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For the March 31 sale Kogan presented 376 lots to an inhouse audience of 80registered bidders and 759 bidders participating through LiveAuctioneers.com. Theinventory ranged from Erte bronzes to French paintings to American and Englishantique furniture. The tallest lot in the sale was also the top lot in the sale. AFederal tall case clock, circa 1800, by William Cummens received 23 bids, closing at$30,420 including buyer s premium, well surpassing the estimate of $10,000/$15,000.The 91in tall mahogany case was topped by an arched hood with latticework crown andbrass finials, a glazed door flanked by reeded columns and a painted metal facebearing the signature of Cummens. It was followed in the catalog by a pair ofEnglish Regency rosewood card tables with harp bases and rotating D shaped tops,opening to reveal an unlined playing surface. This pair of gamesters attracted 27bids to close at $16,380 against the $5,000/$7,000 estimate.
A fine silver gilt enamel Russian Kovsh made by Khlebnikov, 1908-1917, in bombeform with scroll handle, raised on paw feet and decorated in blue, white and redflowers closed on the ninth bid at $4,446 while a 33 in tall marble standing nudeby Prof. Bagnelli (Italian 20th century) made $4,388. An oil on canvas by LouisHenri Deschamps (French 1846-1902), Interior of a Girl Sewing went for $3,042.
Then the Gallery executed a complete change of direction and went from a broad basedart form to a narrowly focused event to conduct the biennial auction of ChessCollectors International on May 1. This sale featured exotic chess sets, memorabiliaand related ephemera from around the world. It was the first CCI sale to be held inthe United States since 2002 and was conducted in conjunction with U.S. Seniors OpenChess Tournament held in Boca Raton. The 137 lots attracted 50 bidders to the roomand had 82 online through LiveAuctioneers.
The top lot was a unique Japanese 20th century carved ivory set. The two 3 in tallkings were each signed with a red seal. One set of competitors was lightly stainedand the other left natural ivory. Each figure represented an activity in traditionalJapanese life. The king was a warlord, the queen held a box, the bishops were ninjasand the knights were samurai. With fitted box and carrying case, the set sold for$15,210. It was followed closely by a rare French/German Dieppe style carved bonefigural set, 18th/19th century. Each figure was fitted with a leather hat and allfigures were in period costume. Estimated at $6,000/$8,000, this popular set brought20 bids and was a nice surprise closing online at $13,420. Most of the remainder ofthe lots sold in the $1,500 - $2,500 range.
After the entertaining chess interlude it was time to get back to the serious worldof art. The May 19th event offered 340 lots of art, porcelain, glass and sculpturemixed with a few pieces of select European antique furniture.
The feature presentation was Paris Scene by Jean Dufy (French 1888-1964). The 18 by 25 in gouache work was signed lower right and came with a Certificate ofAuthenticity from Leandre Guesnel, Paris, April 16, 1985. Estimated at$20,000/$30,000, it sold on the phone for $32,760. Also warmly received was the oilon canvas Place de la Madeleine by Constantine Kluge (French 1912-2003). With aPalm Beach provenance it was estimated at $5,000/$8,000 but after 28 bids it closedat $17,550. American art made an appearance in the form of Phenomena Prism Mirror by Paul Jenkins (American born 1923). The acrylic on canvas was signed and dated1984 New York on the reverse. It sold on the phone above estimate at $16,380 andEnglish artist Henry Scott (1911-1966) made a surprise appearance with his O/C Crossing the Line. With the same Palm Beach provenance as the Jenkins work andestimated at $3,000/$4,000, it sold for a delightful $10,530. A 142 piece set ofGeorg Jensen sterling silver flatware, post 1945, in Acorn pattern hammered at$12,870.
Auction Gallery of the Palm Beaches will celebrate its fifth birthday on June 30with a major Sporting and Fine Arts auction. For information about this sale andupcoming sales call (561) 805-7115, email info@agopb.com or visit the website atwww.agopb.com. The Gallery is located at 1609 South Dixie Hwy, Suite 5, West PalmBeach, Florida 33401.
