Tomorrow night, Rago Arts and Auction Center is hosting an invite-only preview of upcoming auction items in some very lofty digs at 10 Rittenhouse. An entire two-bedroom condo on the 20th floor of the tony high-rise has been furnished and decorated entirely in items Rago will auction June 16 to 17. David Rago calls the unusual marketing plan "guerilla warfare in design." It's all been curated and staged by Marguerite Rodgers, of Fork/XIX/Lacroix fame.
Touring the jaw-dropping condo feels a lot like wandering around a design museum where everything must go. Lovely floral arrangements casually fill pitchers and vases valued somewhere north of the average monthly rent. Damien Hirst and Andy Warhol paintings line the walls beside Raymond Pettibon illustrations (you may be more familiar with his Black Flag album covers). Just in front of the wall of floor-to-ceiling windows sits a Paul Evans sculpture valued between $45,000 and $60,000.
In all, guests at the private showing will ogle more than $650,000 worth of 20th century arts and crafts items and contemporary design pieces, as well as a selection of jewelry and silver. Looking for a knickknack to adorn your etagere? Maybe the Picasso pitcher valued between $3,500 and $5,000 will do. Or perhaps you'll be more interested in the Tiffany boudoir lamp circa 1900s. Don't have an etagere? There's a lovely Milo Baughman piece from the 1970s on display.
If you miss weekend window shopping at Design Within Reach, consider making an appointment for the public open house Rago is holding at 10 Rittenhouse on Saturday and Sunday between noon and 5 p.m. Rather ogle in private? The catalog is online. But the 20th-floor view is an in-person-only perk. —Shannon Rooney
· First Look at 10 Rittenhouse's Studios and One-Bedrooms [CPHI]
· Update on 10 Rittenhouse Square [CPHI]
· Post-Sheriff's Sale May Be Right Time to Buy At 10 Rittenhouse [CPHI]
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