Rago Arts and Auction Center’s 2000+ lot three-day weekend marathon auction brought home a whopping $1,552,977 for the auction house and its consignors. The top lot was a Chinese embroidered dragon robe worn by its former owner to local basketball games, which sold for $49,600.
Miriam Tucker, Rago partner, agreed. “This sale got people’s attention. The Asian was outstanding, and we also made excellent prices for decorative and fine art, ephemera, instruments. The guitar collection not only sold well, it brought top studio musicians in to make music for days. That was a real treat. We were especially delighted by the interest in the no-reserve jewelry and silver auction that sold on Sunday and the Modern design that sold on Friday.”
GREAT ESTATE HIGHLIGHTS
Notable Asian lots (in addition to the robe) include a Chinese tiered whatnot, lot 229, for $6,200; two Chinese tables screens, lot 231, for $6,200; a pair of Japanese ivory Foo dogs, lot 443, for $8,680, all well above their modest estimates. Top lots of decorative and fine art include a French repeater carriage clock, lot 2, which sold for $6,820; an English camelback sofa, lot 153, for $6,200; an Antoine Blanchard (Attr.) (French, 1910-1988) oil on canvas of a Parisian street scene, lot 118, for $7,440; and three 19th C. city print engravings, lot 121, for $8,060. Autographs did well, with an Abraham Lincoln letter, lot 500, selling for $9,300 and a John Wesley autographed letter, lot 508, selling for $4,960. Musical instruments fared well, notably a John D’Angelico 1944 Excel acoustic guitar, lot 27, which sold for $10,540; and a Steinway piano, lot 90, for $8,680.
Highlighted Top Lots:
1. 358 Chinese Embroidered Robe with Silk Dragon Decoration $49,600
2. 81 Roland Paris Cold Painted Bronze Figure of a Puppeteer $13,640
3. 178 Pair of English Adams Style Console Tables $13,640
4. 77 Demetre Chiparus Dore Bronze and Ivory of Children $12,400
5. 297 Ila Mae McAfee Oil on Masonite of Native American $12,400
6. 27 John D’Angelico Excel Acoustic Guitar, 1944 $10,540
7. 500 Abraham Lincoln Autographed Letter $9,300
8. 90 Steinway New York Living Room Grand Model L piano $8,680
9. 443 Pair of Japanese Ivory Foo Dogs $8,680
10. 121 Three 19th C. Engravings $8,060
FRIDAY DISCOVERY HIGHLIGHTS
1. 1329 Vladimir Kagan Directional Two-Piece Sectional Sofa $9,300
2. 1330 Vladimir Kagan Directional Three-Piece Sectional Sofa $6,820
3. 1054 Warren Platner Knoll Set of Six Armchairs $3,720
4. 1372 Edward Wormley Dunbar Game Table and Chairs $3,348
5. 1568 Manuel Mondedero Six Paintings $3,100
SUNDAY NO RESERVE JEWELRY AND SILVER HIGHLIGHTS
1. 2326 Circular Brilliant Cut Diamond Solitaire $3,720
2. 2142 Waltham Royal Pocket Watch $3,224
3. 2222 John Hardy Sterling Necklace, Bracelet, Alyssa Cuff $2,976
4. 2143 Gold Elgin Pocket Watches $2,728
5. 2190 Seven 18k Gold Bangles $2,480
www.ragoarts.com
