I recently had the pleasure of speaking with Miriam Tucker of Rago Art and Auction Center located in Lambertville, NJ, just across the bridge from Bucks County.
Have you ever watched Antiques Roadshow on PBS? If so, you may have seen owners David Rago and Suzanne Perrault appearing as a guest appraisers on the show. The husband and wife business team have been holding auctions since early 1995.
David began his career as a dealer in early 20th century property when he was 16 or 17 years old and went on to a thriving business in early American Art pottery and early 20th century decorative arts. He and Suzanne met in New York and began working together and holding auctions in New York City.
David is originally from this area, and when he heard the old hosiery factory became available in Lambertville, he bought it in early ’95 and began holding auctions there.
Miriam joined Rago’s in ’99 as their marketing, management and internet solutions person. She became a partner a few years later. She has charge of sales of fine arts and silver and jewelry and estate goods, as well as appraisals. David and Suzanne run the 20th century Design Department they began.
Miriam grew up in the Chestnut Hill area and now lives in Solebury with her husband and dog from LuLu’s Rescue along with a cat. Lulu’s Rescue is an organization that brings dogs up to our area from the south and finds them good homes, like Miriam’s. If anyone would love to find a wonderful dog to adopt or serve as a foster family in the area, please contact Michele Armstrong at Flip Dog Yoga. (Flip Dog Yoga is also a contributor of the Bucks County Women’s Journal – they are on the cover of the April/May issue!)
Miriam’s favorite part of what she does at Rago’s (besides meeting people) is the theatricality of it, as she used to be in theatre. Putting on an auction is very much like putting on a show – you open, people like you or not; buy or don’t buy. But I think you’ll agree that once you visit Rago’s, you’ll LOVE them!
Rago’s says that people needn’t be intimidated by auctions – they LOVE having people looking around, sitting in on auctions; anything that they are interested in selling – they are always happy to give opinions as to whether an item suitable for auction.
Rago’s holds auctions from September through June. They have free walk-in appraisal days on Mondays and employ around 35 people.
Miriam has been involved locally with the Mercer Museum, Bucks County Historical Society and Young Audiences of NJ and Eastern PA. She currently gives her time to Lulu’s Rescue and the Trenton Area Soup Kitchen.
Bucks County Women’s Journal P.O. Box 64529 Souderton, PA 18964 215 – 721 – 0645 E-mail: bcwmnsjournal@yahoo.com www.buckscountywomensjournal.com
