Miyoko Ito Leads Rago $3.16m 'Post War & Contemporary Art' Auction

A work by Miyoko Ito was the headline sale at Rago 'Post War & Contemporary Art' auction on November 13.

• The sale totaled $3.16m, meeting the pre-sale estimate.

Snapshot of the sale

A work by Miyoko Ito was the headline sale at Rago 'Post War & Contemporary Art' auction on November 13.

• The sale totaled $3.16m, meeting the pre-sale estimate.

Snapshot of the sale

• 91 works sold totaling $3.16m.
• Estimates totaled: $2.32m (low) and $3.4m (high), excluding premiums.
• The sell-through rate was 86% of the original 106 lots announced.

• 91 works sold totaling $3.16m.
• Estimates totaled: $2.32m (low) and $3.4m (high), excluding premiums.
• The sell-through rate was 86% of the original 106 lots announced.

The star lot was: Miyoko Ito, Kachina (1973), which sold for $560,700, 460% above its $100,000 low estimate. It has not been traded before.

The star lot was: Miyoko Ito, Kachina (1973), which sold for $560,700, 460% above its $100,000 low estimate. It has not been traded before.

The outperformer sold for 1034% above its low estimate. Mary Callery, Song of the Desert (1945), sold for $56,700 ($5,000 low estimate). It has not been traded before.

The outperformer sold for 1034% above its low estimate. Mary Callery, Song of the Desert (1945), sold for $56,700 ($5,000 low estimate). It has not been traded before.

• 36 works, or 40%, sold above their high estimate.
• 34 works, or 37%, sold within their low and high estimate.
• 21 works, or 23%, sold below their low estimate.
• 0 sold with undisclosed estimates.

Guaranteed sales

No sales had a guarantee.

Works that did not sell

13 works were bought-in, including: Robert Indiana, LOVE (Blue and Red) (1966), estimated at $180,000 (low) to $240,000 (high). It has not been traded before.

Withdrawn before the sale

2 works were withdrawn before the sale, including: Yayoi Kusama, Pumpkin 2 (1988) estimated at $15,000 (low) to $25,000 (high).

Terms and definitions

All results include the fees and premiums added to the price of a work of art when the auctioneer's hammer falls. Sale prices are compared to the auction house’s low estimate, which do not include premiums.

Guarantees: Sometimes an auction house guarantees to pay a seller for a work, regardless of whether the bidding reaches the reserve price, a figure that is typically confidential.

Bought-in: If there are no bids for a work, or if bidding falls short of the reserve price, the lot is unsold or “bought-in”.

Withdrawn: This happens when a seller decides, for whatever reason, to withdraw a work before the bidding begins.

Premiums: Typically a sliding-scale of charges paid in addition to the hammer price by the buyer, plus any other fees.

• 36 works, or 40%, sold above their high estimate.
• 34 works, or 37%, sold within their low and high estimate.
• 21 works, or 23%, sold below their low estimate.
• 0 sold with undisclosed estimates.

Guaranteed sales

No sales had a guarantee.

Works that did not sell

13 works were bought-in, including: Robert Indiana, LOVE (Blue and Red) (1966), estimated at $180,000 (low) to $240,000 (high). It has not been traded before.

Withdrawn before the sale

2 works were withdrawn before the sale, including: Yayoi Kusama, Pumpkin 2 (1988) estimated at $15,000 (low) to $25,000 (high).

Terms and definitions

All results include the fees and premiums added to the price of a work of art when the auctioneer's hammer falls. Sale prices are compared to the auction house’s low estimate, which do not include premiums.

Guarantees: Sometimes an auction house guarantees to pay a seller for a work, regardless of whether the bidding reaches the reserve price, a figure that is typically confidential.

Bought-in: If there are no bids for a work, or if bidding falls short of the reserve price, the lot is unsold or “bought-in”.

Withdrawn: This happens when a seller decides, for whatever reason, to withdraw a work before the bidding begins.

Premiums: Typically a sliding-scale of charges paid in addition to the hammer price by the buyer, plus any other fees.