Jewelry, silver, coins boost Rago auction to brink of $3M

"This weekend topped off the best year Rago has ever seen – over $28 million in sales – with three strong auctions in succession. There was no quarter where the bidding wasn't strong – online, the in phones, in the room, absentee. Coins, which is a relatively new pursuit at Rago's had its best showing ever. The rare and unusual drove a very successful Great Estates auction – from the Imperial Russian plate to the rhino horn libation cup and a narwhal tusk. Jewelry shone above all, which just seems right. We're delighted and we're accepting consignments," noted a Rago representative.

The auction on Friday, Dec. 7, featured silver, coins and currency. More than 700 Internet bidders from 34 countries participated in this session. The top lot this day was a Russian silver desk set by Mikhail Ivanov, which was estimated at $8,000-$12,000 and sold for $18,750.

Other highlights from Friday’s session included a Tiffany & Co. extensive coffee service that sold for $13,750; Tiffany & Co. English King silver flatware, $12,500; a Russian silver fruit-form teapot, $10,000; a Tiffany & Co. silver coffee service and cake stand, $10,000; Georg Jensen "Acorn" silver flatware, $10,000; a Mexican sterling coffee service, $9,375; Georg Jensen "Pyramid" silver flatware, $8,750; a Gorham silver coffee service, $8,125; and a Georg Jensen "Blossom" silver tray, $8,125.

Coin highlights were a Morgan silver dollar complete business strike set (six) that sold for $11,250; 10 U.S. $2 1/2 gold coins, $7,500; six Mexico 8 reales, $5,938; four U.S. silver dollars, $2,500; and six Chinese and Japanese coins, $ 2,375.

Saturday, Dec. 8, was the Great Estates portion of the auction, while Sunday, Dec. 9, was devoted to jewelry and couture.

Saturday’s sale including premium totaled $652,156. Nearly 1,200 Internet bidders from 35 countries participated. The Alexander III imperial Russian porcelain plate was the top lot of the day, achieving $87,500. It carried a $6,000-$8,000 estimate.

Other highlights were a Chinese rhinoceros horn libation cup that sold for $62,500; a narwhal whale tusk, $11,250; a style of Shishkin Russian painting, $8,750; two watercolor landscapes by Shiy De-Jinn, $8,750; a Paul Manship glazed ceramic goat figure, $8,750; a bronze of a mounted cossack by Vasili Grachev, $8,125; a James M. Hart (attr.) oil on canvas, ‘Misty Morning,’ $6,875; a Victor Salmones bronze sculpture, ‘Kneeling Figure,’ $6,250; a Hermann O. Herzog oil on canvas of a landscape, $6,250; and a Turkish Bokhara Suzani embroidery, $6,250.

The jewelry and couture auction on Sunday totaled $1,738,313 including premium. More than 1,200 Internet bidders from 39 countries competed.

The top lot was a pear-shape diamond ring weighing 9.33 carats and estimated at $60,000-$80,000, which sold for $68,750.

Other highlights were a platinum diamond garland necklace, $62,500; an untreated sapphire, diamond and platinum ring, $40,625; an Art Deco pearl, emerald and diamond necklace, $27,500; a Cartier Art Deco rose quartz diamond pendulette, $18,750; a LaCloche Freres enameled gold necessary, $18,750; diamond double crescent clip brooches, $17,500; a Louis Comfort Tiffany Moonstone Bracelet $15,000; an Egyptian Revival enameled gold fringe necklace, $12,500; and a Victorian jeweled gold beetle brooch, $6,250.

Consignments are now being accepted for Rago's April 2013 sales of jewelry, estate property and coins; December 2013 jewelry; Spring sales of 20th/21st C. design and fine art: phone 609-397-9374 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

View the fully illustrated catalog, complete with prices realized, at www.liveauctioneers.com.

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