Rago posts record results for Oct. 26-28 Arts & Crafts / Design sale

"Hurricane Sandy, bearing down on us, made only slightly more noise than the results of the auction," said David Rago. "The sale grossed $6.6 million and the market, especially for high end Arts and Crafts, was very, very solid. The Rhead tile gets the headlines but many records were broken for a number of American potteries. The Forbes sale was strong almost right across the board, hammering right in the middle of the estimate range."

The Rhead tile sale topples the auction record set in November 1999 with the sale of Barbara Streisand's Gustav Stickley sideboard at Christie's for $596,500. The buyer is the Two Red Roses Foundation of Palm Harbor Florida, a nonprofit educational institution dedicated to the acquisition, restoration, and public exhibition of important examples of decorative and fine art from the American Arts & Crafts movement.

Highlights of the Oct. 26 pottery and glass session were a Tiffany Studios Favrile vase that sold for $10,625; Mary Scheier Square Dancers redware figures, $5,000; five Bohemian art glass vases, $2,875; Galloway (attr.) pair of tall garden urns, $2,375 and a rare Roblin enameled cabinet vase, $2,375.

Arts and Crafts highlights from Oct. 27 were the Frederick Rhead for University City peacock tile panel $637,500; a Tiffany Studios rare tall floriform vase, $100,000; a unique and important Dard Hunter hall chair, $46,875; a George Ohr Rare corseted teapot, $46,875; an important Mary L. Yancey/Iowa State vase, $45,000; a Tiffany Studios rare glazed earthenware Milkweed vase, $42,500; Alexander Fisher triptych, In Praise of Womanhood, $40,625; a rare Van Briggle pottery vase, $40,000; a rare Karl Kipp Roycroft fernery, $33,750; and a Tiffany Studios Favrile glass vase, $33,750.

The three-day sale concluded Oct. 28 with 20th/21st century design. Hightlights were a Wharton Esherick double pedestal desk, $62,500; a George Nakashima Minguren II coffee table, $53,125; Harry Bertoia Untitled Sculpture (Bush), $53,125; a Harry Bertoia tall Sonambient sculpture, $50,000; six George Nakashima Conoid dining chairs, $36,250; a Finn Juhl, Niels Vodder early Chieftain chair, $32,500; a George Nakashima hanging wall case, $28,750; a George Nakashima cross-legged dining table, $26,250; and a Paul Evans directional sculptured metal cabinet, $25,000.

Consignments are now being accepted for the next 20th Century Design auctions, March 2-3. Call Rago Arts and Auction Center at 609-397-9374 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Click here to view the fully illustrated catalog for this sale, complete with prices realized.