On Saturday, February 25 and Sunday, February 26, 2012 at 11 a.m., the Rago Arts and Auction Center will hold its first auction of 20th C. Design for the year, with over 1350 lots of exceptional property from private collections, museums and directly from the artists and their families. Previews begin February 18th.
The auction kicks off on Saturday with Early 20th C. Design. Featured is the collection of Mr. Peter Renzetti, master blacksmith, which includes some of the finest Philadelphia Arts and Crafts ironwork to come to market in recent years. Also featured are forty-four lots of property from a private Delaware collector. The last 100 lots of Saturday’s sale is a collection of 20th century art pottery. The sale continues on Sunday with more Modern Design, including a large and impressive collection of rare pieces of sculpture and art glass, fine studio and designer furniture, lighting and contemporary art.
“Each auction has its own personality based on the consignments that happen to come in,” said David Rago. “At some level it’s really beyond your control. This next sale, for some reason, includes the best selection of Philadelphia Arts and Crafts wrought-iron we’ve ever seen on the market. There are, of course, works by Samuel Yellin and his workshop, but also many pieces from the nearby Arden Community, and pieces by some more esoteric local craftsmen such as Finnegan and Janson, Parke Edwards, and J. Barton Benson. There is also an unusually strong presence of Utopian Community material besides Arden’s, including a rare table and chair from Rose Valley, and furniture, artwork and ceramics from Byrdcliffe. The post war session is similarly outfitted, with a great selection of contemporary glass and ceramics as well as a broad selection from Organic Furniture masters such as Nakashima, Powell, and Evans. There are 800 lots of Modern material spread over two sessions.”
Auction
• Saturday, February 25, 11 a.m.
o Early 20th Century / Arts & Crafts / Art glass, Lalique and Tiffany / European Secession / Wiener Werkstatte / 20th C. Studio Pottery
• Sunday, February 26, 11 a.m.
o Mid 20th-21st C. / Modern Design
• Telephone, absentee, online bidding available for those unable to attend
Auction Exhibition/Preview
• Saturday, February 18 through Wednesday, February 22, from 12-5 p.m. or by appointment. Thursday, Feb 23 and Friday, Feb 24, 12-7 p.m. Doors open on days of sale at 9 a.m.
• Open House at the Apthorp, 2211 Broadway, NYC, Feb 11/12, 12-5 p.m., RSVP to Robin: 609-397-9374 ext. 119
• American Art Pottery discussion by Newark Museum Curator Ulysses Grant Dietz, Thursday, February 23, 6:00 p.m.
• Rago’s is located midway between New York City and Philadelphia. Directions online at ragoarts.com/more/visit
