Rago Arts and Auction
Leading 20th-century design and modern art auction house in Lambertville, NJ.
Rago Arts and Auction: Pioneering 20th Century Design at Auction
Rago Arts and Auction Center, founded by David Rago in 1994 in Lambertville, New Jersey, has become one of America's foremost auction houses for 20th century design, modern art, and studio ceramics. From its base in the Delaware River town of Lambertville—a community known for its thriving antiques scene—Rago has built an international reputation for curating exceptional sales of modern and contemporary design that attract collectors, dealers, museums, and interior designers worldwide. The firm's merger of certain operations with Wright, the Chicago-based design auction house, has further cemented its position at the forefront of the modern design market.
Origins and Mission
David Rago, an appraiser and ceramics scholar, founded the auction house with a particular passion for American art pottery and Arts & Crafts movement objects. Early sales focused on Grueby, Rookwood, Newcomb College, and other significant American ceramic traditions. This expertise in studio craft expanded naturally into broader 20th century design—furniture, lighting, textiles, and decorative objects by the leading designers of the modern era. Today, the house's sales regularly feature works by George Nakashima, Wharton Esherick, Peter Voulkos, Tiffany Studios, and scores of other important makers.
Key Departments and Specialties
Rago's auction calendar is anchored by several flagship sales. The 20th century design sales are the firm's crown jewel, offering carefully curated selections of furniture, lighting, and decorative arts from the Arts & Crafts period through mid-century modern and postwar design. The modern and contemporary art department handles paintings, sculpture, prints, and photographs, with particular strength in postwar American art. The ceramics department remains a core specialty, offering both historical art pottery and contemporary studio ceramics.
Fine jewelry, silver, and decorative arts round out the auction calendar, providing breadth that attracts a wide range of consignors and buyers. Rago also conducts estate auctions and themed online sales that offer accessible entry points for new collectors.
The Rago-Wright Connection
In a significant development for the design auction market, Rago and Wright—the Chicago-based auction house founded by Richard Wright—have collaborated on operations, combining expertise and resources. This partnership has created a powerful bi-coastal presence for design-focused auctions, with Rago's East Coast operation in Lambertville complementing Wright's Chicago headquarters. The collaboration allows the combined entity to offer unmatched specialist knowledge across the full spectrum of 20th and 21st century design.
How Rago Compares to Other Design-Focused Auction Houses
| Feature | Rago | Wright | Phillips (Design) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Founded | 1994 | 2000 | 1796 |
| Location | Lambertville, NJ | Chicago, IL | New York / London |
| Design Focus | Arts & Crafts through contemporary | Mid-century to contemporary | Select modern/contemporary |
| Ceramics Specialty | Leading | Strong | Occasional |
| Art Pottery | Leading (founding specialty) | Moderate | Rare |
| Price Range | Accessible to high-end | Mid to high-end | High-end |
| Online Sales | Regular timed and live | Regular timed and live | Select sales |
Buying and Selling at Rago
Rago accepts consignments year-round and provides complimentary auction estimates. The house's specialists are recognized authorities in their fields, many having authored books and lectured widely on ceramics, design, and decorative arts. For buyers, Rago's detailed cataloguing, scholarly lot descriptions, and condition reporting provide confidence. The buyer's premium is generally around 25% of the hammer price, with some variation for online-only sales. The Lambertville saleroom hosts engaging preview exhibitions that are worth visiting in their own right.
Frequently Asked Questions
Rago is best known for its expertise in 20th century design, including Arts & Crafts furniture and decorative arts, mid-century modern design, studio ceramics, and American art pottery. The house also holds regular sales of modern and contemporary art, fine jewelry, and estate collections.
Rago and Wright, the Chicago-based design auction house, have merged certain operations to combine their expertise in 20th and 21st century design. This collaboration gives consignors and buyers access to specialists in Lambertville, New Jersey, and Chicago, Illinois, creating one of the strongest design-focused auction platforms in the United States.
Rago is located in Lambertville, New Jersey, a historic Delaware River town known for its antiques shops and galleries. Lambertville is approximately 70 miles from New York City and 40 miles from Philadelphia, making the saleroom accessible from both major metropolitan areas.
Absolutely. Art pottery is one of Rago's founding specialties. Sales regularly feature Grueby, Rookwood, Newcomb College, George Ohr, Saturday Evening Girls, and other important American art pottery. Contemporary studio ceramics by artists like Peter Voulkos and Ken Price also appear in the modern design sales.
Rago's buyer's premium is typically around 25% of the hammer price for in-house and phone bidders. Online bidding through third-party platforms may include an additional fee. Exact terms are published in the conditions of sale for each auction event.
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