RAGO’S NEW REMIX AUCTION ENJOYS 93% SELL-THROUGH RATE ON INAUGURAL RUN

Lambertville, NJ: Rago Arts and Auction Center’s Remix: Timeless Style Auction brought in $419,725 on Friday, December 2 and enjoyed a sell-through rate of 93%; an impressive showing for a new auction series that curates a mix of contemporary art and furnishings with art and furnishings from Rococo to Anglo-Indian and Americana.
Works of Art Nouveau did especially well in the sale. Lot 580, a two-part folding screen in the style of Antoni Gaudi, sold for $25,000, the highest price paid for a single lot. Several other lots went above estimate including a pair of armchairs that sold for $21,250 and a Palacio Guell settee which sold for $10,625, both by Joan Busquets. Mid-century Modern Designs also saw strong sales, including Lot 649, a cabinet attributed to Osvaldo Borsani which sold for $10,625, Lot 543, a set of Vibo Vesoul dining chairs which sold for $8,152, and Lot 701, a dresser in the style of Tommi Parzinger which sold for $5,938. Also of note: Lot 745, a painted mirror by New Jersey artist Malcolm Bray titled Picture This which sold for $12,500 against an estimate of $5,000-7,000; Lot 666, an untitled floral still life by Sigmund Menkes which sold for $10,000 against an estimate of $2,000-3,000; and lot 711, a set of three Pre-Columbian style terracotta figures which sold for $9,375 against an estimate of $2,000-3,000.

“A mix of periods, styles, textures and layers is what takes a home from contrived to curated,” said Arlen Sam Brown, Rago’s Stylist and the Specialist in charge of Remix, “Remix was created to embody that aesthetic, with pieces chosen for impact and interest and their ability to work together, as demonstrated in multiple vignettes.”

“We figured that if we wanted to shop the auction, so would others,” said Rago Partner, Miriam Tucker, “And I’m happy to say they did.”
Look for a second Remix sale in June, 2017.

Total Hammer: $330,380
Hammer + buyer’s premium: $412,975
Low Estimate: $290,350
High Estimate: $444,650
Bidders in-house: 58
Bidders on phone: 93
Absentee Bidders: 287
Number of lots: 289
Percent sold: 93%

Online bidders: 1,107 from U.S., Canada, Mexico, Puerto Rico, UK, France, Italy, Germany, Netherlands, Romania, American Samoa, Sweden, Singapore, Austria, Switzerland, Spain, Denmark, Norway, Finland, Poland, Russia, Turkey, Israel, United Arab Emirates, Ukraine, Hungary, China, Thailand, Vietnam, Japan, South Korea, India, Taiwan, Malaysia, Australia and New Zealand.