New Collectors Boost Bidding at Rago Auction

It was just what the doctor ordered for the Arts & Crafts market: a strong, solid sale, with furniture, art pottery and metalware all performing well.

Last Saturday’s sale at the Rago Arts and Auction Center in Lambertville, NJ, managed by David Rago, Suzanne Perrault and Jerry Cohen, demonstrated that the Arts & Crafts market is strong and vibrant, fueled to no small degree by an influx of new, young collectors.

“There were a lot of new faces,” Jerry Cohen observed. “It was standing room only, with a number of people at the sale we had never seen before. In fact, we had people who came to preview the Modern pieces that ended up bidding on Arts & Crafts, too.”

“And one of the first things new buyers go after,” added David Rago, “are bookcases. Last year we couldn’t give them away. Today, they were flying out the door.”

Three bookcases which came up early in the sale were made by L. & J.G. Stickley. A single door model (est. $2500-$3500) sold for $5490 (all prices include buyer’s premium), a double door #645 (est. $4500-$5500) went for $7930 and a rare triple door (est. $7000-$10,000) sold for $15,860.

A ca.1901 Gustav Stickley bookcase, double door, model #525 (est. $8000-$12,000) sold for $10,980, while a single door, model #700 (est. $6000-$9000), designed by Harvey Ellis for Gustav Stickley and featuring leaded glass panes, went for $6710.

“Interest in good, mid-range collector pieces in the $2000-$6000 range,” Cohen added, “was the strongest we have seen in at least five years. Competition among buyers was especially strong in the $3000-$5000 range. The upper end, above $6000, was a little uneven. Where there was good competition, the pieces sold well. But there were certainly a few great buys in the $8000-$10,000 range.”

But the highlight of the show came during just the second hour when three pieces made by Charles Rohlfs (a heralded, creative Arts & Crafts woodworker many new collectors in the crowd might not have been familiar with, but are now) hit the stage. A unique, carved oak sheet music cabinet sold for $10,980, followed next by a Rohlfs’ lamp table at $19,520. A rare carved blanket chest (pictured) signed by Rohlfs and dated 1903 ended the run at $32,940. Three pieces, ten minutes, total $63,440. Not bad for a former Shakespearean actor turned woodworker.

American art pottery fared every bit as well as furniture at Saturday’s sale. The sale opened with a Tiffany cabbage-shaped vase that blew past its estimate ($19,000-$24,000), finally selling for $50,020. Rookwood was well-received, as a 17” Carl Schmidt vase sold for $29,280, an Albert Valentien 14” vase hit $14,640, and a Kataro Shirayamadani 17” vase topped out at $31,720.

A Grueby 23” floor vase described as “perfectly fired” (est. $8500-$12,500) sold for $18,300, an early Van Briggle poppy pods vase (est. $3000-$4000) went home for $5795, and several pieces of George Ohr, Newcomb College and Fulper finished within or above their pre-sale estimates.

The Tiffany Studios table lamp with a daffodil shade featured in advertising for the auction sold for $42,700.

“This was a really good, solid day for Arts & Crafts,” summarized Rago. “There were some big numbers for pottery and a few uneven spots. But what we could see is that people are spending more than they did a year ago. And the merchandise in this sale represented the heart of the market. The results we saw here today will have a great deal of relevance to what is going on in the rest of the Arts & Crafts market.”

Here, then, are a few other selections from the January 16 sale:

Gustav Stickley hammered copper charger (pictured here), $19,520.

Dirk Van Erp 20” mica and copper table lamp, $9750.

Robert Jarvie sterling silver presentation mug, $6710.

Teco 7” buttress vase, $2928.

Saturday Evening Girls tulips tile, $14,640.

Marblehead decorated bowl, $6710.

J.M Young Morris chair, $2684.

Charles Limbert sideboard with mirrored backsplash, $3660.

Edna Hopkins woodblock print “Orange Sunflower,” $18,300.

Albert Berry, three copper and bone desk pieces, $1952.

Gustav Stickley library table, $2806.

Roycroft 18” American Beauty vase, $2562.

Gustave Baumann woodblock print “Indiana Red Gum Trees," $9150.

For complete auction results, please go to www.ragoarts.com.

Coming Next: Coverage of the Los Angeles Pottery Show, January 23-24.

-bj