Forbes’ Roycroft Collection Nets Solid Gains
The sale opened with one of the featured pieces, a one-of-a-kind Roycroft hall chair designed, built and carved by Dard Hunter around 1904. The chair started with a pre-sale estimate of $20,000-$30,000, but was hammered down at an impressive $37,500 (prices do not include the buyer’s premium).
It was quickly followed by a massive two-door bookcase (est. $10,000-$15,000) that sold for $20,000; a double Morris chair (est. $5000-$7000) that finished at $18,000; a chest of drawers (est. $6000-$9000) at $12,000; and a three-door bookcase (est. $10,000-$15,000) that left at $14,000.
Given the abundance of Roycroft furniture being sold in short order, a few collectors did walk away feeling that they had gotten a bargain, at least compared to some of the other prices. Two recently hot items stayed at the low end of their estimates: an Ali Baba bench (est. $6000-$9000) at $5000; and a tall magazine stand (est. $9000-$12,000) at $9500. A rare “Special Armchair,” one of three known to exist, had many expecting it to break away from its presale estimate of $15,000-$20,000, but the bidding stopped short at $14,000, perhaps because it was in mahogany rather than the more popular oak.
No one expected the six-inch Karl Kipp hammered copper and nickel Roycroft fernery to match the $92,000 record price paid for a similar model last year, but it was expected to blow past the presale estimate of $15,000-$20,000. It ran to $27,000 ($33,750 with the buyer’s premium), which is still impressive for a modest plant stand.
Among other items in the Forbes collection of Roycroft furniture which sold on Saturday were:
Mirrored vanity ($2000-$3000) – $1500.
Single door bookcase ($5000-$8000) – $13,000.
Nine dining chairs ($5000-$8000) – $5000.
Dining table (54″) ($4000-$6000) – $7000.
Server with single drawer ($3500-$4500) – $4750.
Sideboard with mirror ($5000-$7000) – $7000.
For complete sales results, please go to http://www.Ragoarts.com.
