Auction Details
<b>Best Ever Craftsman Event To Offer Numerous Rarities </b>
<p>In the world of Arts & Crafts, any Craftsman event is seen as a ‘major' – this one, though, seems to be raising the bar still another notch or two.
<p>Indeed, a rather special anticipation attends many of the offerings, some so rare, fine or unusual they may well reach startling price levels. .
<p>For example, considering the sticker-shock of any good early Gustav Stickley double door bookcase, what might someone pay for the unique, a custom-made-in-1902 model showing experimental hardware?
<p>And if a delicate Charles Rohlfs hall chair routinely fetches $20,000 or more, which it does, what lordly sum might it take to land a large, medieval-looking tall case clock?
<p>And just how high will be ‘up' for that super-rare Dirk Van Erp red/warty ‘curtained' copper pot? And what about that superb, Valentian-decorated Rookwood vase exhibited at the 1901 Pan American Exposition – Rookwood obviously prized it then, so what will we pay for it today?
<p>Such questions as these -- and any number of others every bit as intriguing -- will be raised and answered by a national and international audience on May 18th and 19th at David Rago's Lambertville, New Jersey Gallery.
<p>It is here where Craftsman will hold what many feel will easily be its most important sale ever, and likely the best held anywhere in recent memory.
<p>Patterned closely after the hugely successful $1.6M event held here in January, the Saturday/Sunday affair will serve up about 850 lots, these carefully calculated to respect all collecting interests, levels and price points. (This broad-based approach is a Craftsman hallmark, as it ensures a strong educational component while encouraging development of the overall market, these objectives being central to the Service's underlying philosophy.)
<p>As usual, each day will enjoy its own color catalogue, with Saturday's festivities dedicated to high end rarities and Sunday's designed to encourage middle level collectors with still-excellent but clearly more affordable material.
<p>The event will be attended in real time via the Internet, and both attending crowds and phone bidding are expected to be particularly heavy.
<p>Asked for comment, all three Craftsman partners – Rago, John Fontaine and Jerry Cohen – expressed considerable enthusiasm as they looked ahead:
<p> ‘There's great material here, right across the board", noted Rago in his typically succinct style. "Our January sale was surprisingly strong and confidence about the economy has continued to grow. As our May sale began to take shape, wonderful things just started popping out of private collections. Pottery, furniture, metal -- the sale seemed to get stronger by the day."
<p>Fontaine and Cohen were particularly pleased with the furniture to be offered, this – along with art pottery – a traditional Craftsman strong point.
<p>"At the January sale furniture made a terrific comeback", said John, "and it was if a door opened. For this sale we've pulled together at least 100 excellent high end examples, a number of real breath takers among them. It's going to be exciting to present them, and extremely interesting to see how they do."
<p>Among the more noteworthy furniture offerings will be several Roycroft rarities, and still other important Rohlf's pieces, including a carved desk and chair from a private estate.
<p>The very large group of superior Stickley pieces being presented will also showcase an exceptional and unique mitred-mullion cupboard.
<p>Surpassing art pottery, always a special treat at Craftsman sales, will if anything raise more eyebrows than usual. A veritable Parade of Rarities.
<p>On hand will be a healthy selection of Newcomb College and Grueby. Of special interest here will be a high glaze Newcomb piece showing sailboats, and a pristine Grueby tile from the Dreamwold House.
<p>Amongst the Van Briggle will be a rare and early two-color iridescent vase, a particularly vivid and dramatic example of this maker's vision.
<p>The Ohr being offered will include several examples well above an already very high norm, while a large Fulper group will feature this maker's coveted ‘cattail' vase.
<p>Still other Rookwood rarities will be a splendidly painted art nouveau vase with fine silver overlay, and a carved matte factory lamp base by Shirayamadani.
<p>Of special interest among the more esoteric pottery offered will be a Redlands Pottery vessel showing circling sharks.
<p>Metal and lighting will also shine with exceptional light.
<p>A few standouts here will be a Roycroft two-metal fern dish, a Hans Jauchen repousse copper wall plaque, an early D'Arcy Gaw for Dirk Van Erp table lamp and a large Roycroft hammered copper table lamp with leaded shade designed by Dard Hunter.
<p>Previews for this most important event will be held each day for the entire week leading up to the sale.
<p>For further information or to purchase catalogues, call any of Craftsman's principals: David Rago, at (609) 397-9374; John Fontaine at (413) 448-8922; or Jerry Cohen at (860) 928-6662.