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Estimated at $25,000-$35,000, the Wharton Esherick armchair in oak, leather and wrought iron sold for $100,650. Image courtesy Rago Arts and Auction Center.

Esherick chair tops $100,000 at Rago’s 20th century design auction

Tom Hoepf
Tom Hoepf

Estimated at $25,000-$35,000, the Wharton Esherick armchair in oak, leather and wrought iron sold for $100,650. Image courtesy Rago Arts and Auction Center.
Estimated at $25,000-$35,000, the Wharton Esherick armchair in oak, leather and wrought iron sold for $100,650. Image courtesy Rago Arts and Auction Center.
LAMBERTVILLE, N.J. – Rago Arts and Auction Center reports strong results at its 20th Century Design auction Feb. 4-5. Friday’s session of Early 20th Century Design totaled $1.56 million in sales with 88 percent of the lots selling. Saturday’s session of 20th-21st Century Design totaled $2.8 million with 79 percent of the lots selling. Both totals fell well within presale estimates.

“We had two rock-solid days,” said David Rago. “Early 20th Century property sold well across every category – furniture, lighting, pottery, prints, tiles, glass. Wharton Esherick dominated the top lots in Modern design and exceptional lots fetched exceptional prices. What might not reflect itself in top sales by dollar is how well we did with contemporary glass: beautiful things in a market segment we are excited to be developing.”

An Esherick oak, leather and wrought iron chair was the top lot at the two-day auction at $100,650. Prices include a 22 percent buyer’s premium.

  • Highlighted lots from Friday:
  • 135 – Grueby five-tile frieze of an ox-drawn cart, $57,950;
  • 378 – Tiffany Studios bronze Moorish chandelier, $51,850;
  • 70 – Charles Rohlfs oak coal hod, $41,480;
  • 109 – Teco tall buttressed vase, $39,040;
  • 239 – Martin Brothers stoneware bird tobacco jar, $26,840;
  • 213 – Joseph Heinrichs Shreve & Co. arrowhead bowl, $24,400;
  • 348 – Franz Hofstotter Loetz art glass vase, $23,180;
  • 48 – Gustave Baumann woodblock print Cottonwood Tassels, $21,960;
  • 201 – Gustav Stickley Bride’s chest, $21,960;
  • 50 – Gustave Baumann woodblock print, Processional, $19,520.

Highlighted lots from Saturday:

  • 509 – Wharton Esherick oak, leather, wrought iron chair, $100,650;
  • 500 – Wharton Esherick sandstone sculpture Andante, $67,100;
  • 505 – Wharton Esherick carved oak and cherry tiered stand, $45,750;
  • 516A – Wharton Harris Esherick bronze sculpture, Adam, $35,380;
  • 678 – T.H. Robsjohn-Gibbings Widdicomb Mesa table, $35,380;
  • 523 – George Nakashima Frenchman’s Cove dining table, $34,160;
  • 522 – George Nakashima six American Conoid dining chairs, $31,720;
  • 576 – Tommi Parzinger mahogany and brass cabinet, $28,060;
  • 526 – George Nakashima cabinet on custom base, $26,840;
  • 514 – Wharton Esherick Sculpted cherry bookstand, $25,620.

For details contact Rago Arts and Auction Center 609-397-9374 or info@ragoarts.com.

 

Click here to view the fully illustrated catalogs for this sale, complete with prices realized.

ADDITIONAL LOTS OF NOTE

Wharton Esherick sandstone sculpture ‘Andante’ brought $67,100. Image courtesy Rago Arts and Auction Center.
Wharton Esherick sandstone sculpture ‘Andante’ brought $67,100. Image courtesy Rago Arts and Auction Center.
Wharton Esherick carved oak and cherry tiered stand, $45,750. Image courtesy Rago Arts and Auction Center.
Wharton Esherick carved oak and cherry tiered stand, $45,750. Image courtesy Rago Arts and Auction Center.
T.H. Robsjohn-Gibbings Widdicomb Mesa table, $35,380. Image courtesy Rago Arts and Auction Center.
T.H. Robsjohn-Gibbings Widdicomb Mesa table, $35,380. Image courtesy Rago Arts and Auction Center.
Tiffany Studios bronze Moorish chandelier, $51,850. Image courtesy Rago Arts and Auction Center.
Tiffany Studios bronze Moorish chandelier, $51,850. Image courtesy Rago Arts and Auction Center.
Charles Rohlfs oak coal hod, $41,480. Image courtesy Rago Arts and Auction Center.
Charles Rohlfs oak coal hod, $41,480. Image courtesy Rago Arts and Auction Center.
Teco tall buttressed vase, $39,040. Image courtesy Rago Arts and Auction Center.
Teco tall buttressed vase, $39,040. Image courtesy Rago Arts and Auction Center.
Franz Hofstotter Loetz art glass vase, $23,180. Image courtesy Rago Arts and Auction Center.
Franz Hofstotter Loetz art glass vase, $23,180. Image courtesy Rago Arts and Auction Center.