Rago Arts and Auction Center’s Twentieth/Twenty-First Century design sale totaled $6.6 million on October 26′8, where a Frederick Hurten Rhead University City Peacock tile sold for a record $637,500.
There were 143 bidders in-house and 306 bidders on the phone. Internet bidders numbered 527 for the Twentieth Century pottery and glass section, 652 for early Twentieth Century and 1,074 for the Modern session. A total of 1,703 were offered with 82 percent sold.
“Hurricane Sandy, bearing down on us, made only slightly more noise than the results of the auction,” said David Rago. “The sale grossed $6.6 million and the market, especially for high end Arts and Crafts, was very, very solid. The Rhead tile gets the headlines, but many records were broken for a number of American potteries. The Forbes sale was strong almost right across the board, hammering right in the middle of the estimate range.”
The Rhead tile toppled the record price paid at auction for any piece of Anerican art pottery from the American Arts and Crafts movement. The buyer is the Two Red Roses Foundation of Palm Harbor, Fla., a nonprofit educational institution dedicated to the acquisition, restoration and public exhibition of important examples of decorative and fine art from the American Arts and Crafts Movement.
Friday’s pottery and glass highlighted lots included a Tiffany Studios Favrile vase, which sold for $10,625, Mary Scheier’s “Square Dancers,” which brought $5,000 and five Bohemian art glass vases that finished at $2,875. A final price of $2,375 was achieved by two lots †a pair of tall garden urns attributed to Galloway and a rare Roblin enameled cabinet vase.
In addition to the Rhead Peacock tile, Saturday’s Arts and Crafts offerings were highlighted by a Tiffany Studios rare tall floriform vase fetching $100,000, a unique Dard Hunter hall chair selling for $46,875 and George Ohr’s rare corseted teapot attaining $46,875. A Mary L. Yancey Iowa State vase drew $45,000, while a Tiffany Studios rare glazed earthenware Milkweed vase did $42,500, and an Alexander Fisher triptych, “In Praise of Womanhood,” realized $40,625. A bidder paid $40,000 for a rare Van Briggle vase, while two other lots each attained $33,750 †a Karl Kipp Roycroft rare fernery and a Tiffany Studios Favrile glass vase.
Sunday’s Modern highlighted lots included a Wharton Esherick double pedestal desk at $62,500 and several pieces by George Nakashima, including a Minguren II coffee table, $53,125, six Conoid dining chairs, $36,250, a hanging wall case, $28,750 and a cross-legged dining table, $26,250. Two Harry Bertoia lots did well, with a tall Sonambient sculpture taking $50,000 and an untitled sculpture (Bush) achieving $53,125. Additional Modern highlights included a Finn Juhl, Niels Vodder early Chieftain chair, $32,500, and a directional sculptured metal cabinet by Paul Evans for $25,000.
Prices reported include the buyer’s premium.
Consignments are now being accepted for the next Twentieth Century design auctions on March 2″. For information, www.ragoarts.com or 609-397-9374.
