Rago’s Remix Auction attests to allure of classic, modern designs

LAMBERTVILLE, N.J. – Rago Arts and Auction Center’s Remix Auction brought $1.27 million in sales on April 7. The auction of nearly 700 lots presented pieces of mid-century modern and 21st century design alongside period furnishings, heirloom silver, Asian and compelling art. Absentee and Internet live bidding was available through LiveAuctioneers.

Saturday’s Remix auction achieved high prices for a wide range of property. The breakout star was lot 2194, a pair of Yongzheng-style porcelain loving bowls (above), each decorated with copper red bats, which exceeded all expectations and sold for $102,400, demonstrating how robust the Asian art market can be for fresh property.

Works of fine silver surpassed expectations including lot 2252, a Gorham Martele silver tea and coffee service that which realized a final price of $22,500. Lot 2171, a Tiffany & Co. sterling silver assembled flatware set sold for $13,750 against a high estimate of $8,000. Lot 2262, a Whiting sterling silver and enamel punch bowl with ladle (below) sold for $12,500, more than twice the high estimate. Lot 2012, a pyramid pattern silver tea and coffee service designed by Danish silversmith Georg Jensen exceeded the high estimate and sold for $10,625.

Classic works from the late 19th and early 20th century commanded impressive prices, especially lot 2036, a pair of E.F. Caldwell (attributed) gilt bronze and marble triton lamps depicting Neptune and his wife (below), which shattered the high estimate of $5,000 to sell for $28,750. Lot 2620, a Louis XVI-style Three Graces annular clock, sold for more than twice the high estimate to realize $10,625. Lot 2479a, a Pietro Bazzanti Italian marble figure, sold for $11,875, more than twice the high estimate. Lot 2112, a Louis XVI-style marble-top console desserte, blew past the high estimate of $2,500 to sell for $6,875.

Contemporary works also enjoyed sale prices that largely fell within or above their respective estimate ranges, particularly lot 2279, a mid-century modern Finnish Chandelier in the style of Paavo Tynell that sold for $38,750 against an estimate of $1,200-$1,600.

Other contemporary highlights include lot 2114, two Arnt Arntzen rocket tables, which exceeded their high estimate of $1,600 to achieve a sale price of $8,750; lot 2209, a pair of Poul Hundevad rosewood vitrines, which sold for $6,875, more than twice their high estimate; lot 2058, a set of eight executive chairs designed by Eero Saarinen for Knoll, which sold for $6,875; and lots 2529 and 2184, paintings by American artist Louis Tavelli, which sold for $7,500 each, setting a new auction record for the artist.

Also of note: lot 2474, an English Arts & Crafts Judaica Etrog box in sterling and copper, which sold for more than five times the high estimate to realize $6,875; lot 2536, a gilded plaster butcher’s trade sign in the form of a neck-mounted bull, which also sold for $6,875, nearly 10 times the estimate; lot 2150, a Laotian bronze rain drum which sold for $4,688; and lot 2216, two gelatin silver prints by Patrick Demarchelier, which sold for $4,063 against a high estimate of $2,500.

“Bidding was fast and furious from the room, the phones and online throughout the day. I think it is indicative of an upturn in the market and we are looking forward to repeating this success in the fall,” said Gina Tomasello, director, Great Estates at Rago Arts and Auction Center.