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Verner Panton/Fritz Hansen, System 1-2-3 lounge chair, Denmark, 1990s, $800-$1,000. Rago image.

Discover affordable Modern design at Rago’s Sept. 1 auction

Verner Panton/Fritz Hansen, System 1-2-3 lounge chair, Denmark, 1990s, $800-$1,000. Rago image.
Verner Panton/Fritz Hansen, System 1-2-3 lounge chair, Denmark, 1990s, $800-$1,000. Rago image.

LAMBERTVILLE, N.J. – Rago’s will conduct a no-reserve Discovery auction commencing at 9 a.m. Eastern time on Thursday, Sept. 1, with Internet live bidding through LiveAuctioneers.com. The high bid will take the item, no matter how low the bid might be, and that’s a great enticement to those who seek smart, functional, affordable 20th-century furniture and decorative art for their homes.

As a special highlight, Rago’s will feature a collection of 16 lots of artworks and objects from the collection of Bernarda Bryson Shahn.

“Our Discovery department is being offered more and more interesting property all the time,” said Miriam Tucker, the partner in charge of the Estates and Fine Art departments. “We have a three-century selection of great mid-market furnishings and art, and ethnographic material. We have classic flea market finds.”

Auction Highlights:

The Shahn Collection –

Lots include groups of unframed prints by the Roosevelt, New Jersey artists; 16 prints by Ben Shahn including “Mask”, 1963, “Haggadah”, 1965, Ecclesiastes”, 1966; Self portrait; groups original drawings and works on paper by American, Italian and Japanese mid-20th century artists; Contemporary Native American pottery.

Arts and Crafts –

Great group of Arts & Crafts forms and objects, including lot 922, a George Ohr puzzle mug, $400-600; lot 924, a Grueby vase in the classic leathery green glaze, $1,000-1,500; lot 956, an Ed Diers for Rookwood vase with a beautifully rendered dandelion, fine art on a useful piece, $600-900; lot 892, a whimsical Moorcroft vase with polar bear motif which is part of a large group of more traditional florals, $750-1,000; lot 947, a Charles Stickley trestle library table, $800-1,200; lot 942, a Stickley Brothers two-door bookcase which needs TLC but is one of the enduring Arts & Crafts forms, $800-1,200; lot 941, a Stickley Brothers Morris chair; lot 908, a Gustav Stickley willow settee, $1,000-1,500; lots 1035 and 1036, a contemporary Stickley Prairie settle and an arm chair, $400-600 and $1,000-1,500.

European Art Deco –

European Art Deco challenges the idea that Modern should be exclusively cold or hard. Examples include: lot 362, a Jacques Klein card oak cabinet with beautiful carved doors, $1,200-1,800; lot 356, a pair of French Deco “Paquebot” club chairs, $500-700; lot 369, an Amsterdam School display cabinet and sewing stand, $300-500; lot 363, an Italian Deco carved sideboard, $800-1,200; lot 383, an Amsterdam School reverse painted ceiling fixture, $700-900; lot 376, a French Deco loveseat, $1,200-1,800; lot 384, an amusing WMF-style figural candlestick, $200-400.

20th C. Modern –

The sale contains a great selection of iconic 20th century Modern masters, including Nakashima, Friedeberg, Eames, Paley, Tommi Parzinger, and many more. Highlights include: lot 48, a George Nakashima trestle dining table with two leaves, $3,500-5,000; lot 6, a Phillip Johnson custom vanity which is sleek and very affordable by one of the titans of the International style, $1,000-1,500; lots 422 and 423, Pedro Friedeberg tabletop sculptures, estimated at $800-1,000 and $800-1,200; lots 448 and 449, Gino Cenedese glass animal figures, which are great examples of the Italian glass worker’s art, estimated at $300-500 and $400-600; lot 316, a Frank Gehry for Knoll Cross Check chair, which is an amazing feat of engineering to get into production by a master of 21st century design, $800-1,000; lots 9 and 10 are reissues of the Charles & Ray Eames rosewood lounge chair and ottoman, which is possibly the most recognizable piece of 20th Century furniture design, each is estimated at $800-1,200; lot 11, a classic Charles & Ray Eames rope edge rocker, $800-1,000; lot 275, a Kem Weber Zephyr digital clock, $800-1,200; lot 614, a Gae Aulenti Pipistrello table lamp with a cool lobed shade and great telescoping base, $500-700; lot 100, a paperweight by Albert Paley, which may serve as a tabletop reminder of some of Paley’s more monumental projects, $200-400; lot 394, a Gio Ponti for Richard Ginori coupe, a sweet little example of Ponti’s ceramics, $300-500; lot 1, a pair of Le Corbusier LC1 Lounge chairs, $1,500-2,000; lot 4, an Eileen Gray chrome and glass side table, $300-400; lot 68, a Tommi Parzinger Originals display cabinet, $1,500-2,500; lot 286, a set of very sleek Donald Deskey andirons, $300-500.

Club chairs, club chairs and more club chairs –

There are several lots of club chairs in the Discovery auction: great forms in great materials and great shapes: lot 249, a pair of distressed Art Deco leather chairs with mustache backs, $1,200-1,800; lot 367, a pair of unusual Amsterdam School black leather with tall backs, $800-1,200; lot 356, a pair of French Art Deco in ultra suede, $500-700; lot 414, a pair of Guillerme & Chambon lounge chairs in wool and oak, $1,200-1,800; lot 250, an Art Deco pair in beech, leather & brass, $700-900; for a touch of Hollywood glamour, lot 195, a lounge chair in the style of William “Billy” Haines, $500-700; lot 373, a sleek and clean Modern Euro-style pair, $400-600; lot 270, an pair of iconic Art Deco in a great print, $700-900; lot 522, a contemporary pair in ultrasuede and chrome, $1,200-1,800; lot 543, a very comfortable pair of Leolux in leather and polished aluminum, $2,000-3,000.

Artwork –

Everyone has walls to fill. Why not fill them with work by listed artists? Take a look at lot 519 for the amazing technique on this embossed paper by Frank Gallo entitled “Le Joeur Secret”, $400-600; lot 491 is a sweet, classic lithograph by Jim Dine, “Hearts”, $400-600; lot 96, a Pablo Picasso “Picador II” lithograph, $400-600; lot 98, a group of three lithographs by Joan Miro, instantly recognizable pieces with great graphic punch and color, $400-600; lot 502, a group of five screenprints by Larry Zox, $700-900; lot 516, a Lorna Simpson, Eletrostatic print on wool, $200-300; lot 489, three color lithographs by Roy Lichtenstein “As I Opened Fire”, 1966, published by Stedelijk Museum, Amsterdam, $500-700; lot 701, William F. Ashburner watercolor on paper, $400-600; lot 705, a Maxfield Parrish chromolithograph entitled “Day Break”, $200-300; lot 487, an untitled lithograph by Paul Jenkins, $300-500; lot 488, After Victor Vaserely lithograph in colors, $400-600.

Loft-style furnishings from NY and Philadelphia consignors –

Easily furnish an apartment with this great selection of cool looks at affordable prices: lot 524, four leather Donghia barstools, $700-900; lot 14, Charles & Ray Eames for Vitra Eiffel tower set of five chairs, $600-800; lot 300, Eero Saarinan for Knoll tulip dining table, $1,500-2,500; lot 618, Frighetto DDC custom credenza, great with the frosted glass top, $2,000-3,000; lots 615, 616 and 617, Verner Panton for Fritz Hansen System 1-2-3 lounge chairs, wonderful and wacky, each estimated at $800-1,000; lots 623 and 624 are Roger & Goffignon matched linen sofas in the style of Christian Liagre for a fraction of the price, estimated at $1,500-2,500 each; lot 622, a Christian Liagre for Holly Hunt side table, $700-900; lot 627, Desiron media console, $1,500-2,000; lot 628, Desiron dining table, $1,000-1,500; lot 540, Leolux chaise, $700-900; lots 295-298 are Blenko glass in great colors with great scale, estimates ranging from $200-700; lot 613, a Paul Mayen for Habitat table lamp, $300-500; lot 635, Shiro Kuramata “Sing Sing” chair, $300-500; lot 468, Tobias & Afra Scarpa dining table, $800-1,200; lots 607 and 608, Karim Rashid for George Kovacs lighting fixtures, estimated at $1,200-1,800 and $250-350.

Interesting collector’s items and period pieces –

Consider the unexpected. Consistency has its limits: lot 661, Windsor writing arm chair, $500-700; lot 643, copper apple butter kettle, $200-300; lot 684, 19th Century NCO sword, model M1840 by Ames Mfg. Co., 1865, $200-300; lot 681, an early 20th C. barber pole of turned wood with remnants of painted finish, which would serve as a nice sculptural piece, $300-500; lot 694, a group of six ink pens in sterling and mother-of-pearl, $150-250; lot 884, Jugendstil silver plate dinner gong, $150-250; lot 858, Reed and Barton silver plate tea service, $600-800; lot 852, German sterling silver basket pierced and decorated in repousse, $300-500; lot 674, a pair of Yankee stadium seats, $800-1,200; lot 682, Banjo & mandolin, $200-300; lot 844, Northeast Native American basket, $200-300; lot 641, Sea Dragon architectural casting for the garden, $200-400; lot 637, pair of Adirondack chairs in cedar with broad arms and single-plank back, $500-700.

For additional information on any lot in the sale, call 609-397-9374 or email info@ragoarts.com.

View the fully illustrated catalog and sign up to bid absentee or live via the Internet at www.LiveAuctioneers.com.

 

 

altView the fully illustrated catalog and register to bid absentee or live via the Internet as the sale is taking place by logging on to www.LiveAuctioneers.com.


ADDITIONAL LOTS OF NOTE


Ben Shahn, 16 numbered prints, printed and signed by Stephan Martin, $800-$1,200. Rago image.
Ben Shahn, 16 numbered prints, printed and signed by Stephan Martin, $800-$1,200. Rago image.
Grueby corseted vase in matte green, $1,000-$1,500. Rago image.
Grueby corseted vase in matte green, $1,000-$1,500. Rago image.
Gustav Stickley willow settee with striped wool cushion, $700-$900. Rago image.
Gustav Stickley willow settee with striped wool cushion, $700-$900. Rago image.
Gae Aulenti, Martinelli Luce, Pipistrello table lamp with chrome and enamel base, white plastic shade, $500-$700. Rago image.
Gae Aulenti, Martinelli Luce, Pipistrello table lamp with chrome and enamel base, white plastic shade, $500-$700. Rago image.
Pair of 1930s Art Deco club chairs, USA; beech, lether and brass, $700-$900. Rago image.
Pair of 1930s Art Deco club chairs, USA; beech, lether and brass, $700-$900. Rago image.
Pablo Picasso, Picador II, lithograph in colors, 1961, $400-$600. Rago image.
Pablo Picasso, Picador II, lithograph in colors, 1961, $400-$600. Rago image.
Verner Panton/Fritz Hansen, System 1-2-3 lounge chair, Denmark, 1990s, $800-$1,000. Rago image.
Verner Panton/Fritz Hansen, System 1-2-3 lounge chair, Denmark, 1990s, $800-$1,000. Rago image.
Blenko Glass tangerine decanter with flame stopper and etched Blenko signature, $200-$300. Rago image.
Blenko Glass tangerine decanter with flame stopper and etched Blenko signature, $200-$300. Rago image.
Jugendstil silverplate gong by WMF, Germany, circa 1905, $150-$250. Rago image.
Jugendstil silverplate gong by WMF, Germany, circa 1905, $150-$250. Rago image.