Frederick Rhead and Agnes Rhead vessel, University City, Mo.: $150,000. Rago Arts and Auction Center image.
The two-day auction, composed of 1,096 lots, grossed $4.74 million.
Ninety bidders competed in-house. Phone bidders numbered 265, and 142 absentee bids were placed. Online bidders, through LiveAuctioneers.com, numbered 451 for the Early 20th Century session and 461 for the Modern session. Eighty-two percent of the lots sold.
“The five Modern auctions that preceded ours the week of our sale were mostly strong, but there were some soft spots in European furniture and Tiffany,” said David Rago. “Our sale had soft spots, too, but did pretty much as we had hoped, in spite of $20 million having been taken out of the market before our first hammer fell. And it was Father’s Day.”
The Early 20th Century Design/Arts & Crafts sale on Saturday was estimated at $1.1 million to $1.6 million. Including the 25 percent buyer’s premium, the total was $1.75 million.
In addition to the Rhead vessel highlighted lots were a Tiffany Studios floor lamp with Tulip shade, $137,500; a Frances Rocchi, Saturday Evening Girls center bowl, $96,875; a Duffner & Kimberly table lamp in Louis XV pattern, $40,625; a Samuel Yellin pair of large doors, $37,500; and a Lalique pair of Longchamps mascots, $18,750.
The 20th/21st Century Design segment was estimated at $2.5 million to $3.5 million, and with the premium mustered $2.99 million.
Saturday’s Contemporary Pottery highlighted lots were a Viktor Schreckengost, Cowan Jazz Bowl, $100,000; a Pablo Picasso tile with portrait, Tête De Garcon, $59,375; Betty Woodman ceramic winged sculpture; $25,000; and an Otto and Gertrud Natzler earthenware bowl, $12,500.
Sunday’s Modern highlighted included a Paul Evans copper sculpture, $53,125; an Albert Paley custom dining table, $53,125; a George Nakashima, Nakashima Studios fine turned-leg dining table, $53,125; a Harry Bertoia untitled (bush) bronze and copper sculpture, $38,750; and a Christopher Hiltey large exterior interactive mobile sculpture, $25,000.
Consignments are now being accepted for Rago’s next 20th Century Design auctions, Oct. 27-28. Phone 609-397-9374 or email info@ragoartscom.
Click here to view the fully illustrated catalog for this sale, complete with prices realized.
ADDITIONAL LOTS OF NOTE
Frederick Rhead and Agnes Rhead vessel, University City, Mo.: $150,000. Rago Arts and Auction Center image. Frances Rocchi, Saturday Evening Girls center bowl: $96,875. Rago Arts and Auction Center image. Tiffany Studios Tulip shade with floor lamp: $137,500. Rago Arts and Auction Center image. Viktor Schreckengost, Cowan Jazz Bowl: $100,000. Rago Arts and Auction Center image. Pablo Picasso tile with portrait: $59,375. Rago Arts and Auction Center image. Paul Evans copper sculpture: $53,125. Rago Arts and Auction Center image. Russel Wright Rare bullet-shaped cocktail shaker and six cups on tray: $26,250. Rago Arts and Auction Center image. Albert Paley custom dining table: $53,125. Rago Arts and Auction Center image.
