Neapolitan Auctions owner Kathleen Pica of Naples, FL was excited about the results from her recent three day sales event that saw bidders from China, Hong Kong and Taiwan competing with local bidders for items from the 1200 lot inventory she assembled for this auction. The sale was conducted online by LiveAuctioneers.com and in person in the auction facility on 1st Avenue South in Naples.

Each of the three days of the sale had a significantly different tone. The first day, November 14, featured a number of lots from a significant collection of jade artifacts originally from China. Until recently the collection was privately housed in Naples. The second day, November 21, showcased a variety of antiques and silver from an estate in Port Charlotte and the final day, December 12, was “clean up” day according to Pica, picking up miscellaneous lots from a number of sources, providing bidders with lots of unique opportunities for holiday gifts. The opportunity to bid attracted 920 approved bidders registered for the online portion of the sale competing against 200 registered in person in the Gallery.

The top lot of the sale crossed the block on the first day of the sale. A Ching Dynasty (1644-1912) jade scepter created quite a stir in the online market and on the phone bidding lines. An online bidder from Taiwan battled it out with phone bidders from China, and California and other online bidders from China, Hong Kong and Japan. Pica noted, “Oriental buyers are especially favorable to the lighter colored jade pieces. They like the whites and light greens.” The 15¾ inch scepter in light green jade certainly fit the bill and included carvings depicting a man and his servant traveling. That was a good omen because the scepter will soon make its way to Taiwan going to the online bidder there for $13,915 including the buyer’s premium of fifteen percent. The original presale estimate was for $1,200/1,400.

Other significant jade lots included a light green carved jade brush wash, 5 by 4in, with a raised center medallion. Estimated at $150/$200, the elegant bowl garnered a winning bid of $4,025, again from an Oriental buyer. A 4in Chinese carved jade pants coupe with fitted wooden stand, light green with brown traces, estimated at $300/$400, cleaned up at $3,795 and a Chinese carved white jade belt buckle sold for $3047. Pica said, “The jade was good quality but nothing real special. The market is just ready for good quality jade work.”

The second day of the sale held its own with a Japanese two handled signed bronze urn. The 19¾in urn was elaborately decorated with large flowers, leaves and branches with details to the petals and stamen. The urn was mounted on a three dolphin base resting on a plateau with bird perched on a branch as a finial. Estimated at $600/$800, it sold to an online bidder for $2,760. A seldom seen Meissen porcelain harlequin figure, 9in tall sold over estimate online at $873.

The final day of the sale saw a vintage Japanese small sword, 26in long, with a leather wrapped handle and a stylized lotus leaf Tsuba, estimated at $300/$400 bring in a winner of $625.

Pica feels that the international contacts and the quality of merchandise she is attracting in Naples allows Auctions Neapolitan to effectively offer auction services that compete favorably with the larger houses on the East coast. Her next auction is scheduled for January. For more information visit the Gallery at 1100 1st Avenue South in Naples, contact Kathleen Pica at Auctions Neapolitan at (239) 262-7333 or visit the website at http://www.auctionsneapolitan.com.

Scepter – This Ching Dynasty scepter in light green jade was top lot of the sale at $13,915 from a bidder in Taiwan.

Harlequin – A rare 9in tall Meissen porcelain harlequin figurine sold for $873.

Libation cup – An archaic light green jade libation cup with stylized Chi dragons climbing up the sides sold well over the $400/$600 estimate at $2932.

Sword – A 26in long Japanese sword with ray skin and leather wrapped handle brought $625.

Urn – A two handled Japanese bronze urn, 19¾in tall, sold better than expected with $2760 at the hammer.

Water coupe – A carved Chinese pants water coupe carved in light green nephrite jade with brown traces in a fitted wooden stand sold for more than ten times the low estimate for $3795.

The three previous sales at Auction Gallery of the Palm Beaches in West Palm Beach, FL produced some eye opening surprises, primarily centered around Oriental art and porcelain. The December sale produced some surprises too for owner Brian Kogan but they were not about Oriental art. They were about Western art and a Palm Beach art gallery consignor.

Just prior to the sale over 160 lots were withdrawn after questions arose about the consignor’s right to sell the items. Preferring to stay on the conservative side Kogan withdrew all the lots related to the consignor until the questions can be resolved. The sale still featured a healthy inventory with over 300 lots on the bill of fare from a variety of estates in the South Florida area and several items from the Albert Peter Thomas Rochelle estate.

Unusual furniture sold surprisingly well in a sale focused on art. A 19 leg bronzed resin over steel dining table base, 103in by 60in, with an oval glass top, the “Stalagmite” table by American Paul Evans, circa 1974, sold over estimate at $5,175 including the fifteen buyer’s premium. An Evans glass top bronzed coffee table reached $4,025 and a four piece collection of coffee tables and end tables, tiled in polished chrome and brass, sold for $2,750, soaring over its $500/700 estimate.

The real excitement of the sale was reserved for three works by Indian born artist Avanash Chandra (1931-1991). He left India for England at age 25 in 1956 and within ten years the BBC had produced a documentary about him, the V&A bought his work and he had became the first Indian painter to have work displayed at the Tate Gallery, London. He moved his studio to New York in 1967 and by the time of his death in 1991 had held thirty two individual shows. When the Chandra works crossed the blocks five phone operators in the Gallery had their hands full with bidders. The first lot was an abstract composition with figures, watercolor on paper, 21 by 28in, signed “Avanash ’60.” It sold on the phone to a New York bidder for $7,475. The second lot was a Jamaica landscape, oil on unframed canvas, 22¼ by 50in. Inscribed “Avanash Chandra, London, 1986” it sold over estimate on the phone to a different New York bidder for $19,550. The third lot was the charm. It was an abstract composition, oil on canvas, signed and dated “83” on the lower left. The 35¾ by 47½in unframed work went to the New York buyer of the earlier abstract for a sale high of $43,700, well above the $20,000/$25,000 estimate.

Two Salvador Dali works sold solidly within estimate. The “Grasshopper Child” etching, signed in pencil numbered 65/100, circa 1935, sold on an absentee bid of $9,200 and four color lithographs entitled “Visions Surrealiste” in a purple silk folio case. Each litho was signed in pencil and numbered 125/150. The set sold online for $4,500 including the twenty percent online premium.

A screen print on Perspex, “Untitled-Fragment 2” by Bridget Riley English, b. 1931, signed in pencil, 27 by 26½in, sold on the phone to a bidder in England for $7,475 and an oil on canvas landscape by American Samuel. S. Carr (1837-1908) entitled “Genre Scene with Children and Goat Cart,” 12 by 18in in the original gesso cast frame, in need of cleaning and repair, sold for $8,050, more than double the $4,000 high estimate. After many years of storage in a garage in Palm Beach a bronze sculpture by Marius Jean Antonin Mercie. French (1845-1916) saw the light of day. Entitled “Gloria Victis” (Glory to the Defeated), 37in high in good condition it sold within estimate for $14, 950.

On final surprise came very late in the sale. An antique Persian Oushak carpet, 11ft 5in by 14ft 9in, estimated at $4,000/$6,000 brought $11,270 on the phone. There was one small oriental delight after all. A pair of intricately carved white jade plaques with dragon and scroll forms on rosewood stands, 2¾ by 2¼in and 2¼ by 4½in, sold online to bidder in Taiwan for $2,160, well over the $500/$700 estimate.

Bronze – A 37in tall bronze by Marius Jean Antonin Mercie. French (1845-1916) reached $14,950. The larger 1874 original bronze is at the National Gallery of Art in Washington.

Carpet – A large antique Persian Oushak carpet rolled up $11,270.

Clock – A three piece Tiffany clock set sold for $9,775.

Dali – Salvador Dali’s etching “Grasshopper Child” brought $9,200.

Table – This 19 leg dining table with bronzed resin base under oval glass top by Paul Evans sold in the room at $5,175.

The third anniversary sale of Auction Gallery of the Palm Beaches on South Dixie Highway in West Palm Beach on June 26 was a night of fun, strong prices and several surprises according to auction co-owner Brian Kogan. “It was a nice evening and lots of people had lots of fun.”

The event featured lots from the estate of Palm Beach antiquarian and third generation English porcelain dealer Alfred Peter Rochelle-Thomas, a French Art Deco perfume bottle collection from the estate of New York artist Arthur Holland, French and Italian furniture from a Miami home and American furniture from a Plantation area home.

The biggest surprise of the sale was a pair of porcelain bowls from the reign of the fifth emperor of the Chinese Ch’ing dynasty, known as Chia Ch’ing, 1796-1820. Bearing the seal of the reign, the two red ground finely painted bowls, 4in high X 8 1/8in wide, with scenes of Chinese children at play, were estimated at $500/$1,000 the pair. Fierce online competition quickly exceeded the high estimate, closing at $26,400, including buyer’s premium, from a regular auction house bidder. The bowls will eventually be sent to Hong Kong.

Another very pleasant surprise appeared in the form of a French display cabinet, circa 1900, with a drop front desk in the center section and curved glass display areas. The kingwood cabinet, 65in high and 63in wide, was decorated with ormolu ribbon and floral swags and caryatids that had been added after the original manufacture. Estimated at $6,000/$8,000, a local bidder and New York buyer went head to head until the New Yorker won it with an offer of $20,700.

And American artifacts were also in demand. A pair of 18th century gilt wood convex mirrors with eagle finials and finely gilt carved scrolling additions was warmly received in the house. The 40in tall fixtures had some paint faults and loosened finials and parts but were estimated at $5,000/$7,000 in spite of the deterioration of the probable original mirrors and the addition of electrified candelabra. That was no deterrent to determined bidders who competed the pair to a close of $17,250.

Art was well represented at the sale. An oil on canvas, 36in X 54in, with no visible signature but with a strong attribution to English artist Edward Mathew Ward, 1816 – 1879, depicted a scene in Exchange Alley from the South Sea Bubble in 1790 when the financial bubble of South Seas financial speculation burst. It went to a local floor bidder for $14,950 and an 18th century Spanish or Dutch School Old Master oil on copper brought $3335.

Even a bird got into the act. A 17in tall Majolica pottery hanging wall bracket with a parrot figure and an illegible maker’s mark, in fair condition with some loss to the feathers, estimated at $100/$150, sailed off to a winner of $2,530 with premium.

The off-peak season auction was well attended with over 100 bidders on the floor, 300 registered online with Live Auctioneers and over 100 phone bids. Kogan reported the online version of the sale came off without a hitch. For more information call (561) 805-7115 or visit the website at http://www.agopb.com.The next Art and Antique Auction is scheduled for Monday, August 21, 2006 at 5:00 PM.

Click on images to enlarge.

(Left) This pair of bowls from the Chia Ch’ing era of China, 1796-1820, estimated at $500/$1,000 sold online for $26,400.

(Below Left) A French display cabinet with curved glass ends and ormolu mounts and a fall front desk, circa 1900, brought a winner of $20,700

(Below Right) A pair of convex mirrors from the turn of the 19th century with eagle finials sold for more than twice the high estimate at $17,250.

(Below Center) A Chinese export lozenge spoon tray for the American market with eagle motif and inscribed "E Pluribus Unum",  3/4 in high, 7 1/8 in wide, in good condition with some wear to the gilding edge and  center monogram sold to bidder from Hawaii for $4,025.

The last J. K Galleries, Inc. auction in Deerfield Beach, Fl, prior to its move to Boca Raton, turned out to be the best one ever according to owner Jay Kielstock. With an inventory of over 700 lots Kielstock divided it into two consecutive Sunday sales held on September 3 and September 10. The first event featured art pottery, Art Deco jewelry, several Tiffany lots and estate jewelry. The sale of the 10^th featured a large collection of Lladro, art, jewelry and crystal and glass including Steuben, Lalique and Waterford.

With around 200 registered bidders in the house for each session Kielstock conducted what he calls a “New York” sale with lots of audience interaction, plenty of food (pizza, ravioli and hoagies) and drawings for prizes including $1,500 cash in door prizes. Every registered bidder received a coupon worth $25 off their purchase at the next J. K. Galleries sale in the new facility in the International Jewelers Exchange in Boca Raton.

Roseville was hot in the first session. A 15in Brown Pinecone floor vase received 11 phone bids against the floor competitors. It sold in the room for $1,265 including buyer’s premium. Roseville Futura did especially well. A 7in Futura Telescope Vase, estimated at $250 - $300, brought $518, a Futura Ostrich Egg, $1,035, a Pillow Vase made $920 and a Brown Ferella vase sold for $633.

It was good sale to shop for jewelry, especially Art Deco. Top lot of the sale was a one of a kind platinum ring with a 2.50CT Asscher cut center diamond with accent baguette and round diamonds, circa 1920. It sold in the room for $19,550. An Art Deco platinum, diamond and sapphire bracelet set with 4.00CT diamonds and synthetic sapphires, 7in long, brought $8,050 and another diamond and sapphire bracelet brought $7130. In estate jewelry a man’s yellow gold 38MM Cartier Pasha watch, all original with exhibition back and band power reserve sold for $6,900 and an 18KT white gold canary diamond ring, 1.5CT, with .75CT of accent diamonds earned $6,785.

Tiffany was a favorite for the 500 registered online bidders through LiveAuctioneers.com. A yellow favrile vase with an enameled bronze base marked “Louis C. Tiffany Furnaces, Inc,” 15in tall, sold within estimate to an online bidder at $3,120. A three part 14in tall signed Tiffany favrile lamp made $1,800 online and a 12in tall signed ribbed favrile vase sold online for $1,440.

Kielstock reported a sell through rate of 100 percent for Lladro, Lalique, art glass and art pottery with Steuben a favorite. A 6in tall signed Steuben scarab decorated with gold brought a winner of $2,040 from online, estimate $700- $1,000, and a signed Steuben gold mouse on a wedge of cheese made $1,995 on the floor.

Top art lot of the sale was a 13 X 17in mixed media technique on matte paper by Carlos Merida, Mexican 1891-1984. It will be returning to Mexico with a winning bid of $9,200. The same bidder acquired three mixed media works by Francisco Zuniga, 1912-1998 for $5,750 each.

Kielstock expects to have J.K. Galleries up and running in Boca Raton in early October. For more information call (954) 421-2800 or visit the website at http://www.jkgalleries.com

Photos (Left to Right)

This Art Deco platinum and diamond ring from the 1920s was the top lot of the sale at $19,550.

 J.K. Galleries sold 100 % of the Lalique lots in the two day sale. This Rene Lalique carafe, No. 315, with original masque sold for $2,415.

This signed gold mouse on a wedge of cheese, 6in tall, by Steuben sold on the floor for $1,995.

A vintage Pairpoint lamp with hand painted signed shade and original base brought $2,990.

A Roseville Brown Pine Cone floor vase, 15in high, sold over estimate in the room for $1,265.

A 23in tall silver overlay vase from the turn of the century, probably French, brought a winner of $2,750, well over the estimate of $1,200 - $1,600.