This Saturday and Sunday (March 1-2, 2014) Rago Arts in Lambertville, New Jersey, for decades a leading specialist in arts and crafts and modern period work in all media, will be auctioning off a bumper crop of ceramics. Modern Ceramics on March 1 has 120 lots, including work by Viktor Schreckengost, Michael Lucero, Aleb Siesbye and Ralph Bacerra.
Ceramics are included in the weekend’s two other auctions as well, Early 20th C. Design and Modern Design. The first has an usually large number of works of American Art Pottery by Rookwood, Greuby and others. But the stars of this auction are the British Martin Bothers and particularly a number of grotesques and bird jars by Wallace Martin. The Design auction (on Sunday, March 2) includes everyone from Picasso and Paul Schreckengost (Viktor’s brother) to Gunnar Nyland and Piero Fonasetti.
The growing number of works coming onto the market and the relatively good sell-through rates indicates that a new market is growing. Prices are not at their 2007 highs any more, and some artists’ prices are still in slow descent. This may not thrill sellers but it is essential to bring in a new generation of collectors, drawn in by great art at modest prices. But don’t expect a bounce back to the glory days anytime soon. The recovery is going to be (much like the US economy) long and slow. For a while this will remain a buyer’s market, with some exceptions.
Above: Lot 542: Robert Arneson (1930 – 1992), Vince, 1979, glazed ceramic wall-hanging charger. Signed, dated, incised “Will you please speak up?” and stamped “THE SECOND BODY ARTIST,” 1 1/2″ x 19 1/2.” Copy of original invoice from the Candy Store Gallery, Folsom, CA. Publication: Fineberg, A Troublesome Subject: The Art of Robert Arneson (2013).
Ralph Bacerra (1938 – 2008), Cameloid, 1976, large glazed hand-built ceramic sculpture from the Animal series, 35″ x 35″ x 13″
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