David Rago loads surprises among the silver, furnishings, jewelry and art in his December 5th and 6th auction
LAMBERTVILLE, N.J., Nov. 18, 2009 — Looking for a one-of-a-kind gift for the holidays? From a Cartier Walt Disney watch to a Buddhist throne, extraordinary gifts are just a bid away at auction. Among our favorite surprises from Antiques Roadshow appraiser David Rago (http://www.ragoarts.com):
ATTN:
- High/low resolution images available.
- A list of gift lots targeted to your audience available.
- Complete online catalogue at http://www.ragoarts.com.
- Bid by telephone, absentee bid and online.
For the child with everything:
- A mid-20th Century barber chair with a figural horse’s head to ride. Bidding opens at $300.
For Boomer children:
- A Walt Disney “Fantasia – Dance of the Hours” watch pin by Cartier in platinum and diamonds, ca. 1940. Bidding opens at $8,000.
- A set of six Mr. Peanut martini glasses. Bidding opens at $400.
For Mad Men:
- A 24-inch high statuette of Esquire Magazine’s icon Eskie. Bidding opens at $300.
- An 18k Patek Philippe T150 retailed by Tiffany & Co, one of 150 produced in yellow gold, in the original box. Bidding opens at $10,000.
For ice cream addicts:
- An enameled silver sherbet set from Moscow, ca. 1896-1908, ornamented with the coats of arms of Russian cities. Bidding opens at $6,000.
For animal lovers and sports enthusiasts:
- A 14k gold horse racing trophy cup by Shreve & Co, won by Blue Butterfly in 1955. Bidding opens at $5,000.
- A pair of brilliant cloisonne elephants. Bidding opens at $2,000.
- An 1861 enamel portrait brooch of a fox. Bidding opens at $500.
For contemplative friends:
- A Buddhist meditation throne from Burma with inlaid glass and gold leaf. Bidding opens at $750.
For the lawyer in your life:
- An English barrister wig in a 19th C. toleware box, gilt stenciled with the name Gardner S. Bazleye. Bidding opens at $250.
For those who long for a gentler day and age:
- A pair of Regency-style tortoiseshell chairs and a museum-quality silver bowl in which to pass jam. Each carries an opening bid of $4,000.
- A three-wheeled bath house chair in which to take the air. Bidding opens at $3,000.
For Madeleine Albright (or aspirants):
- A Cartier NY Stars and Stripes platinum brooch, ca. 1923, in the shape of a shielded eagle with diamonds, rubies and sapphires. The bidding opens at $1,000.
For Republicans or Presidential Historians:
- A Tiffany & Co. Richard Nixon silver presentation tray with gilded presidential seal. The opening bid is $200.
For railroad buffs:
- A 50-foot-long mural from the 1920s/30s, depicting the Reading Terminal in Philadelphia and station stops rolling through towns and countryside. Bidding opens at $2500.
For ballet lovers:
- A ca. 1911 signed set design study by Leon Bakst of the Ballet Russes, framed for giving. Bidding opens at $500.
Contact:
Miriam Tucker
609.397.9374
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