NEW JERSEY – A Ruth Asawa woven wire mobile with five lobes, measuring 61 inches tall sold for $627,750 at Rago’s Nov. 16 fine art auction, setting a record for her like-size, multi-lobed work.

According to Artnet.com, there has been only one other sale at auction since the artist’s August death. It took place on Nov. 12 in New York, when a larger 78-inch seven-lobed work sold for $389,000.

LiveAuctioneers.com provided Internet live bidding.

All prices quoted include buyer’s premium.

“The Asawa record is attributable to a number of market factors, from the beauty of her body of work to provenance to her recent death,” said Meredith Hilferty, director of fine art at Rago Arts and Auction Center. “In the final analysis, good is good and this is an impeccable thing. Still, I would hate for it to completely overshadow the many other successes in the sale, from op art to pop prints. I’d like to personally thank all our buyers and consignors, with special thanks to Steve Andersen for entrusting us with his personal collection of prints and original works.”

The auction totaled $2,607,313, inclusive of premium, with 73 percent of the 579 lots finding buyers. The postwar and contemporary art session totaled $2.2 million, well over the $1.9 million high estimate.

The top lots in the postwar and contemporary art session were:

1. 529 Ruth Asawa, Untitled: $627,750
2. 611 Julio Le Parc, Serie 3 D N° 1: $87,500
3. 571 Richard Anuszkiewicz, Crimson Sanctuary: $75,000
4. 574 Julian Stanczak, Summaries of Light: $68,750
5. 553 Sol LeWitt, Two works of art: Set 223 and Untitled: $62,500
6. 576 Richard Anuszkiewicz, Feast of the Sun and the Moon: $56,250
7. 596 Friedel Dzubas, Royal Skin: $50,000
8. 550 Roy Lichtenstein, Shipboard Girl: $46,875
9. 646 Andy Warhol, Howdy Doody: $33,750
10. 540 Roy Lichtenstein, On: $30,000
11. 579 Julian Stanczak, Passing Through: $30,000

The 19th/20th century American and European Art session totaled $403,813, inclusive of premium, falling short of a low estimate of $574,700. Leading works in this category were:

1. 4 Frederick William MacMonnies, Pan of Rohallion: $53,125
2. 122 Romare Bearden, Lonely Beach: $18,750
3. 21 Arthur Lismer, Untitled: $17,500
4. 102 Joseph Barrett, Yellow House on the Delaware: $17,500
5. 129 Andre Brasilier, Marcilly Village de Touraine: $17,500
6. 90 Charles F. Ramsey, Untitled: $12,500
7. 112 Clark Hulings, The Grain Merchant: $12,500
8. 46 Jean Louis Chauvin, Maternite: $8,750
9. 69 Ida Wells Stroud, A Hillside – Clara’s Garden: $8,750
10. 93 Lloyd Raymond Ney, Composition No. 10: $8,750

Consignments are now being accepted for Rago’s May 2014 Fine Art auctions and all of Rago’s Spring 2014 auctions: 609-397-9374 or email info@ragoarts.com.

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

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ADDITIONAL LOTS OF NOTE

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