Rose Hill's All Modern 20th Century Design Auction Drew Eager Buyers

ENGLEWOOD, N.J.

:When Rose Hill Auctions announced it was offering Twentieth Century design items at its January 30 sale, bidders turned up from all over to vie for the choice lots crossing the block.

English artist Peter Lanyon's abstract "Nemi" was the star of the 600-lot sale when it sold for $80,500. Lanyon, who died at 46 in a 1964 hang gliding accident in Cornwall, England, often integrated the views from above into his work.

Taiwan-born New York artist Leo Amino's rosewood sculpture "Sanguine" sold for $12,650.

Desirable furniture included a home office desk designed by George Nelson and executed in mahogany and leather that went to a collector for $6,037. Several lots of George Nelson's "thin-edge" rosewood bedroom furniture brought an overall total of $11,356.

A Danish chair and ottoman designed by Hans J. Wegner in the "Ox" pattern was of interest and realized $7,762. Wegner's "Ox" chair and ottoman were made only for a few years in the early 1960s. Production resumed in 1985.

A bronze cocktail table by Philip and Kelvin Laverne bore a forest scene and realized $5,175. A Florence Knoll partners' desk on a star-form base went for $2,760.

A desk by English designer Terrence Harold Robsjohn-Gibbings for John Widdicomb realized $3,680 and a pair of Robsjohn-Gibbings side tables was $2,070.

Three acrylic nesting tables with steel frames by Poul Kjaerholm for Kold Christiansen realized $2,415. A lively Pierre Paulin wave sofa was a solid $1,495 and a jazzy bucket chair by Jean Royere upholstered in red was $402. A Saporiti table had a fluid top supported on slender steel rods above a circular pedestal and sold for $690.

Other interesting artwork was a big draw: An unidentified metal sculpture in the form of a tug-of-war was found in an attic and sold to a collector for $4,312, an Italian abstract steel sculpture by Giorgio Zennaro was $1,265 and a Fredrick Weinberg abstract sculpture sold for $1,150.

A crayon-on-paper work by Abstract Expressionist Robert DeNiro, Sr fetched $1,840 and a Milton Avery lithograph of a reclining woman went for $1,495.

A colorful lithograph by Friedensreich Hundertwasser in observance of the 80th birthday party of Friederich Sonnenstern with an image of an upside down woman was signed by both the artist and the honoree and sold for $1,610.

A lively lithograph by Ellsworth Ausby sold for $1,265 and an abstract lithograph by Spanish artist Antoni Tapias was $805.

A single "Baby Lamp" composition by Keith Haring was $747. The "Baby Lamp" is usually sold in a pair.

Eighty-seven pieces of Michelsen Danish sterling silver flatware was $4,025 and 63 pieces of pottery from Eva Zeisel's museum series drew $1,725.

From a selection of Camer Glass Co. chandeliers, a large (7 feet) example sold for $2,875, another with even prisms was $2,070 and a clustered leaf-form example brought $977.

A 48-inch lamp by Ado Nason for A.V. Mazzega sold for $805.

A French maquette train engine and passenger car made for a railroad office in New York City drew interest and sold separately to a dealer for a total of $1,380.

A Philco Predicta Princess television, serial number AD65480, brought $282.

The stars among the pottery on offer included a Karen Karnes vase that was $282 and a Saxbo pottery bowl in a yellow-ochre that brought $353.

All prices quoted reflect the 15 percent buyer's premium. For information, 201-816-1940 or www.rosehillauctiongallery.com.