Rago’s December 7th, 8th, 9th Auctions Cheer Holiday Buyers with 1200 Rago’s December 7th, 8th, 9th Auctions Cheer Holiday Buyers with 1200 Lots of Fine Furnishings, Jewelry, Silver, Coins, Art and More
clock, and grandfather clocks. Notable is lot 661, a French bronze and marble mantle clock, estimated at $3,500-5,500; lot 667, an English grandfather clock, estimated at $1,500-2,500; and lot 668, a grandfather clock by J.E. Caldwell, estimated at $1,500-2,500.
Ephemera
Ephemera in the sale includes lot 937, an American artists sketchbook with a Picasso signature, consisting of ink and watercolor sketches in bound book depicting European tour vistas with Picasso signature and narrative by the artist, Enid Ashdown, 1963, estimated at $2,000–3,000; lot 938, John Steinbeck “Of Mice and Men” signed copy, first edition, first printing autographed by Steinbeck, estimated at $800–1,200; and lot 939, a first edition Civil War atlas, estimated at $1,500–2,000.
Other
Other items in the sale include militaria, metalware, musical instruments, Oriental rugs, lighting, ephemera, books and decorative items. There is a Knabe grand piano, estimated at $6,000-8,000; a Lyon & Healy console music box, estimated at $4,000-6,000; an Epiphone guitar, estimated at $3,000-4,000; and a Missing Miss Cigar advertising sign, estimated at $3,500-5,500.
Jewelry
The catalogue opens with a session of historical revival jewelry including: lot 1001, an Egyptian revival enameled gold fringe necklace attributed to Marcus & Co., 1925-1930; and lot 1022, a mask stick pin with diamond lasques. Featured among a collection of animal, insect and other critter-themed jewelry is lot 1026, a Victorian jeweled gold beetle brooch; lot 1029, an Edwardian diamond butterfly, and lot 1049, a Tiffany & Co. multihued gold Japanesque brooch depicting a turtle on leafy ground.
For those interested in owning a piece of history, lot 1033 is a gold sewing kit, ca. 1830, estimated at a modest $1,000-1,500. The kit is listed in the achieves of the museum collections Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library. Another historically significant lot is 1149, a Samuel Arndt gold cigarette case, estimated at $4,500-6,500. The case was presented by Madame Montebello, Mrs. Gustave Lannes, to Rene Baudouy, banker to French Ottoman Embassy, builder of Istanbul-Salonica railroad, 1896.
For the gentlemen, there are watches, cufflinks, and even a Super Bowl ring. Lot 1127 is a Super Bowl XVIII ring presented to Kenny King, Los Angeles Raiders running back, estimated at $3,000-5,000. A notable wristwatch in the sale is lot 1128, a beautiful Patek Philippe nautilus wristwatch, estimated at $8,000-10,000. There are other fine timepieces in the sale, pocket watches, gentlemen’s and ladies wristwatches, by famous makers such as Patek Philippe, Cartier, Ernst Benz; Vacheron and Constantin; A. Lange & Sohne; Tiffany & Co.; Optima; Waltham; Corum; Audemars-Piguet; Breitling; Chronoswiss and Jacob & Co.
The sale includes lots of Asian interest including lot 1183, a jeweled nephrite brooch, and lot 1327, a jade and diamond ring. Lot 1200 are contemporary gold bangles by Ippolita. Classic gold jewelry includes 1222, a necklace; 1271, a bracelet; and lot 1230, jewelry coral ladybug brooches. Offering from the Belle Epoque and Art Deco periods: lot 1325, a cat’s eye chrysobeyrl ring; lot 1329, platinum diamond charms; lot 1331, natural pearls; lot 1335, a Cartier crystal brooch; lot 1336,
