Auction Details
David Rago Auctions' third annual sale devoted to the work of Rene Lalique, is " the largest auction of its type ever held in the United States,” says Nicholas M. Dawes, the internationally-renowned Lalique expert who is responsible for organizing the sale. A former vice-president of Sotheby’s and an expert appraiser for the PBS series Antiques Roadshow, Mr. Dawes has organized auctions of Lalique in the United States since 1980. The majority of the sale is from one large private collection, which is varied and represents much of the oeuvre of Rene Lalique from the inter-war years. It includes over 70 Lalique vases, mostly in colored or opalescent glass, featuring several classics including a cased opalescent yellow ‘Archers’ vase and a vivid, electric blue ‘Courges’ from a selection of over 20 colored vases, and an impressive group of Art Deco vases with black enamel decoration including ‘Oranges,’ ‘Lagamar,’ ‘Koudor,’ and ‘Tourbillons.’ There is also an elegant group of vases, plates and bowls in opalescent glass. Statuary includes an opalescent ‘Suzanne’ and a rare and important ‘Source de la Fontaine’ statuette called ‘Clytie,’ the largest of Lalique’s fountain statuettes, with its original wood base. A strong selection of perfume bottles includes the rare models ‘Parfum des Anges,’ made for the Oviatt department store in Los Angeles in 1928, a rare Art Deco bottle with figural decoration for the ‘Oree’ fragrance by Claire of Paris and over 20 others. A private collection of Lalique hood ornaments from the late 1920s includes the classic model ‘Victoire’ in fine, original condition and over a dozen others, including ‘Faucon’ and ‘Saint Christophe.’ Perhaps the most notable hood ornament is an excellent example of the large dragonfly model, with pale amethyst tint, formerly owned by screen legend Gary Cooper. The sale also includes a large selection of collectable Lalique boxes, table glass, desk items including letter seals, blotters and inkwells, and an attractively estimated selection of modern Lalique. Rene Lalique’s abilities as a jeweler are represented by four original drawings, from circa 1900, and a good selection of glass jewelry, brooches, pendants, hatpins, and rings from the 1920s. Mr. Dawes can be contacted at 212-473-5111 or nmdawes@aol.com.