Year in Review
2020
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
Lenore Tawney
Heart, 1968
$35,000
Alison Saar
Diggin', 2001
$25,000
Mercedes Matter
Untitled
$25,000
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
