RECORD-BREAKING RESULTS AND AN EXCEPTIONAL SINGLE-OWNER COLLECTION STEAL THE SHOW IN RAGO’S $5M JANUARY DESIGN AUCTION

Lambertville, NJ: Rago Arts and Auction Center’s January Design Auction saw the sale of $5,023,831 in property over the weekend of January 21-22. The auction’s top lot, a unique and highly important cabinet by Paul Evans, sold for $382,000, setting a new auction record for the Delaware Valley Modernist. Also of note, the single owner sale “The Collection of Dr. Martin Eidelberg” which enjoyed a sell-through rate of 91%. Overall, the weekend’s auctions saw a sell-through rate of 85% and broke the aggregate high estimate with over 2,000 active bidders from around the world participating.

“This was the first sale since the November elections, so leaping to conclusions may be premature,” says David Rago, “That said, although art is unique, it generally follows the same trends as other assets. Right now, it appears that political and economic uncertainty has been trumped by the prospect of financial gain, which is good – at least for the art market and the people who participate in it.”

Other noteworthy lots included; lot 10, an exceptional ribbon-handled vase by George Ohr which sold for $87,500; lot 1001, a Sculptured Metal wall-hanging cabinet by Paul Evans that sold for $112,500; lot 2099, a rare Murrine a Dama vase by Paolo Venini which achieved a sale price of $46,875; and lot 1206, a large Sonambient sculpture by Harry Bertoia which sold for $56,250 against an estimate of $25,000 – 35,000.

The Collection of Dr. Martin Eidelberg Highlighted Lots

Early 20th C. Design Highlighted Lots

Weekend Total Hammer: $4,023,465
Hammer + buyer’s premium: $5,023,831
Low Estimate: $3,553,750
High Estimate: $5,004,750
Bidders in house: 81
Bidders on phone: 255
Absentee Bidders: 97
Number of lots: 1,046
Percent Sold: 85%
Online bidders: 1,570 from United States, Canada, Venezuela, United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, Switzerland, Netherlands, Belgium, Hungary, Austria, Finland, Norway, Denmark, Sweden, Russia, Israel, Kuwait, Japan, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand.

Mid-Mod Highlighted Lots

The Collection of Dr. Martin Eidelberg
Hammer: $589,325
Hammer + buyer’s premium: $736,656
Low Estimate: $480,900
High Estimate: $697,900
Number of lots: 95

Early 20th C. Design
Hammer: $664,150
Hammer + buyer’s premium: $830,188
Low Estimate: $737,550
High Estimate: $1,039,200
Number of lots: 223

Mid-Mod
Hammer: $246,355
Hammer + buyer’s premium: $307,944
Low Estimate: $317,050
High Estimate: $460,450
Number of lots: 273

Modern Design Highlighted Lots

Modern Design
Hammer: $1,746,450
Hammer + buyer’s premium: $2,087,563
Low Estimate: $1,440,550
High Estimate: $1,967,150
Number of lots: 264

Modern Ceramics and Glass
Hammer: $744,885
Hammer + buyer’s premium: $931,106
Low Estimate: $577,700
High Estimate: $840,050
Number of lots: 191