Year in Review 2020 | Rago Auctions

Over the course of this unusual year, Rago/Wright presented nearly 16,000 lots in 56 auctions with sales totaling more than $56 million.

Top Results

T.H. Robsjohn-Gibbings

Rare and Important Mesa table

estimate: $50,000–70,000
result: $237,500

Ercole Barovier

Rare Primavera Piccione

estimate: $100,000–150,000
result: $231,250

Ercole Barovier

Rare Mosaico vase

estimate: $100,000–200,000
result: $200,000

Chinese

Rare and Large Guanyin

estimate: $20,000–30,000
result: $187,500

Leo amino

Wild Plant

estimate: $50,000–70,000
result: $175,000

Deborah Butterfield

Isabel

estimate: $80,000–120,000
result: $175,000

Jean Royere

Grand Oeuf lounge chairs

estimate: 90,000–120,000
result: $175,000

Arthur Hennessey and Sarah Tutt for Marblehead Pottery

Exceptional and Rare vase

estimate: $25,000–35,000
result: $150,000

Magdalena Abakanowicz

Embryology

estimate: $80,000–120,000
result: $143,000

John McLaughlin

Untitled

estimate: $100,000–150,000
result: $125,000

Edward Clark

Untitled

estimate: $50,000–70,000
result: $106,250

Miyoto Ito

Monongahela

estimate: $30,000–50,000
result: $106,250

Marc Newson

Low Voronoi shelf

estimate: $90,000–120,000
result: $106,250

Paul Evans

Sculpture Front wall-mounted cabinet

estimate: $100,000–150,000
result: 106,250

George E. Ohr

Exceptional and Very Large vase

estimate: $20,000–30,000
result: $100,000

Charlotte Perriand

Bibliotheque

estimate: $40,000–60,000
result: $93,750

Pablo Picasso

Compotier trefle

estimate: $70,000–90,000
result: $93,750

Jean Despres

Silver necklace

estimate: $18,000–22,000
result: $81,250

Taxile Doat for University City

Exceptional and Rare Gourd vase

estimate: $20,000–30,000
result: $81,250

George E. Ohr

Snake vase

estimate: $15,000–20,000
result: $78,000

Three stone diamond ring

estimate: $50,000–60,000
result: $75,000

Christopher Ries

Spring

estimate: $20,000–30,000
result: $75,000

Lino Tagliapietra

Important Masai Collection

estimate: $65,000–85,000
result: $75,000

Audemars Piguet

'Royal Oak Jumbo Ultra thin' pink gold wristwatch, Ref. 152020R

estimate: $30,000–40,000
result: $68,750

Rene Boivin

Diamond and gold necklace

estimate: $10,000–15,000
result: $60,000

New Auction Records

Lot 112
T.H. Robsjohn-Gibbings
Rare and Important Mesa Table
$237,500

and Record Results for Women Artists

Jaune Quick-To-See Smith
Modern Times on the Rez: Parade, 1994
$43,750

Lot 304
Rago 20|21 ART
16 December 2020

Lenore Tawney
Heart, 1968
$35,000

Lot 154
Rago 20|21 Art
20 May 2020

Alison Saar
Diggin', 2001
$25,000

Lot 245
Rago 20|21 Art
20 May 2020

Mercedes Matter
Untitled
$25,000

Lot 111
Rago POST WAR + CONTEMPORARY ART
10 November 2020

Fresh to the Secondary Market

Solomon Ethe

Michaela Eichwald

T.M. Davy

Kurt Weiser

Spotlight: Ceramics & Art Pottery

This year Rago presented the first auction dedicated to American Art Pottery in more than 25 years. The auction featured nearly 200 lots by masters in the field and achieved exceptional results with a total of $1.3 million, more than 1.5 times the low estimate.

Adelaide Robineau

Exceptional centerpiece

estimate: $40,000–50,000
result: $47,500

Fritz Albert for Teco Pottery

Exceptional vase, model 310

estimate: $25,000–35,000
result: $43,750

Arthur Hennessey and Sarah Tutt for Marblehead Pottery

Exceptional and Rare vase

estimate: $25,000–35,000
result: $150,000

Taxile Doat for University City

Exceptional and Rare gourd vase

estimate: $20,000–30,000
result: $81,250

...and Works by the Bombastic George E. Ohr

$1,368,672
104 lots
100% sold by lot
nearly 300% sold by value

George E. Ohr

Exceptional and very large vessel

estimate: $20,000–30,000
result: $100,000

George E. Ohr

Snake vase

estimate: $15,000–20,000
result: $78,000

George E. Ohr

Large vase

estimate: $10,000–15,000
result: $62,500

George E. Ohr

Tall vase

estimate: $10,000–15,000
result: $40,000

George E. Ohr

Exceptional large vase

estimate: $25,000–35,000
result: $40,000

George E. Ohr

Exceptional large coupe

estimate: $15,000–20,000
result: $37,500

George E. Ohr

Large Pitcher

estimate: $10,000–15,000
result: $35,000

George E. Ohr

Pitcher

estimate: $12,000–16,000
result: $30,000

New Dedicated Auction Categories

Prints + Multiples
2 auctions
$1,816,371
533 lots
165% sold by value

20 | 21 Art
5 auctions
$3,835,000
1137 lots
135% sold by value

Tastemakers & Collections

It isn't only the artist and designers but it is also the collectors—the tastemakers—who define cultural phenomenon. Rago/Wright was pleased to present works from several special collections this past year, some the focus of dedicated auctions.

We remained social, from a distance...

Most Liked Items on Instagram

@wrightauction | @ragoauctions

...and Socially Engaged

This year we had the pleasure of working with several organizations dedicated to the arts and culture. We sold more than 75 lots for a total of $220,000 benefiting these standout organizations.

The Smithsonian Women's Committee

James Renwick Alliance

The Dina Wind Art Foundation

♥

We also supported the Society of Contemporary Art by opening our space for their annual SCA Collector's online auction and preview. We are proud of our ongoing support of the Hyde Park Art Center, The Renaissance Society, Nakashima Foundation for Peace, James A. Michener Art Museum, Corning Museum of Glass, Urban Glass, and Glass Roots.

Looking forward to 2021

Ring in the new year with Early 20th Century and Modern Design at Rago. Explore today!

Upcoming Auctions

View our upcoming calendar and explore events at Rago!

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