David Rago

Featured Appraisal

Paul Revere Pottery Vases, ca. 1925
Biography
David Rago has been a specialist in American and European 20th-century decorative arts and furnishings for 35 years. A leading dealer in the field of American arts and crafts, he is the founder of the Rago Arts and Auction Center, one of the country's principal specialty auction houses. He is the author of over 500 magazine and newspaper articles and author of five books on the subject, including his most recent two works, The Arts and Crafts Collector's Guide, for Peregrine-Smith; and the Official Price Guide to American Arts and Crafts, for Random House. He is the publisher of two nationally distributed magazines, one focusing on the Arts and Crafts Period (Style: 1900) and the other on Modernist design (Modernism). Rago lectures in his specialty at major conferences across the United States and holds 20 auctions at the Rago Arts and Auction Center throughout the season.
Articles by this Author

article
I Really Hated Ohr
In this excerpt from his 2013 personal essay "George Ohr: The Greatest Art Potter on Earth," art pottery expert and longtime ROADSHOW appraiser David Rago reveals his true feelings about renowned master potter George Ohr.

article
Get to Know Robineau
A longtime ROADSHOW Pottery & Porcelain expert helps us get to know Adelaide Robineau, one of the most important figures in 20th-century American decorative arts.

article
Newcomb Pottery: Cream of the Crop
The college encouraged young women of the late-19th and early-20th century to emerge from their parlors and embrace many of the practical changes unfolding in society.

article
The Story of Dirk Van Erp and D'Arcy Gaw
David Rago tells the story of Van Erp's brief partnership with D'Arcy Gaw, a designer who helped soften some of Arts and Crafts' harder edges.
ANTIQUES ROADSHOW is an antiques appraisal event and television production; we do not buy or sell objects, and conducting any business with an appraiser at the ANTIQUES ROADSHOW event is strictly forbidden.
If you decide to do business with an appraiser who has appeared on ANTIQUES ROADSHOW, please keep in mind these tips before consigning or selling an item:
-Get more than one referral and check references
-Get valuations of your item from more than once source
-Compare options between different types of sellers, i.e., a dealer versus an auction house
-If you are considering consigning an object for auction, be sure to inquire how the item will be priced, the size of the fee, and the expected amount of time the process may take. Find out what will happen if it doesn't sell.
-Check the appraiser's professional associations (such as International Society of Appraisers, American Appraisers Association, National Auctioneers Association)
-Consult an attorney before signing a contract
-Whatever kind of transaction you decide to enter into, always get a detailed written receipt for your records
ANTIQUES ROADSHOW’s pool of experts are professionals with a wide range of experience in the antiques, fine art and collectibles community, and they are from a diverse background of auctioneers, dealers and appraisers.
All ROADSHOW appraisers are independent volunteers who donate their time and expertise to PBS and who pay their own expenses to be on the show. All business transactions are independent from ANTIQUES ROADSHOW.
Recent Appraisals

appraisal
Toshiko Takaezu Moon Pot, ca. 1970

appraisal
Charles Clewell Vases, ca. 1925

appraisal
Walter Anderson Pottery Cat, ca. 1945
AR Extras
A weekly collection of previews, videos, articles, interviews, and more!


