Date: Fri 16-Oct-1998

Publication: Ant

Author: JUDIR

Quick Words:

Rago

Full Text:

Arts & Crafts At Rago

w/cuts

By J.M.W. Fletcher

LAMBERTVILLE, N.J. -- Nearly 500 lots that included important pieces by many

Arts and Crafts masters were sold on September 19 by David Rago Auctions. An

attending crowd numbering between 325 and 350 came from most of the Eastern

Seaboard states as well as Florida, California, Ohio and Kansas.

A catalogue containing color photographs and estimates of each lot was

available, and all offerings were guaranteed for condition and authenticity.

The sale covered the entire field of Arts and Crafts. Included were furniture

pieces by Gustav Stickley, Roycroft, Limbert and others; 20 pieces of Newcomb

College from a Southern collection; a larger group of Rookwood pottery from

two private collections; and several lots from the North Dakota School of

Mines, which were actively sought after.

"The sale grossed just under $1,100,000," David Rago commented later in a

telephone interview (including the ten percent buyer's premium). "[It] is the

largest single-sale total we have had to date. The average lot hammer price

was in the $2,2/2,500 range."

"At $500 or more we [may] have a reserve," he continued, regarding the terms

of the sale, specifically reserves. "But our estimates are usually

conservative."

Rago mounted the podium at noon, and the auction's first lot had the immediate

attention of the audience and a phone bidder: a fine and early impressed Ross

(Newcomb College) squat 4¬ by 4¬ inch vessel, circa 1905, opened at $5,000 and

sold to a phone bidder at $6,500 (est $4,5/6,500). A very large number of lots

had one or more phone bidders vying for the item, and the phone bank had five

manned dedicated lines.

The fourth lot brought to the block was an exceptional Newcomb College 8¬ inch

bulbous vase, circa 1909, decorated by Leona Nicholson, selling to the floor

at $24,000 (est $10/15,000).

Depending upon their rarity, some two dozen lots of Ohr's mischievous work

sold in the $1,1/7,000 range.

Furniture totaled almost 100 lots by the major makers, with a selection of

Roycroft items sourced from two collections. A large number of Stickley lots

included a fine L & JG Stickley two-door chiffonier, with small drawers over

four wide ones, which sold to one of eight phone bidders at $16,000 (est

$6,750/8,750). Another lot by the same maker, a 24-light bookcase, sold to the

floor at $8,500 (est $7,5/10,000).

A Gustav Stickley nine-drawer chest designed by Harvey Ellis sold to the floor

at its low estimate of $7,000. By the same maker, a Morris chair (#2342)

brought $8,000 (est $7,5/10,000). Another G. Stickley double-door, 16-light

china cabinet left the block at $10,000 (est $6/10,000). A seldom seen

16-light, Stickley double-door bookcase, with gallery top and mortised sides,

made $14,000 (est $13/16,000).

A collection of Rookwood included painted matte- and iris-glazed vases by

various artists that sold within their estimates from $650 to $1,700. A

Rookwood slipware porcelain six-place tea set sold at $1,100 (est $800/1,100).

A fine Jugtown 5« by 6« inch flared vessel with an incised band on top brought

$2,500 (est $1/1,500).

Prices quoted do not include the ten percent buyer's premium unless otherwise

noted. The next scheduled Rago Arts and Crafts auction will be held on

December 13.