Included among the more than 950 lots are rare vessels and artwork descended from Susan Frackelton’s family; a fine and extensive collection of American art pottery from the Litchfield Historical Society; a good grouping of orotone photographs, including work by Edward S. Curtis; a fine collection of hand-painted porcelain and earthenware vessels by Rozenburg; sculptural glass by some of the best American contemporary craftspeople, such as Harvey Littleton, Mary Ann “Toots” Zinsky, Dale Chihuly, Michael Pavlik, John Lewis and Jon Kuhn; contemporary Italian glass by Michele Burato and Massimo Micheluzzi; rare furniture and lamps by San Francisco designer John Dickinson; particularly fine studio furniture from the New Hope area by George and Mira Nakashima, Phil Powell and Paul Evans.
“The October 1st and 2nd auctions have been tightly curated,” said David Rago. “Clients will find select property that we are really proud to be offering, with work from 1890 to 2005, including fine decorative ceramics, contemporary glass, and high end studio and designer furniture.”
Early 20th century Arts & Crafts Movement items will be sold on Saturday. Sunday will be reserved for 20th-21st century Modern Design.
Doors will open on sales days at 9 a.m.
European Ceramics:
The sale includes European ceramics such as Rozenburg, Wedgwood, Martin Brothers and Haviland & Co. There are several lots of Moorcroft and MacIntyre. MacIntyre Pottery was the launching ground for the career of William Moorcroft, as he subsequently became known for his own pottery. Featured in the sale is lot 229, a MacIntyre vase with poppies, circa 1902, estimated at $2,500-$3,500. Other featured European pieces include lot 243, a Wedgwood Fairyland Luster vase with maidens and candles, estimated at $2,500-$3,500.
American Art Pottery:
American pottery in the sale include Walrath, W.J. Walley, Van Briggle, Union Porcelain Works, Tiffany Studios, Teco, Susan Frackelton, Rookwood, Marblehead, Saturday Evening Girls, Newcomb College, Grueby, Roseville, Pewabic, Merrimac, North Dakota School of Mines, John Bennett, Chelsea Keramic Art Works, George Ohr and Fulper.
Featured in the sale is lot 150, a Susan Frackelton three-handled earthenware bowl painted with landscapes in the Delft manner, which was descended in the Frackelton family, brought to us by Susan Frackelton’s own great-grandson, estimated at $5,000-$7,000. Also of note is lot 17, a complete Grueby eight-tile frieze of “The Pines,” coming directly from an original Aurora, Ill., residence, estimated at $10,000-$15,000. Lot 15 is a Grueby massive jardinière with leaves and buds, estimated at $5,000-$7,000. Lot 294 is a massive sand jar by Jacques Sicard for Weller, painted with vines and thorns, possibly from the Weller Theater in Zanesville, Ohio, where several such pieces were featured in its day. This super-size piece is estimated at $10,000-$15,000.
Early 20th Century Furniture:
Featured lots include lot 75, a Gustav Stickley knock-down settle, circa 1903, estimated at $15,000-$20,000; lot 194, a Gustav Stickley nine-drawer dresser, estimated at $7,500-$11,000; lot 207, a rare Charles R. Ashbee for the Guild of Handicrafts architect’s desk, England, circa 1890-1902, estimated at $8,000-$10,000; and lot 204, a Roycroft bride’s chest, estimated at $6,000-$9,000.
Lighting:
Featured lots include 181A, an important Karl Kipp table lamp with geometric leaded glass shade, estimated at $20,000-$30,000; 160, Fred Robertson (Los Angeles) rare table lamp with glazed earthenware and leaded slag glass, descended through the Robertson family and never before offered for sale, estimated at $20,000-$30,000; lot 179, a rare Dirk Van Erp lamp estimated at $25,000-$35,000; and lot 188, a Duffner & Kimberly leaded glass chandelier shade with a poppy pattern, estimated at $25,00-$35,000. A fine and rare Tiffany Studios chandelier, direct from a Michigan residence, is estimated at $25,000-$35,000.
Metalwork:
Early 20th century metalwork in the sale includes items in copper, bronze, silver and silver plate by makers such as Albert Berry, Archibald Knox for Liberty, Dirk Van Erp, Gustav Stickley, John Pearson, Joseph Heinrichs, Roycroft, Stickley Brothers, Tiffany Studios, WMF and more.
Featured in the sale is lot 164, a rare Joseph Heinrichs for Shreve & Co. mixed metal covered bowl with horn and stone arrowheads, estimated at $10,000-$15,000.
Glass:
Glass in the sale includes makers such as Durand, Gallé, Lalique, Loetz, Quezal, Steuben and Tiffany Studios. Featured lots include lot 358, a Loetz Titania vase estimated at $2,000-$3,000 and lot 372, a Lalique luminaire with birds, Fauvettes, circa 1930, estimated at $2,000-$3,000.
Prints, Photographs, Works on Paper:
Artists in the sale include: Arthur Wesley Dow, Edward S. Curtis, Gustave Baumann, Otto Eckmann and Frances H. Gearhart.
Susan Frackelton’s family has also provided the us with several of her works on paper, which has been grouped as one lot (153) of six works: four pencil botanical drawings, one pen and ink landscape, and one illuminated page, estimated at $1,500-$2,000.
Also of note in the sale are two fine Gustave Baumann color woodblock prints, lots 42 and 43, Processional and A Lilac Year, estimated at $6,000-$9,000 and $6,000-$8,000 respectively.
Mid 20th-21st Century / Modern: Sunday, Oct. 2, noon
Sunday’s Modern Design auction features over 500 lots of furniture, lighting and decorative arts. Prominent Modern pieces by George Nakashima, Paul Evans, Philip and Kelvin LaVerne, John Dickinson, Tommi Parzinger, James Mont, Dale Chihuly, Jon Kuhn,Massimo Micheluzzi, Mary Ann “Toots” Zynzky and many more will be coming up for bids.
Modern Furniture:
Featured pieces in the sale include lot 794, Johnny Swing Nickel Couch, USA, 2003, consisting of approximately 7,000 nickels, the fifth of a proposed edition of 25. Purchased by the consignor from the artist, it is estimated at $45,000-$65,000.
As always, there is a fine representation of Nakashima Studios pieces in the sale, such as a two-part cabinet sold as two lots, 839, estimated at $3,000-$4,000 and 840, at $7,000-$9,000. Both come with a copy of the original invoice and drawing. Other notable Nakashima pieces include two exceptional coffee tables, lots 523 and 852, each estimated at $20,000-$30,000.
Also featured are several fine pieces by Paul Evans, such as lot 816, an exceptional Argente vitrine, purchased by the consignor from Paul Evans in 1973, estimated at $45,000-$65,000; lot 513, a rare room divider authenticated by Dorsey Reading, Evans’ studio manager, is offered at $8,000-$10,000; lot 501, an exceptional custom-designed dining table, estimated at $30,000-$40,000; and lot 502, a set of six Patchwork dining chairs, is estimated at $8,000-10,000.
Modern Lighting:
Highlights include several French lamps of note such as: lot 701, a large Serge Mouille adjustable wall-mounting lamp, estimated at $9,000-$12,000; lot 702, a rare adjustable desk lamp by Jacques le Chevallier and René Koechlin of ebonite and aluminum, circa 1928, at $12,000-$18,000; and lot 705, a rare gilded wrought-iron Persane floor lamp attributed to Jean Royère, from the collection of graphic designer and art director Erik Nitsche, $9,000-$12,000.
Metalwork:
Lot 664 is a particularly extensive and complete set of Gio Ponti sterling silver flatware for 12 in the Diamond pattern for Reed & Barton, estimated at $6,500-$8,500. Other metalwork in the sale includes lot 750, a Harry Bertoia bronze Sonambient sculpture, estimated at $25,000-$35,000; and lot 738, an important figural sculpture by Franz Hagenauer for Werkstatten Hagenauer, at $20,000-$30,000.
Modern Fine Art:
Artists’ works sold in this sale: Paintings by Donald Deskey; prints by Harry Bertoia; sculpture by Edwin and Mary Scheier, Pedro Friedeberg, Steven Montgomery, Val Bertoia; woodblock prints by Wharton Esherick, and more.
The sale includes an important wall-hanging figural sculpture by Edwin and Mary Scheier, lot 626, estimated at $4,000-$6,000. Made of guanacastle wood and fur, this piece is possibly the Scheiers’ first wood sculpture to come to auction, and one of only about 100 made between 1970-1978 during their stay in Oaxaca, Mexico.
Another notable work is lot 738, an important figural sculpture by Franz Hagenauer for Werkstatten Hagenauer, estimated at $20,000-$30,000.
Art Glass:
Featured in the sale is lot 571, a fine Albore vessel by Mary Ann “Toots” Zynsky, made of fused and thermo-formed color glass threads, which is estimated at $8,000-$12,000. Also of note is lot 566, a large and spectacular Jon Kuhn cube glass sculpture on steel base, attractively presented at $12,000-$18,000.
Modern Ceramics:
There are several Picasso/Madoura hand-painted ceramic pieces in the sale, including: lot 904, a white plate with flute player and cavaliers, estimated at $2,000-$3,000; lot 905, a plate with flowers and apple, at $1,000-$1,500; lot 906, a figural vessel with lady portrait, at $3,000-$4,000; and lot 907, an owl pitcher, estimated at $2,500-$3,500.
Also of note is lot 629, an important three-piece earthenware totem by Edwin and Mary Scheier, estimated at $10,000-$15,000.
For details visit Rago’s website www.ragoarts.com or phone 609-397-9374.
ADDITIONAL LOTS OF NOTE
Joseph Heinrichs for Shreve & Co. multi-metal bowl with stone arrowheads. Estimate: $10,000-$15,000. Image courtesy of Rago Arts and Auction Center.
Tiffany Studios rare chandelier, height to crown: 22 inches. Estimate: $25,000-$35,000. Image courtesy of Rago Arts and Auction Center.
Mary Ann ‘Toots’ Zynsky Albore glass vessel, 2004. Estimate: $8,000-$12,000. Image courtesy of Rago Arts and Auction Center.
Johnny Swing Nickel Couch, 2003, 31 x 90 x 44 inches. Estimate: $45,000-$65,000; Image courtesy of Rago Arts and Auction Center.
Paul Evans Argente vitrine, 1973, welded and dye-painted aluminum, laminate, glass, mirror, 93 1/2 x 40 1/2 x 21 1/4 inches. Estimate: $45,000-$65,000; Image courtesy of Rago Arts and Auction Center.
