Rago's November 12 Fine Art Auctions Reach $1.3 Million. Raymond Pettibon Lots Total $183,954, Doubling High Estimate

RAGO'S NOVEMBER 12 FINE ART AUCTIONS REACH $1.3 MILLION. RAYMOND PETTIBON LOTS TOTAL $183,954, DOUBLING HIGH ESTIMATE.

Lambertville, NJ   Rago Arts and Auction Center’s Fine Art auctions on November 12 brought in an ample $1.3 million, with spirited bidding for top lots (reflects buyer’s premium of 24%).

·          Hammer: $1,047,170

·          Hammer + bp: $1,298,491    

·          High estimate: $1,558,000

·          Low estimate: $1,075,700

·          # of lots:  400

·          % sold:  81%

·          Bidders: 652

"We saw strong prices for a wide variety of fine art," said Meredith Hilferty, who directs Rago's Fine Art department, "We expected the market to continue to be strong for post-war and contemporary work, but Saturday’s sale also showed a rebound for the Pennsylvania Impressionists.  Many of them topped the high estimate and nearly everything by a Pennsylvania artist was snatched up."

HIGHLIGHTS

Session One: 19th/20th C. American and European Art

·          Hammer:  $267,070

·          Hammer + 24% bp =  $331,167

·          % lots sold: 83% 

1.     1,  Leonard Tsugoharu Foujita, Untitled from A Book of Cats, 1930, Nineteen lithographs on vellum, $33,480

2.     22, James Abbot McNeill Whistler, Little Black Dress, 1873, Etching, $27,280

3.     94, Kees Verkade, Total Balance, 1984, Bronze on wood base, $27,280

4.     52, William Langson Lathrop, Indian Summer, Oil on canvas (framed), $13,640

5.     91, Jean Jansem, Femme Endormie, Oil on paper laid on canvas, $11,780

6.     23, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, La Danse a la Campagne, ca. 1890, Soft ground etching (framed), $8,680

7.     38, Martin Lewis, Tree, Manhattan, 1930, Drypoint, $8,680

8.     59, Robert Alexander Darrah Miller, Two works of art: Lambertville, Oil on canvasboard, $8,680

9.     99, Robert R. Bliss, Study for Martyrdom 1, 1963, Oil on Masonite, $7,440

10.  83, Werner Drewes, The Flower Bouquet III, 1950, Oil on canvas, $6,200

Session Two: Post-War and Contemporary Art 

·          Hammer:  $780,100  

·          Hammer + 24% bp =  $967,324

·          Low Estimate: $777,700

·          High Estimate: $1,122,200

·          % lots sold: 78% 

1.     758, Evan Penny, Self Portrait Stretched, 2003, Silicone, pigment, fabric and hair on wood support, $68,200

2.     623, Raymond Pettibon, Untitled (A real man didn’t go into that profession to see how little he could swallow.), 1987, Ink on paper, $49,600

3.     738, Chuck Close, Lucas, 1993, Woodcut with pochoir, $27,280

4.     620,  Andy Warhol, Paramount from Ads Porfolio, 1985, Screenprint on Lenox Museum board, $22,320

5.     610, Ida Rittenberg Kohlmeyer, Synthesis #23, 1981, Mixed media on canvas, $19,840

6.     759, Marilyn Minter, Swarv, 2005, C-print, $18,600

7.     605, Qiu Deshu, Two works of art: Untitled, Mixed media on paper, $17,360

8.     509, Nicholas Krushenick, Bread & Butter Series #1, 1962, Acrylic and paper collage on paper, $16,120

9.     734, William Joseph Anastasi, Untitled (Subway Drawing), 2001, Ink on paper, $11,780

10.  525, Michael Corinne West, Narkisses, 1966, Oil on canvas, $11,160

Consignments are now being accepted for Rago’s May Fine Art auctions and all of Rago’s Spring 2012 auctions: 609.397.9374 or info@ragoarts.com.  

TO THE EDITOR

High resolution images/more information available on request.

About Rago Arts and Auction Center

Since 1994, Rago's has served thousands of sellers and buyers with a singular blend of global reach and personal service. Originally specialists in 20th century design, today Rago's expertise covers centuries of fine art, decorative arts, furnishings, jewelry and ethnographic property.  It is a world-class venue through which to buy and sell. It is also a destination for those who seek to learn and share knowledge about art, antiques and collecting, offering free valuations for personal property (from a single piece to collections and estates), appraisals and auction exhibitions in house and online. Rago's, the largest and leading auction house in New Jersey, is located midway between Philadelphia and New York.

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