LAMBERTVILLE, N.J. — Rago, along with its partners Wright and Los Angeles Modern Auctions, have combined forces to present some of the most prominent names in postwar and contemporary ceramics on Wednesday, October 4. The catalog is now available for bidding at LiveAuctioneers.
Toshiko Takaezu (1922-2011) was a driving force in redefining clay as an artistic medium. Her focus on Abstractionism placed her as a leader in the postwar scene, with her works gaining international attention in the 1950s and ’60s. Takaezu’s work helped transform ceramics from everyday household objects to a medium for artistic expression.
The top lot in the sale is a well-known work from Takaezu that comes from a private collection in Tucson, Arizona. Spring Moon (With Rattle) features unforgettable glazing and is estimated at $70,000-$90,000.
Pillow Pitcher is a circa-1985 glazed earthenware work by Betty Woodman (1930-2018). Like many in her generation, Woodman began making functional ceramics but soon moved to more expressionist designs while retaining a degree of functionality, an aesthetic that Pillow Pitcher represents. The lot carries an estimate of $25,000-$35,000.
The sale also showcases numerous pieces from noted postwar ceramicists. There are four works from Lucie Rie (1902-1995), topped by a large bottle with a flaring lip estimated at $10,000-$15,000. Four works from famed ceramic artist Claude Conover (1907-1994) are featured as well, including a rare Totonac vessel, estimated at $20,000-$30,000.
