Rose Hill’s Mid-Century Modern sale took place October 13, and had everything designers or home decorators would need to complete a classic mid-century home, with a few postmodern touches thrown in. Beginning with the living room, there was an unusually diverse and attractive assortment of sofas from which to choose. Among several Vladimir Kagans, the “Directional Crescent” beige ultrasuede sold for $1,400, while a 21-section cream-colored cotton velvet undulating Stendig hit $4,388.
A Charles Eames for Herman Miller rosewood leather lounge chair and ottoman went past its $1,5/2,500 estimate to reach $3,628. Lighting up the ensemble would be the “Triennale,” a three-arm floor lamp by Sofatti with colored conical shades that went for $3,802, twice its high estimate.
Continuing with living room furniture, a Paul Evans bronze, copper and pewter patchwork coffee table realized $4,972, above its $2/3,000 estimate, and the matching patchwork console and mirror hit $5,850, almost double its presale estimate.
A 4-foot organic wood sculpture by the acclaimed New Hope artist E. Newell Weber flew way past its $900․1,500 estimate to land at $8,482, while a set of Wormley/Dunbar slipper chairs reached $936 for the pair. A hotly contested three-legged John Dickinson table was hammered down for $7,312. To finish off the room, a 4-by-5-foot orange and blue abstract oil painting by Mel Fowler, one of five in the sale, went for $936.
For the dining room, bidders opted for the Ox Art 8-foot-long rosewood table with hand painted inset tiles that sold for $1,400, accompanied by the eight matching upholstered chairs, which brought $936. These would be perched on the Scandinavian mauve, burgundy, orange and plum biomorphic patterned carpet and lit by the Scolari 15-light chandelier that more than doubled its $600 high estimate to hit $1,638.
Also in rosewood, to hold the china, flatware and glasses, a Georg Jensen credenza sold for $1,520. A multicolored Op Art lithograph by Agam was a good buy at $700.
For the bedroom, a king-size pagoda-style walnut headboard by renowned woodworker George Nakashima realized $3,160, well above its $1/1,500 estimate. To flank the bed, a pair of Hans Wegner teak nightstands, part of the bedroom set that included Wegner’s six-drawer high chest and a six-drawer low chest, all together totaled $2,574.
A pair of Noguchi cherrywood and fiberglass lamps realized $995, just above the low estimate. To complete the room, over the headboard would hang a rare abstract oil by Donald Deskey, renowned Art Deco designer of Radio City Music Hall’s interiors. Straight from the Deskey estate, it sold for $2,691, more than three times the high estimate of $700.
All prices given include the 17 percent buyer’s premium.
Rose Hill’s next Modern sale will be in January. For information, 201-816-1940 or www.rosehillauctiongallery.com .
