Rago Arts and Auction Center’s 2300+ lot three-day weekend marathon auction on April 20, 21 and 22 brought home a whopping $1,833,325 for the auction house and its consignors. The top lot was a figural bronze by Leonid Vladimirovich Posen, “The Jewish Carter”, part of a group of Russian bronzes, which provoked competitive bidding from the U.S. and Russia. The three day sale included a Great Estates auction of 764 lots, a no-reserve Discovery sale and an unreserved Jewelry and Silver sale.

“The interest level was high and strong prices were achieved in all areas of collecting,” said Tom Martin, the Estates specialist of Rago’s Great Estates auction on April 21st.

Miriam Tucker, Rago partner, agreed. “The sales were well acknowledged by both dealers and collectors, from across the U.S. and abroad, bringing excellent prices for bronzes, decorative and fine arts and collectables. We are also pleased by the interest in the no-reserve jewelry, silver, couture and coin auction on Sunday and the strong results achieved by the Modern design on Friday.  We are now actively accepting consignments for September Discovery and Estates and welcome inquiries.”

GREAT ESTATES HIGHLIGHTS

Russian art carried the day with a Leonid Vladimirovich Posen bronze (1335) achieving a price of $100,000. An oil painting by Russian artist Vitali Gavrilovich Tikhov (1435) brought $46,875.  Other notable prices were $8,125 for a Heyn Germany carousel horse (1079); $7,500 for a group of Hopi snake and antelope priest figures (1101); and a New Jersey grandfather clock (1186) for $5,313, well over its estimate of $2,000-3,000. Among furniture highlights was a continental miniature domed coffer (1200) selling for $17,500 and a Philadelphia walnut card table (1190) selling well at $9,375.  Among paintings, a Shrewsbury River painting by John Hagny (1224) found a new home for $11,250. A very nice decorative painting by Henry Harewood Robinson (1244) of a child and her dog brought $7,188. An Orientalist scene by Rudolf Ernst titled “Waiting for a Customer” (1252) was purchased for $7,500.  Strong prices were also achieved for a monumental German porcelain (1295) clock at $5,313; as well as a KPM painting on porcelain (1325), which ended up at $15,000.  Collections of Asian cloisonné and ivory also sold well, with a carved mastodon tusk (1429) bringing $4,063. 

·          Hammer: $ 711,425

·          Hammer + b.p. $ 889,281

·          Number of lots: 764

·          % sold: 87% 

·          Bidders in-house: 197

·          Absentee bidders: 92

·          Bidders online: 937

Highlighted Top Lots:

1.     1335  Leonid Vladimirovich Posen "The Jewish Carter"   $ 100,000

2.     1435  Vitali Gavrilovich Tikhov Oil on canvas of a nude   $ 46,875

3.     1318  Wedgwood "Ruby Tonquin" china service   $ 12,500     

4.     1200  Continental Miniature Domed Coffer  $ 17,500

5.     1079  Heyn Germany Carousel Horse (Attr.) Prancer model   $ 8,125

6.     1190  Philadelphia Chippendale Card Table   $ 9,375

7.     1224  John Hagny Oil on canvas "Twin Lights..."   $ 11,250

8.     1325  KPM Painting on porcelain of an elegant woman   $ 15,000

9.     1101  Emil Pooley (Attr.) Hopi Snake and Antelope Priest Figures   $ 7,500

10.   1244  Henry Harewood Robinson Oil on canvas of a child and dog   $ 7,188

11.   1132  Tompkins Real Wild West Posters   $ 5,313

12.   1295  Monumental German Porcelain Clock   $ 5,313

FRIDAY DISCOVERY HIGHLIGHTS

·          Hammer: $ 521,640

·          Hammer + b.p. $ 652,050

·          Number of lots: 1134

·          Bidders online: 968

Highlighted Top Lots:

1.     546   George Ohr, Bisque-fired vase, "Mary had a little lamb, Ohr had a little pottery, that’s no joke"   $ 2,125

2.     514   Eero Saarinen, Knoll Studio Oval Tulip dining table   $ 6,875

3.     429   Maison Jansen, Pair of etageres   $ 5,000

4.     1       Pierre Paulin, Artifort, Ribbon chair and ottoman $ 4,063

5.     318   George Nakashima, Cherry Mira chair   $ 1,375

6.     253   Pop Art, Three over-sized wall sculptures: paint brush, pencil and fountain pen   $ 3,250

7.     316a  Wilhelm Kage Gustavsberg, Argenta lidded and glazed ceramic centerpiece vase   $ 2,250

8.     43     Contemporary Art Glass, Tall goblet with sommerso and zanfirico decoration   $ 2,125

9.     727   Tiffany Style Contemporary leaded glass table lamp   $ 1,750

10.   142a  Andy Warhol, Campbell’s Vegetable Soup label   $ 1,625

SUNDAY NO RESERVE JEWELRY AND SILVER HIGHLIGHTS

·          Hammer: $233,595

·          Hammer + b.p. $291,994

·          Number of lots: 445

·          Bidders online: 435

Highlighted Top Lots:

1.     2186  Gustave Raymond Pocket Watch   $ 3,250

2.     2071  Art Deco Diamond White Gold Filigree Ring   $ 2,750

3.     2076  Schuler-McTeigue Jeweled Gold and Platinum Ornament   $ 2,250

4.     2184  Masonic Pocket Watch and Fob   $ 2,000

5.     2347  Set of Silver Flatware and a Curtis Berry Spoon   $ 2,000

6.     2259  Art Deco Red and Butterscotch Bakelite Bracelets   $ 2,000

7.     2252  Louis Vuitton Takashi Murakami Cherry Blossom Handbag   $ 1,250

8.     2226  American and Mexican Silver Jewelry   $ 2,000

9.     2301  T. Thomae & Co. Enameled Silver Nautical Motif Cigarette Case  $ 1,188

10.   2405  Eleven Foreign Coins   $ 1,000

Rago Auctions will hold the next Discovery Auction on September 14, 2012 and Great Estates on September 15, 2012. Consignments are now being accepted for this (and all other) auctions: 609.397.9374 or info@ragoarts.com. 

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.