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

3 min read  ·  06 Nov 2024

Kachina by Miyoko Ito sold for $560,700.
Image courtesy of Rago

Kachina by Miyoko Ito sold for $560,700. Image courtesy of Rago

Kachina by Miyoko Ito sold for $560,700.
Image courtesy of Rago

Kachina by Miyoko Ito sold for $560,700. Image courtesy of Rago

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.

Breakdown of results against auction house estimates that are disclosed

Breakdown of results against auction house estimates that are disclosed

Breakdown of results against auction house estimates that are disclosed

Breakdown of results against auction house estimates that are disclosed

  • 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Withdrawn before the sale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.