PAUL EVANS, GEORGE NAKASHIMA, WILLIAM HUNT DIEDERICH, HARRY BERTOIA, TIFFANY STUDIOS, VAN BRIGGLE, ADELAIDE ROBINEAU, WILLIAM MORRIS, YOICHI OHIRA AND DALE CHIHULY AMONG HIGHLIGHTS OF RAGO’S JANUARY 21–22 AUCTIONS
Lambertville, NJ – On Saturday, January 21 and Sunday, January 22, Rago will hold auctions of Early 20th Century and Modern Design.
The Collection of Dr. Martin Eidelberg: Saturday, January 21st at 10AM (EST), 95 lots
Rago is honored to present the collection of scholar and author Dr. Martin Eidelberg, featuring some of the finest examples of early 20th century American pottery ever offered at Rago, including spectacular works by George Ohr, Grueby, Adelaide Robineau, University City and Van Briggle. Also among the highlights are rare works by Eva Zeisel, Marblehead, and William Hunt Diederich, as well as European ceramics by Gio Ponti, Pierre-Adrien Dalpayrat, Auguste Delaherche, James Vibert and Edward Colonna.
David Rago, Partner + Co-Director 20th-21st C. Design Dept: “Dr. Eidelberg not only taught us about the history and importance of objects and their makers, he also explored the relationship those objects had with each other, to us, and to society as a whole, and how that all defined Arts & Crafts as a reform movement. Few besides him knew, in the early 1970s, the radical intention of a piece of Grueby potter or the paradigm-altering perspective of interiors that emphasized natural materials and hand-made objects bathed in cleansing sunlight. I am indebted to him for revealing truths as relevant now as they were 45 years ago.”
Early 20th C. Design: Saturday, January 21st at 12PM Noon (EST), 225 lots
Featuring ceramics by George Ohr, Grueby, North Dakota School of Mines, Overbeck, Tiffany Studios, Marblehead, Wheatley, Teco, Shearwater, Rookwood and Clewell. European pottery by Moorcroft, Zsolnay, Martin Brothers, Clement Massier and Pilkington. Furniture by Charles Rohlfs, L. & J.G. Stickley, Gustav Stickley and Lifetime, including rare willow seating by Gustav Stickley and an exceptional Roycroft magazine stand. Lighting by Pairpoint, Handel, Roycroft, Samuel Yellin and Dirk Van Erp. Art Nouveau works by Eugene Gaillard, Hector Guimard, Max Blondat and Gallé. Superb glass, lighting and metalwork by Tiffany Studios, including a Peony table lamp and gimbal candlestick. French glass by Lalique, Daum and Gallé. Metalwork and jewelry by Roycroft, Samuel Yellin, Dirk Van Erp, Tiffany Studios and Edward Oakes.
Sarah Dziamba, Junior Specialist: “Among the many highlights of our Early 20th C. design session are such gems as a large Frederick Rhead Della Robbia vase, a rare Roycroft stein by Karl Kipp, a George Ohr cadogan teapot and a painting attributed to Harvey Ellis, all rounded out by an exceptional offering of Tiffany Studios glass, metalwork and lamps.”
Mid-Mod: Saturday, January 21st at 3PM (EST), 274 lots
Mid-priced 20th C. furniture, lighting and decorative objects: Julia Krantz, Angel Pazmino, Fontana Arte, Barovier & Toso, Fritz Hansen, Pierre Paulin, Raymond Loewy, Milo Baughman, C. Jere, James Mont, James Bearden, Antonio Grediaga Kieff, Marie Zoe Greene-Mercier, Angelo Testa, Florence Knoll, George Ohr, Grueby, Fulper, Teco, Rookwood, Martin Brothers, Moorcroft, Roycroft, Gustav Stickley, Raoul and Edmond Lachenal and more.
Modern Design: Sunday, January 22nd at 11AM (EST), 267 lots
Featuring two important custom cabinets by Paul Evans, two rare weathervanes by William Hunt Diederich, unique works by Paul Frankl and Vladimir Kagan and a selection of glass and furniture by Ettore Sottsass and Peter Shire for Memphis Milano. Furniture by George Nakashima, Phil Powell, Wharton Esherick, Wendell Castle, Pierre Jeanneret, Jacques Adnet, Jean Royere, Jean Dunand, Frank Lloyd Wright, Marcel Breuer, Gio Ponti, Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, George Nelson, Charles and Ray Eames and more. Contemporary makers including Clare Graham, Jordan Mozer, Cindy Wynn, D’lisa Creager and James Bearden. Scandinavian wares designed by Hans Wegner, Finn Juhl, Poul Kjaerholm, Mogens Koch and Kaare Klint. Ceramics by Pablo Picasso for Madoura, Maurice Gensoli and Jean Luce. Lighting by Zahara Schatz, Arredoluce, Charlotte Perriand, Venini, Massimo Vignelli, Cedric Hartman, Maxime Old and Oscar Bach. Wall-hangings by Alexander Calder. Silver and jewelry by Arne Jacobsen, Evald Nielsen, Johan Rohde, Georg Jensen, Tapio Wirkkala, Jens-Flemming Sorensen, Ed Wiener, Fernand Demaret and Roy Lichtenstein. Fine art and decorative objects including a large painting by Claire Falkenstein, metalwork by Harry and Val Bertoia and drawings by William Hunt Diederich.
Jad Attal, Modern Specialist: “I’ve always loved Paul Evans’ work though, truthfully, some of it is an acquired love. But in this auction we have two stunning pieces that remind me of just how beautifully innovative and rigorous his pieces are. The custom Sculpture Front and Sculpted Metal cabinets in this sale are as great as his work gets.”
Modern Ceramics and Glass: Sunday, January 22nd at 3PM (EST), 191 lots
Featuring a massive Dale Chihuly Ikebana and extraordinary glass by Yoichi Ohira, William Morris, Libensky & Brychtova, Stephen R. Powell, “Toots” Zynsky, Flora Mace & Joey Kirkpatrick, Klaus Moje, Dante Marioni, Jon Kuhn, Tom Patti, Richard Marquis and many more. A superb selection of ceramics by Lucie Rie, Toshiko Takaezu, Rut Bryk, Birger Kaipiainen, Brother Thomas Bezanson, Richard Notkin, Akio Takamori, Claude Conover, Daniel Rhodes, Beatrice Wood, the Natzlers, Robert Arneson, Clyde Burt, Peter Voulkos and more.
Suzanne Perrault, Partner + Co-Director 20th-21st C. Design Dept: “We are excited to be offering a well-rounded group of contemporary glass from many sources, including a fine Suspended Artifact sculpture by William Morris and a coveted “Green Eye of the Pyramid” by Brychtova and Libensky, both from a private collection in Virginia; several Yoichi Ohiras, a most popular artist, from Puerto Rico; some Lipofskys from Barbados; and many lovely Chihulys, chief among them a very tall Ikebana vessel with five Flowers, from a Seattle home. Our finest Italian glass lot is a rare murrine vase by Paolo Venini.”
Auction Exhibition/Preview/Bidding
Saturday, January 14th through Thursday, January 19th, 12–5 pm and by appointment. Open 12-7 pm on Friday, January 20th. Doors open at 9 am the day of the sale.
Rago’s is located midway between NYC (1 hr. 15 min) and Philadelphia (50 min). Directions online at ragoarts.com.
