Record-Breaking Rago Auction Highlights
Highlights from the James and Dianne Cook Collection include Lot #102, a Sadie Irvine; Newcomb College tall early vase with pine trees (top photo) which sold for $27,500 and Lot #270, a Massive Rozane Della Robbia Roseville vase with daffodils, which met its lower end estimate of $15,000.
Highlights from the Early 20th Century lots include Lot #546, a matted and framed Gustave Baumann color woodblock print titled ”San Geronimo – Taos” (middle photo). It soared above its estimate of $7,000 – $9,000 hammering in at $18,750. Lot #510, an unusually well fired, large Marblehead bowl with panthers, which climbed beyond it’s original estimate of $17,500-$22,500, settling in at $30,000.
Also impressive, Lot #559, a rare set of William Denslow Seahorse Andirons. Crafted during Denslow’s time with the Roycrofters, this particular design was highlighted in Duncan’s 1988 publication, Treasures of the American Arts and Crafts Movemment 1890-1920. This pair surpassed their estimate of $11,000-$15,000, selling for $20,000. And Lot #586, a rare Charles Rohlfs oak hall chair with cutouts which settled in just above its high end estimate at $18,750.
The top lot of the day, however, was Lot #554, a unique Greene & Greene Blacker House Table Lamp with inlay and cutouts (bottom photo). Featured in numerous publications over the years, this beautifully crafted piece skyrocketed beyond its estimate of $40,000-$60,000, hammering in at an impressive $502,000, besting Sotheby’s $470,500 sale of a Greene & Greene lotus lantern (also from the Blacker House) in December of 2010.
For more information on this auction and other Rago sales, please visit www.ragoarts.com.
And check back in November as we dive into the background and significance of the Greene and Greene table lamp featured in this article!
