A rare Gustav Stickley writing desk designed by Harvey Ellis topped David Rago’s Craftsman Auction this past weekend, May 22-23, with sales totals exceeding the $2.5 million mark.

The writing desk, consigned from a home in Maine and one of three known examples, was inlaid with pewter and fruitwood in an Art Nouveau fashion. Bidding on the lot opened at $32,500 with action coming from Beth Cathers and Robert Kaplan of Cathers and Dembrosky and a couple of telephone bidders. The piece, estimated at $40/60,000, eventually sold to Kaplan and Cathers, bidding from the rear of the room, for $58,750.

Other top lots included a George Ohr teapot in a bright red, white and green mottled glaze that sold for $35,250, and a Tiffany hanging leaded shade in the Greek key pattern that realized $36,425. A complete review will appear in a future issue.

-DSS