Bright Day For Modern

At Sollo Rago Auction

Dorsey Reading Collection Of Paul Evans Pieces

Goes Over $1.3 Million; Auction Records Set

The record-setting price for a work of Paul Evans at auction came with the sale of a sculpture front vertical cabinet with 23K gold edging at $228,000.

A new auction record was set for the work of Wendell Castle with the sale of a lyrical oak sleigh chair for $204,000.

5/23

SOLLO RAGO POST APRIL 12 & 13 MODERN w/2 cuts

ak/gs set 5/14 #739550

LAMBERTVILLE, N.J. — The sun shone brightly for Sollo Rago Modern Auctions on April 12 and 13. The centerpiece of the sale, “Sculpted by Paul Evans: the Dorsey Reading Collection,” was a spectacular success. John Sollo, who directs the sale, said the 40 some pieces Reading consigned (collected in the 23 years he worked with the great artist-designer Paul Evans and in the 11 years since Evans’ death) brought a total of $1,354,920.

The record-setting price for a work of Evans at auction came with the sale of a sculpture front vertical cabinet with 23K gold edging at $228,000. Other highlights: a wavy-front cabinet (the first ever made) for $103,000, a sculpture front horizontal cabinet with four doors for $180,000, a pinwheel Argente sculpture (first in the “Field” series) for $66,000 and a Loop screen for $30,000. Reading also sold work created by Evans’s fellow craftsman and artist Phillip Lloyd Powell. Sollo Rago broke the record it set in 2006 for work by Powell, with the sale of his walnut fireplace surround for $96,000.

Exceptional studio pieces remained strong overall. A new auction record was set for the work of Wendell Castle with the sale of a lyrical oak sleigh chair for $204,000. The work of Thomas Lynn sold well, as did the best of Nakashima, including a rosewood dining table for $252,000 and a conoid dining table for $138,000.

American Art Deco drew attention in the sale, most notably in the form of a desk lamp by Donald Deskey. The lamp, one of few known and in original condition, attracted literally dozens of bidders. Collectively they drove the price from its estimate of $2/3,000 to $138,000.

The small selection of fine art in the sale showed exceptional strength, with a number of lots doubling and even tripling their high estimates. These include a large, untitled work on paper by Robert Morris for $19,200, Norman Carton’s “Blue Night” for $15,600, three works by George Morrison for $16,800, “Shadow Man” by Richard Hambleton for $8,400 and a set of two tabletop sonambients by Harry Bertoia that realized $39,600.

Other highlights included a wall plaque by Viktor Schreckengost for Cowan, selling for $66,000, a large maccia by Dale Chihuly for $16,800, a Gio Ponti rosewood desk for $22,800, a Jean Royere daybed for $31,200, a chess table by Isamu Noguchi for Herman Miller brought $78,000 and a sculpture by the artist sold for $96,000, and a pair of Finn Juhl chieftain chairs went for $78,000.

Overall, a notable number of lots sold in excess of $100,000. Only 16 percent of lots went unsold, with a number of these selling within the week. Surprisingly, foreign bidding was not a great factor in the sale, despite the strength of foreign currencies against the US dollar. While more than 150 bidders from across the EU, Asia, Scandinavia and South Africa were registered, they ultimately accounted for only five percent of buyers, outdone by American bidders across the board.

Prices given include the buyer’s premium.

Sollo Rago’s next Modern auction will be in October; consignments are invited. Sollo Rago is at 333 North Main Street. For information, www.ragoarts.com or 609-397-9374.