Post-Sale Update:
Of the 115 lots that crossed the auction block, 112 sold for a take-up rate of nearly 98%. High seller was the very first lot, the dark Amber Tortues Vase that made $25,000 all-in (all results will be on the same basis unless stated otherwise). Tied for 2nd place high seller were the red Poissons Vase that got $18,750 and the Terpsichore Vase in clear and frosted that also made $18,750. Tied for 4th place were 3 vases that each made $17,500: a great looking dark amber Languedoc Vase, the yellow Ceylan Vase, and the frosted and patinated Salmonides Vase. So basically 6 vases made the top 5 🙂
Against a total estimate range of $277,700 to $405,650, the hammer price total exceeded the total high estimate, hitting $470,125. The all-in total was $587,656. The average total sale price per lot was about $5250.
It’s typical in many R. Lalique sales that the top 1 to 3 items can account for 25% to 50% of the sale total, lifting all the average prices as well, but masking a low take-up rate and/or a weak breadth of sale. Obviously that was not the case here, as the strong offering of colored and other vases showed strength across the board with the high selling lot accounting for just over 4% of the sale total.
It was another highly successful sale for the great Rene Lalique and for Rago, and a pretty good day for the consignor.
End of Post-Sale Update.
An old collection long in storage of 115 items including nearly 40 colored vases will be offered at auction on Saturday May 20th, 2017 at the saleroom of Rago Auction House in idyllic Lambertville New Jersey.
The lots feature a huge group of mainly larger colored vases, and an assortment of other attractive items. Of the 115 offerings, all but 20 are vases. Among the 20 non-vase lots are 4 clocks, a couple of statues (Thais in amber, Suzanne in opalescent), the iconic Masques Decanter and other various items such as the set of 6 Six Figurines Shot Glasses.
But with the incredible assortment of vases, the collection hits the very heart of the collecting field in all shapes, sizes and colors. Just a look at the first four lots previews the colored vase story: Dark Amber Tortues Vase, Blue Courges Vase, Red Poissons Vase, Green Formose Vase! And the non-colored vase offerings are highly compelling on their own to include the great Salmonides Vase, the Quatre Groupes De Lezards Vase, and good looking clear and frosted Sauterelles Vase that is complemented by the blue and green colored vase offerings of the same model.
Obviously finding the right lots is the number one consideration when bidding at auction. But also consider how the sale is being conducted:
Estimates appear purposefully low to ensure a maximum sales rate, and at World Headquarters we have been told the consignor wants everything sold.
Condition reports follow the lot descriptions in the online catalogue.
Rago guarantees its condition reports.
You also have the fact that Rago has sold more R. Lalique through its saleroom than almost any other auction house during the last couple of decades, including many of the biggest auction house names in the world! Their experience and success is the big reason sellers of R. Lalique from all over the world find their way to Lambertville. And their reputation and the way they do business has obviously given confidence to an incredible number of R. Lalique buyers over the years.
The collection looks like a rare chance to obtain some of the standout models of the great Rene Lalique at reasonable prices with the kind of sale terms and confidence you’ve come to expect from the historic Rago R. Lalique sales.
Here is a link to the main sale listing here at RLalique.com with contact information: R. Lalique Solana Collection May 20, 2017. And you’ll find the entire sale catalogue HERE!
