Rago Modern Design auction totals $2.2M

Paul Evans sculpture front cabinet. Price realized: $106,250. Rago image

LAMBERTVILLE, N.J. – With totals exceeding $2.2 million, well above the high estimate, and a near 100% sell-through rate, Rago’s Modern Design auction May 13 illustrates that the design market is still strong. Absentee and Internet live bidding was available through LiveAuctioneers.

The roughly 200-lot sale featured designs by Paul Evans (above), George Nakashima, and Wendell Castle, ceramics by Peter Voulkos, Ruth Duckworth, and Pablo Picasso and glass by Dale Chihuly, Yoichi Ohira and Lino Tagliapietra to name a just a few.

Phillip Lloyd Powell New Hope lounge chairs. Price realized: $37,500. Rago image

Adding further intrigue, was a 1966 Ford Thunderbird that belonged to George Nakashima, which sold for $17,920.

Peter Voulkos, ‘Shogun.’ Price realized: $62,500. Rago image

Record bidder participation from around the globe contributed to the success of the Modern Design auction, the first sale presented by Rago without a print catalog.

Yoichi Ohira Laguna vessel. Price realized: $25,000. Rago image

David Rago and Suzanne Perrault were alone in the gallery, standing at the podium and conducting the live auction with all bid activity – whether by phone, absentee or live online – occurring remotely.