Work by George Nakashima, Paul Evans, Phil Powell, Josef Hoffmann, Karl Kipp, Peter Voulkos and Dale Chihuly among Highlights of Rago’s June 14-15 Auctions 

Other top lots include the Martin Brothers, Donald Deskey, Gustave Baumann, Wharton Esherick, Adelaide Robineau, Teco, Otto and Gertrud Natzler, Stanislav Libenský and Jaroslava Brychtová, Wendell Castle, and Albert Paley.

Lambertville, NJ:   On Saturday June 14 and Sunday June 15, the Rago Arts and Auction Center will hold its auction of Early 20th Century Decorative Arts and Modern Design.

Early 20th C. Decorative Arts: Saturday, June 14, 11 a.m.

Art Pottery, Furniture, Art Glass, Metalwork and prints, 306 lots:

Featuring ceramics by George Ohr, Van Briggle, Newcomb College, Moorcroft, and John Bennett, plus a rare San Jose Pottery tile-top table and superb enameled panel by Gaston Suisse. Exceptional examples by Martin Brothers, Marblehead, Grueby, Roseville, Rookwood and Teco. French ceramics by Taxile Doat, Theodore Deck, Emile Galle, Pierre-Adrien Dalpayrat, Auguste Delaherche, Felix Optat Milet and Sèvres. Furniture by Gustav Stickley, L. & J.G. Stickley, Roycroft, Limbert and Peter Hansen. A large selection of lighting by Handel, Gustav Stickley, Roycroft and Tiffany Studios. Art glass by Lalique, Loetz, Quezal, Le Verre Francais and Tiffany Studios.  Metalwork by Karl Kipp for Tookay Shop, Roycroft, Archibald Knox, Alfred Daguet, Samuel Yellin, Frans Gyllenberg and Marie Zimmerman.  Artwork by Gustave Baumann, Louis C. Tiffany, William Rice, Alphonse Mucha and Sadie Irvine.

Modern Ceramics and Glass:  Saturday, June 14, immediately following Early 20th C., 145 lots:  Many remarkable works by Peter Voulkos, including a massive cast bronze Stack pot, ceramics, and works on paper. Outstanding ceramics by Otto and Gertrud Natzler. Works by Brother Thomas Bezanson, Claude Conover, Toshiko Takaezu, Beatrice Wood, Waylande Gregory, Viktor Schreckengost and an exceptional wood sculpture by Edwin Scheier. Studio pottery by Ken Ferguson, Colin Pearson, Bennett Bean, Philip Cornelius, Nancy Jurs and John and Mary Risley. Following ceramics is an excellent selection of glass, including Richard Marquis, Lino Tagliapietra, Michael Glancy, William Morris, Toots Zynsky, Tomas Hlavicka, and exceptional examples by John Lewis, Stanislav Libenský and Jaroslava Brychtová, Howard Ben Tré and Dale Chihuly.

“We are most excited about our contemporary glass selection in this sale, particularly because of the fine examples by Libensky/Brychtova and Howard Ben Tré, names which we have been courting for several years now,” says partner Suzanne Perrault.  “This sale has come together nicely with a broad range of the best glass artists such as Richard Marquis, Dale Chihuly, Toots Zynsky and Michael Glancy.”

Modern Design:  Sunday, June 15, 11 a.m.

Furniture, ceramics, sculpture, and metalwork from the 20th and 21st C., 513 lots:  Fine furniture by George and Mira Nakashima, Paul Evans, Phil Powell, Wendell Castle, Paul Frankl, Jacques Adnet, Pierre Jeanneret, Vladimir Kagan, Oscar Bach, Piero Fornasetti, Paolo Buffa and Tom Dixon; special tables by Philip and Kelvin LaVerne, Carlo Bugatti and Albert Paley; an exceptional and rare sculpture by Paul Evans. Scandinavian wares designed by Hans Wegner, Nanna and Jorgen Ditzel, Josef Frank, Arne Jacobsen and Arne Vodder. Ceramics by Piero Fornasetti, Marcello Fantoni, Vally Wieselthier and Pablo Picasso at Madoura. Lighting by Karl Springer, Edgar Brandt, Arredoluce, Albert Paley, Greta Grossman, Fontana Arte, Maison Charles, Erik Hoglund, Barovier, Felix Agostini and Charles et Fils. Rugs and wall-hangings by Alexander Calder, Robert Sailors, Missoni and Edward Fields. Sculpture by Ceccarelli and Patuzzi for NP2, Ed and Philip Moulthrop, Feliciano Bejar, James Bearden, Fondica and Edgar Tafur. Silver by Josef Hoffmann, Paul Evans, Jean Puiforcat, Sam Kramer, Ed Wiener and Gio Ponti.

“Our June sale clocks in at just under 1,000 lots and includes some of the best Modern furniture we’ve handled in a few years,” says David Rago.  “In addition to two strong Sculpture Front credenzas by Paul Evans, there is an excellent assortment of Nakashima, Castle, Esherick and Kagan.  European designers include Wegner, Ponti and Adnet.  There is also our usual representation of American Arts and Crafts/Art Nouveau furniture and lighting, as well as a single session of modern ceramics and glass by Chihuly, Voulkos and Brother Thomas.  In all, the two-day auction is a tight, well-rounded sale.”

Auction Exhibition/Preview/Bidding

Saturday, June 7 through Thursday, June 12, 2014, 12–5 pm and by appointment. Friday, June 13, 12-7 pm. Doors open at 9 am on sale days.Rago’s is located midway between New York City and Philadelphia. Directions online at ragoarts.com.Telephone, absentee, online bidding available for those unable to attend.

Catalogue

Printed catalogues are available for $25 each by calling 609.397.9374 or e-mailing a request to info@ragoarts.com. View a complete catalogue with color images at ragoarts.com, online May 30.

SELECT HIGHLIGHTS

Early 20th C. Decorative Arts Highlighted Lots

- Lot 5: Ruth Erickson/Grueby, Rare blue vase with irises, $15,000 – 20,000

- Lot 308: Tiffany Studios, Daffodil table lamp, $25,000 – 35,000

- Lot 103: Martin Brothers, Exceptional tobacco jar, $85,000 – 95,000

- Lot 32: Teco, Rare vessel, $35,000 – 45,000

- Lot 201: Karl Kipp/Tookay Shop, Unique copper plaque, $25,000 – 35,000

- Lot 180: E.T. Hurley/Rookwood, Monumental special-order vase, $17,500 – 22,500

- Lot 146: George Ohr, Vase with curly handles, $6,000 – 9,000

- Lot 277: Quezal, Exceptional jack-in-the-pulpit vase, $8,000 – 12,000

- Lot 18: Adelaide Robineau, Porcelain vase, $8,000 – 12,000

- Lot 74: Gustav Stickley, Mitered mullions bookcase, $7,000 – 10,000

- Lot 44: Gustave Baumann, "El Rito Cañon," $6,000 – 8,000

- Lot 65: Gustav Stickley, Rare eight-legged sideboard, $7,000 – 10,000

Modern Ceramics and Glass Highlighted Lots

- Lot 400: Peter Voulkos, Monumental bronze Stack pot, $75,000 – 95,000

- Lot 502: Libenský and Brychtová, Cast glass sculpture, $15,000 – 20,000

- Lot 491: Dale Chihuly and Pino Signoretto, Glass sculpture, $10,000 – 15,000

- Lot 426: Otto and Gertrud Natzler, Teardrop bottle, $14,000 – 19,000

- Lot 497: William Morris, Glass sculpture, $10,000 – 15,000

- Lot 442: Paul Soldner, Large ceramic sculpture, $10,000 – 15,000

Modern Design Highlighted Lots

- Lot 631: Wharton Esherick, Single pedestal desk, $30,000 – 40,000

- Lot 622: Paul Evans, Important Sculpture Front cabinet, $100,000 – 150,000

- Lot 640: Philip and Kelvin LaVerne, Etruscan dining table, $19,000 – 25,000

- Lot 627: Phil Powell, Large dining table, $18,000 – 24,000

- Lot 649: Donald Deskey, Rare room divider, $30,000 – 40,000

- Lot 799: George Nakashima, Single pedestal desk, $14,000 – 18,000

- Lot 696: Josef Hoffmann/Wiener Werkstätte, Exceptional silver basket, $22,500 – 27,500

- Lot 621: Paul Evans, Rare Patchwork sculpture, $35,000 – 45,000

- Lot 689: Edgar Brandt, “La Tentation” lamp, $20,000 – 30,000

- Lot 810: Albert Paley, Coffee table, $8,000 – 10,000

- Lot 956: Hans Wegner, Rare Bear chair and ottoman, $30,000 – 40,000

- Lot 1079: Charles and Ray Eames, ESU 420-C, $10,000 – 15,000

NOTES FOR THE EDITOR

- High-resolution images available.

- About Rago Arts and Auction Center: Rago is a leading U.S. auction house with $30 million in sales in 2013. We serve thousands of sellers and buyers internationally with a singular blend of global reach and personal service. Rago holds auctions of 20th/21st c. design, fine art, decorative arts, furnishings, jewelry, militaria, coins and currency, Asian, historic ephemera, and ethnographic property.  A world-class venue through which to buy and sell, it offers valuations for personal property (from a single piece to collections and estates), appraisals, estate services, exhibitions and lectures in house and online. Rago is based in New Jersey, midway between Philadelphia and New York City.

- Next 20th C. Design Auctions: October 18/19, 2014.

END OF PRESS RELEASE