Russian enameled gilt silver punch set. Realized: $52,700. Image courtesy of Rago Arts and Auction Center.
A cased pair of Philadelphia dueling pistols delivered $45,880. A 5.55-carat diamond ring with Cartier jacket finished at $55,800. A Russian enameled gilt silver punch set sold for $52,700.
Friday’s Silver, Coins and Currency auction earned $696,663; Saturday’s Great Estates auction made $649,425; and Sunday’s Jewelry and Couture session attained $1,888,334. Ninety-three percent of the lots were sold.
“Rago’s jewelry sales now surpass all but a few U.S. houses. Our estates, silver and currency auctions are quickly following jewelry’s example,” said Miriam Tucker, the partner in charge of the Fine Art and Estates department at Rago’s. “I think it’s due to a number of factors. We price well. We market extensively. And we sell fresh property from private homes and collections. This is particularly unusual for a jewelry auction. In Estates, the dueling pistols, as an example, came to us on our Monday walk-in appraisal day. So did many of the coins. Some property disappointed, of course. I overestimated the market for folk art personally. But you can’t argue with the sell-through rate, and we are hearing from many happy consignors. We’re delighted.”
The Silver, Coins and Currency session recorded seven auction records: a Tiffany & Co. silver water pitcher, 1857, designed by John and Edward Moore, $8,060; Seven Tiffany & Co. Mackay silver gilt and enamel coffee cups, $18,600; six Russian silver soup or fish spoons, $7,440; Luen-Wo Chinese export pierced silver bowl, Shanghai, China, circa 1900, $5,580; Gorham silver bottle stopper by Erik Magnussen, 1925-1927, $5,270; Frederick W. Walther Orientalist enameled silver cigarette case, Germany, circa 1925, $4,650; and an Edo Japanese mixed metal flatware, Elkington, 1863, $4,650.
Topping the session was a Russian enameled gilt silver punch set, Moscow, 1892, estimated at $25,000-35,000, which sold for $52,700.
Additional hightlights form Friday’s session included an exceptional Tiffany & Co. after-dinner coffee service that sold for $12,400; Georg Jensen Acorn silver flatware service, $7,440; six Russian silver soup or fish spoons, $7,440; Gorham silver bottle stopper by Erik Magnussen, $5,270; and Edo Japanese mixed metal flatware, $ 4,650.
Coins included an 1879 $3 gold coin that sold for $8,060; a 1936 American proof set, $5,580; a Chinese platinum panda coin, $5,270; an 1854 $1 Type Two, $3,100; and a 1915 $5 gold coin, $3,100.
The highlight Rago’s Great Estates auction was the Philadelphia dueling pistols, conservatively estimated at $4,000-$6,000, which rallied to $45,880.
The remaining top 10 lots in Saturday’s sale were an Antonio Paoletti de Giovanni painting, The Fish Sellers, Venezia, $22,320; Addison T. Millar, Middle Eastern market scene, $9,920; Japanese Satsuma type palace vase, $7,440; German iron valuables trunk, $9,300; Daum two-handle cameo glass vessel, $5,890; Swiss cylinder music box, $7,440; , Chinese ivory figures $4,650; unusual Chinese figure of a Kowtowing official, $6,200; and a French marble-top cabinet, $5,890.
The top lot in the Jewelry and Couture Auction was an emerald-cut 5.55-carat diamond ring and Cartier jacket, color K, VS2, flanked by 12mm baguette cut diamonds and tapered diamond shoulders in a platinum setting, which sold for $55,800. It was marked “MP 128. Cartier, NY.” The 18K yellow gold ring and hinged ring jacket, size 5 1/2, carried an estimate of $35,000-45,000.
Fifteen records were set in the Jewelry auction on the final day: a Tiffany & Co. massive jeweled Egyptian revival pendant, circa 1890, sold for $34,720; Frank Gardner Hale jeweled and enameled gold Arts & Crafts suite, circa 1920, $28,520; Belle Epoque platinum and sapphire bracelet, 1918, $2,480; Angela Cummings for Tiffany & Co. inlaid gold bracelet, circa 1980, sold for $14,880; Marcus & Co. Art Nouveau enameled gold ring, 1904, $13,640; rare pair of Holbeinesque enameled gold earrings, circa 1870, $11,160; Tiffany & Co. enameled gold and diamond trout cufflinks, circa 1970, $4,650;
Tiffany & Co. platinum black opal cufflinks, 1910-1920, sold for $8,680; American enameled gold and diamond pansy brooches, circa 1910, $6,200; Edwardian diamond and pink pearl brooch, $5,580; Indian School portrait miniature gold bracelet, circa 1890, $4,960; black opal, diamond and demantoid garnet ring, circa 1910, $3,596; brown calf leather Kelly bag, Hermes, Paris, circa 1978, sold for $3,596; Jugendstil pendant by Heinrich Levinger, Pforzheim, circa 1902, $2,604; and a Tiffany & Co. enameled gold and diamond pendant watch and chain, $2,604.
Also bringing top prices were a diamond and platinum ruby fringe necklace that sold for $34,720; Tiffany & Co. aquamarine and diamond brooch, $17,360; a micromosaic Turkish battle scene with horses, $16,120; gold and pink foil-backed topaz suite $10,540; and a Patek Philippe pink gold wristwatch, $10,540.
Consignments are now being accepted for Rago’s April sales of jewelry, estate property and coins and spring sales of 20th/21st century design and fine art. Phone 609-397-9374 or email info@ragoarts.com.
Click here to view the fully illustrated catalog for this sale, complete with prices realized.
ADDITIONAL LOTS OF NOTE
Click here to view the fully illustrated catalog for this sale, complete wity prices realized,
Russian enameled gilt silver punch set. Realized: $52,700. Image courtesy of Rago Arts and Auction Center. Tiffany & Co. Mackay silver gilt and enamel coffee cups. Realized: $18,600. Image courtesy of Rago Arts and Auction Center. Tiffany & Co. after-dinner coffee service. Realized: $12,400. Image courtesy of Rago Arts and Auction Center. German iron valuables trunk, 18th century, paint decorated. Realized: $9,300. Image courtesy of Rago Arts and Auction Center. Japanese Satsuma type palace vase. Realized: $7,440. Image courtesy of Rago Arts and Auction Center. Frank Gardner Hale jeweled and enameled gold Arts & Crafts suite, circa 1920. Realized: $28,520. Image courtesy of Rago Arts and Auction Center. Art Deco diamond and emerald platinum strap bracelet. Realized: $33,480. Image courtesy of Rago Arts and Auction Center. Angela Cummings for Tiffany & Co. inlaid gold bracelet, circa 1980. Realized: $14,880. Image courtesy of Rago Arts and Auction Center.
