Works Significant, Singular and Held for Generations Surface at Rago’s May 14 Fine Art Auction Top lots include a Winslow Homer found in a closet and a Louise Nevelson sculpture as necklace
Lambertville, NJ On Saturday, May 14, 2011 at 11 am and 1 pm, the Rago Arts and Auction Center will
News-Antique.com - Apr 22,2011 - Auction
• Saturday, May 14 at 11 am: 19th/20th C. American and European Art (73 lots)
• Saturday, May 14 at 1 pm: Post-War and Contemporary Art (268 lots)
• Telephone, absentee, online bidding available for those unable to attend.
Auction Exhibition/Preview
• Saturday, May 7, 2010 through Thursday, May 12, 12–5 pm and by appointment. Open until 7 pm on Friday, May 13. Doors open at 9 am the day of the sale.
• Rago’s is located midway between New York City and Philadelphia. Directions online at ragoarts.com.
Catalogue
• Printed catalogues are available for $20 each by calling 609.397.9374 or e-mailing a request to info@ragoarts.com.
• View a complete online catalogue with color images at ragoarts.com, online now.
TOP LOTS TO WATCH
“I chose the works on this list not because they are better than others in the larger sale, but because each is singular and significant in some way,” said Meredith Hilferty, Director of Fine Art at Rago’s. “All are worthy on their own. Many have been off the market for decades, if not generations. Some are quite rare or simply quintessential. Others are notable as being from artists whose works are actively sought in today’s market.
19th/20th C. American and European Art: Saturday, May 14 at 11 am
Lot 7, Winslow Homer, Signal Corps near Yorktown, 1862, Ink and graphite on paper, $8,000-12,000.
This work on paper came to us from a member of the Stephens family, along with art by Alice Barber Stephens and Henry Stephens Eddy and rare Arts and Crafts furniture. The consignor mentioned in passing that it was in the back of a bedroom closet. A letter from Homer to Charles Eddy accompanies.
Lot 32, Bernard Badura, Untitled (Lambertville Quarry); Charcoal on paper, $2,000-3,000.
I chose this because work by Badura of this size, rarity and condition just doesn’t come up. As far as I can see, it’s the first time a Badura drawing this significant has come to the secondary market.
The following four lots, all wonderful examples, descended in the families of the original owners. They were either purchased from the artist or the artist’s gallery early on and have been off the market ever since.
Lot 17, Arthur B. Carles, Nude, 1920, Oil on canvas, $20,000-30,000.
This rare and beautiful nude has been held privately for many decades by a Philadelphia collector. It was included in an exhibition at the Philadelphia Museum of Art in 1946.
Lot 10, John Frederick Peto, Untitled; Oil on canvas mounted to board, $18,000-24,000.
This recently discovered Peto traces back to the family of the artist and has been held privately since it was acquired by the family now selling it.
Lot 49, Fairfield Porter, August Wildflowers, 1965; Oil on Masonite, $10,000-15,000.
August Wildflowers was acquired from Porter’s gallery early in his career by the consignor’s mother when Porter’s work was still affordable to her. She paid for it by setting aside a small amount of the family’s weekly grocery allowance. It hung in
