LAMBERTVILLE, N.J. – Rago Arts and Auction Center’s September Design Auctions brought in just over $6 million on Sept. 22-24. Buoyed by an impressive array of property and exceptional single-owner collections, the sale was consistent and strong across three days, seven auction segments and over 1,400 lots, earning an 81.3 percent overall sell-through rate. Absentee bidding was available through LiveAuctioneers.
Works by Rene Lalique sold particularly well. The Lexora Collection of Lalique Glass (above) saw a 97 percent sell-through rate and exceeded its high estimate by 29 percent. Select works of early 20th century design and Arts and Crafts furniture sold admirably, including strong prices for European ceramics as well as for lot 119, a hanging lantern by Greene & Greene (below) that sold for $143,750 against an estimate of $40,000-$60,000.
Bidders showed great enthusiasm for works of modern and mid-century design as works by Wendell Castle, Albert Paley and Jacques Adnet hammered well above estimates.
Property from The Hudson Years: The Collection of Mark McDonald, including lot 1104, a first edition ESU-400 by Charles and Ray Eames which soared past its estimate of $12,000-$16,000 to sell for $36,250, was especially coveted by bidders and earned the segment an 89 percent sell-through rate.
Works by Delaware Valley modernists saw strong results including lot 1194, a Sculpture Front Cabinet (below) by Paul Evans, which sold for $200,000 against an estimate of $140,000-$160,000, and lot 1217, a pair of lounge chairs by Phil Powell, which sold for $31,250 against an estimate of $10,000-$15,000.
Also of note: lots 1259 and 1260, lacquered metal vases by Jean Dunand which sold for $37,500 and $25,000, respectively, defying identical estimates of $4,000-$6,000; lot 1000, a Conoid bench by George Nakashima which sold for $30,000 against an estimate of $13,500-$17,500; lot 1564, a unique glass sculpture by Lino Tagliapietra which sold for $31,250 against an estimate of $9,000-$14,000; lot 551, an early Dragonfly Shade lamp by Tiffany Studios which sold for $59,375, nearly double its estimate of $20,000-$30,000; and lot 1019, a silver-plated tea set (below) by KEM Weber for Friedman Silver Co. which sold for $46,875 against an estimate of $25,000-$35,000.
Modern ceramics and glass provided a solid close to the three-day sale, hammering comfortably within estimate range with a sell-through rate of 88 percent.
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