carried a $25/35,000 presale estimate, yet when bidding subsided the lot garnered $216,000.

A complete review of the auction will appear in a future issue.

-DSS