LAMBERTVILLE, N.J. — Rago Arts and Auction Center ended the year in style with a weekend sale December 5–6 that totaled $4,313,164. The coveted collection of Art Deco and Art Nouveau jewelry belonging to Dora Jane Janson was 100 percent sold and totaled $579,063, including the buyer’s premium, well over its high estimate.

The Janson collection was led nearly single-handedly by a Cartier Art Deco “Pinecone” shoulder brooch in diamond encrusted platinum that attained $514,000.

The top lot in the coins/currency auction was a collection of coins from China and Chinese provinces, which sold for $43,380. In the Great Estates auction, the top lot was a Persian Tabir Zin axe head at $46,875. Both of these were brought to the auction house for valuation from private homes by owners who had no knowledge of their value.

The Chinese coins were among 800 pounds of coins brought to Chris Wise, who directs the Great Estates auctions, in the trunk of a car. Another lot from a walk-in valuation was correctly identified by Sarah Churgin, Director of Rago’s Jewelry department, despite the absence of markings, as a pin by Rene Laliqu that sold with attribution for $46,875 against an estimate of $3/5,000, confirming Sarah’s judgment.

For more information, 609-397-9374 or www.ragoarts.com.