Rago goes Modern with an April 3-4 sale of 1,000 lots. Bid from anywhere through LiveAuctioneers.com
March 11th, 2004
Lambertville, N.J. - Partners John Sollo and David Rago have once again teamed up to produce an extraordinary Modern auction, April 3-4, with real time Internet bidding through LiveAuctioneers.com. Never afraid to push the boundaries, David Rago Auctions proudly presents more than 1,000 lots of some of the most desirable, eccentric and unusual pieces from the Modern era.
The Saturday sale will showcase many Paul Evans pieces that have grown in popularity over the last several years. This auction includes a large Paul Evans wavy-front cabinet built around 1966. This piece is only the second one known to have come to auction and is one of the rarest cabinet designs with less then 50 built. It captures the experimental and spiritual essence of the 1960's pop culture. In addition, a sculpted steel base coffee table from 1968 is featured along with a directional dining table.
As is usual at Sollo-Rago Modern auctions, George Nakashima will be well represented with a large collection of diverse pieces. Highlighting Nakashima is a very fine Conoid bench with back, as well as several other Nakashima pieces including dining tables, sideboards and grass seat chairs. Two exceptional Buckeye burl tables by Nakashima are featured. One table is from the estate of the original owner, and the other table has a rosewood base and was formerly in the collection of Victoria and Maestro Roland. The Fiore collection is considered to be one of the most important ones ever to come to auction.
One of the best collections of Bertoia sculptures to come to the market is featured, including dramatic "sound" sculptures and two very large “ Willow ” sculptures ranging from five to eight feet in height. These highly desirable free-standing sculptures are composed of stainless steel rods atop a steel base. The eight foot Bertoia sculpture is one of only two ever made in this size. In addition to the rare sculptures, ten monoprints are offered.
Also offered are two pairs of unusual wrought iron gates in excellent condition. One is a pair of fine Edgar Brandt Art Deco interior gates, circa 1924 and stamped “E. Brandt/France” with stylized water fountain and swirling stems of leaves and pierced flowers with vines along the border. The other pair is in the style of Wilhelm Hunt Diederich with leaping hounds and stags. "These amazing gates are an inspiration to look at and perfectly capture the whole essence of metalworking in that era," said John Sollo.
Tommi Parzinger, the upcoming "darling of collectors" is well represented. Parzinger designs embody modern elegance being very dramatic with high style. Highlighting this collection is a pair of wrought iron floor lamps, c. 1970, with original shades. Other Parzinger items offered include sofas, case goods and chairs and a rare painting.
Collectors of James Mont will be pleased that the second half of a large collection from the estate of Dr. & Mrs. Sieberth S. Kety of Picayune, Mississippi is being offered. This collection from the 1950s exemplifies James Mont's own quirky style of Modernism. Featured is a fantastic architectural couch custom built for the original owner's house having black deconstructed arms and original upholstery. An additional 8-9 pieces in wonderful condition from this same collection will be offered.
Also being offered from a single-owner estate are several Gilbert Rhode pieces, always a favorite of modern collectors. One standout piece is a Gilbert Rhode desk designed for Herman Miller purchased in the late 1940's. This piece from the Paldao line is an example of an attempt for corporate America to integrate organic design into a line of furniture. The whole line was an experiment with biomorphic shapes that appealed to urban America combining compact size with elegant design. Several other Rhode pieces include a huge stereo cabinet and bookcase as well as coffee tables, lamp tables and living room pieces.
Many pieces of exceptional modern artwork are offered. Of particular interest is a pencil-signed Joan Miró print, depicting two whimsical figures, acquired from the collection of a Professor Abbott, who taught math at Annapolis. This piece is numbered 43 out of 120 produced and is offered with the original bill of sale. Other desirable art includes a William Gropper oil on copper piece titled "The Speaker," and a Phillip Evergood signed drawing, dated 1964, titled "Harmonica Player," which was included in the Evergood retrospective in 1969 at the Gallery of Modern Art in New York. In addition, a number of pieces of art including oils on canvas and charcoals by Ludwig Sander and a collection of paintings by Estele Laverne are offered. Also featured is a large collection of paintings representing WPA industrial scenes.
Certain to draw a lot of attention is a "Mae West" Sofa designed by Salvador Dali in the mid 1930s. Not only unusual but also colorful, this piece was made as a tribute to Mae West in which the artist, Salvador Dali, turned his surrealism in art into this bizarre furniture design. The age of this amazing piece is hard to determine due to the fact that it has old fashioned upholstery straps, internal springs and is made with horsehair stuffing.
Three excellent and rare pieces of Wharton Esherick furniture are offered. Esherick is well known for some of the most innovative furniture built in the 20th century. These first quality pieces include two walnut and painted plywood units from what could be called the "Curvaceous Kitchen" of the Wharton Esherick house. One piece is a hanging cupboard and the other a single-door cabinet. In addition, a music stand from 1962 is offered. "With not much out there, it is not very often that Wharton Esherick furniture shows up at auction," Sollo noted.
Twenty wood turnings are being offered from a single owner collection in the Midwest. These organic turned wood bowls and vases from the 1970's and1980's are artforms in and of themselves. All of these signed turnings have been done by well-known contemporary artisans such as Phillip Moultrop, Galen Carpenter, Mel Lindquist and others. "These turnings represent a confluence of art and nature," said Sollo.
Three unconventional music stands by noted designers are for sale but the one sure to capture the most attention is a very rare piece by Smokey Tunis. The mysterious Smokey Tunis from West Chester, New York made wonderful "beatnik" furniture in the 1950's and this music stand is no exception. Any design by Smokey Tunis is highly prized by collectors as they are very rare and are seldom auctioned.
Also featured is a large collection of Carl Springer, Vladimir Kagan, Charles Eames, Wendell Castle and Finn Juhl designs.
The Saturday evening portion of this sale, which begins at 5:00 p.m., will consist of the personal property of the estate of prominent furniture and industrial designer, Edward J. Wormley, whose name has been synonymous with the Dunbar Furniture Company of Berne , Indiana since 1931. Wormley's work has been defined as one of the greatest contributions to mid century modern design into the 20th century. Fully half of the material offered relates to Wormley's work for Dunbar . “It is a rare event that material so unique and important from such a prominent designer is available at a public sale,” said Chris Kennedy, who organized this session.
The evening consists of more than 100 lots from Wormley's personal archives and spans material from his work as a student in the 1920's to his retirement in Weston , Connecticut in the 1980's. Offered are business and personal files, documents, correspondence, product catalogs, scrapbooks, artwork and profuse original photography relating to this career. Many items bear his signature or company stamp. In addition, a large collection of material relating to the Dunbar Furniture Company including an interesting series of photographs of personnel and workers at the factory, circa 1953, and a photographic record of the Dunbar office and showrooms, circa 1960.
The remainder of the evening session features European and American books, periodicals and ephemera relating to modern design. Some of the material comes from the estates of such designers as Angelo Testa, Lester Beal and Joseph Carr. This is an opportunity for collectors or for anyone interested in researching and learning about modern design to purchase rare and hard to find material from the period 1925 to 1975 that have not been on the market.
The auction will take place on Saturday, April 3 and Sunday, April 4, beginning at 12 noon EST (9 a.m. PST) on both days.
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