Selling
Sell with Rago
Consigning to Rago is straightfoward and easy. We have multiple venues for selling your property with the expertise and audience to cover many areas of collecting from art, design and ceramics to silver, jewelry, decorative arts and more. We welcome the opportunity to review your works and we are happy to provide auction estimates free of charge.
Selling at Auction
From Start to Finish
Submit Images
Email images of your property to our specialists and receive evaluation within 72 hours.
Ship Works
Items accepted for auction can be sent to Rago at any time prior to the consignment deadline.
Marketing
We will photograph, catalogue and market the works to our audience as well as to new markets.
Receive Payment
After a sale, we will send you payment via the method of your choice.
Rago is an internationally known venue through which to buy and sell works in a broad range of fields including:
Modern Design
Studio Pottery
Contemporary Glass
Post War + Contemporary Art
Early 20th Century Design
American + European Art
Silver
Fine Jewelry
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I attend or watch the auction?
Yes! All auctions are open to the public. You can join us in person on day of sale at 333 North Main St., Lambertville, NJ or follow along live from your computer or mobile device at ragoarts.com.
Why should I consign to auction?
Auction is a marketplace that allows the value to be set by demand. Our auctions are curated to the taste of the market and our clientele to ensure the greatest interest and activity on any given item. It only takes two interested parties to see a work sell for prices that exceed expectation. Auction may not be right for every item and our specialists will make a recommendation based on the work itself.
How do I start the consignment process?
The first step of the consignment process is to contact our specialists with information regarding the work(s) you wish to sell or have evaluated. Our specialists can be reached by email at consign@ragoarts.com or by phone at 609 397 9374. We are happy to discuss works at any time, but if you can provide images it does assist us in assessing condition and therefore value of a given work.
What is the consignment fee?
There is a commission fee for all consigned property. This fee is determined by the value of works being sold and is negotiable.
There is a fee for the insurance of your work while in the possession of Rago, set at 1.5% of the hammer value. Other fees may include photography and/or an unsold lot fee, but these too, are negotiable.
How long until I hear back?
If you submit works for consideration through our website or by email you should hear back within 3 business days. If you do not, feel free to call or email to check in on your submission. If you need prompt attention to any inquiry, please include a note and we will do our best to accommodate.
Can someone come out to look at the works in person?
A specialist would be happy to visit you and your collection. We have specialists in Lambertville, New York, Philadelphia, Chicago and Westchester County, but we also travel throughout the United States and abroad to meet with clients. Please contact us regarding your collection and we can make arrangements.
If I don't want to wait for auction, what other options do I have?
While we have multiple auctions each month, these sales are curated and therefore a work might not be appropriate for a sale for a few months. Depending on the item, we may be able to offer the work privately to one of our clients.
Do works need to ship to Lambertville?
All works accepted for consignment do need to ship to Rago in Lambertville or to our partner location at Wright in Chicago for photography, marketing and finally sale. Your consignor representative will be happy to assist you in making shipping arrangements to the appropriate location.
How do I understand the consignor agreement?
The Consignor Agreement is our contract of business. The Consignor Agreement with Property Schedule lists figures for the value of your items as well as your seller’s reserve and the various fees associated with your consignment.
Understanding your agreement: Property Schedule – a list of each item with its estimate and reserve; Commission – details regarding your seller’s commission rate; Expenses – processing expenses and insurance fees for your item(s) while in our possession; Settlement – discusses payments for items sold; Special Terms – an addendum containing any special agreed upon terms (if any) that may overrule terms listed in previous clauses.
What sort of marketing will Rago do?
All works will be photographed, cataloged and described in full on our website and if there is a catalog, in print. We market all auctions digitally and list our sales on appropriate third party sites such as Live Auctioneers, Bidsquare, and/or Artsy to ensure a broad audience. We list our sales with various print and digital sources including newspapers, art digests, design events, etc. Our catalogs are shipped across the globe to an expansive network of buyers and consultants and we host exhibitions or private viewings of all works. Finally, you will find us on Instagram.
When will I get paid?
Results (including Buyer's Premium) will be posted on our website the evening of the auction. Within 10 days after the auction you will receive a statement listing your sold items and the net sale proceeds due to you. Auction payments are made 45 business days after the auction date.
What happens if the works don't sell?
Your consignor representative can assist you in selecting the best course of action should your item fail to sell at auction. Options may include holding the work for a future auction, or return of the piece should it appear to be the wrong fit.
