My goal is to publish new posts twice a week — Mondays and Thursdays. However, if you don’t see a new post on Thursday, it’s because I was too busy, so please look for a new one the following Monday.
Rago Arts held an Early 20th auction on October 26, 2013, with some strong results. Leading the pack was a fireplace surround by the Saturday Evening Girls, for the private residence of Edith Guerrier, located near the Paul Revere Pottery works in Boston. It easily surpassed its high estimate of $150,000, realizing $219,750, including buyer’s premium.
Martin Bros. birds are hot and have been for years, making it difficult for auction galleries to attract good consignments. Rago has been able to buck the trend with several sales of fresh-to-the-market Martinware. Lot #125 was an 11″ bird, with a pre-sale estimate of $40,000 – $50,000. It sold for $59,375, near the high estimate.
Of particular interest to me was lot #383, a rare Tiffany Studios scarab inkwell. It was a beauty, with curved blue iridescent inserts and a beautiful patina. It carried a very fair pre-sale estimate of $5,000 – $7,000. I bid strongly, but had to drop out when the price moved into retail territory, with a final sale price of $25,000. Oh well, can’t win ’em all.
For the complete results of the sale, click here.
We’ll exhibit next at the NYC Pier Show, November 23-24, 2013. The show is under new management, U.S. Antique Shows, which usually portends improvements. It will be our last show of the year, followed by the important Florida shows in January and February.
Click here to view my new website and look around. We always strive to offer the finest objects for sale on our website and at every show. There are many items for sale, sold items with prices and free lessons about glass and lamps.