A large ivory collection from a Miami doctor, the result of a 30-year collecting effort, provided the backbone of a series of sales at Auction Gallery of the Palm Beaches. Auction gallery owner Brian Kogan reported brisk sales to numerous Asian collectors with significant online results.
The June 1 sale marking the gallery’s sixth anniversary sale saw a 55/8-inch-tall Chinese ivory pot brush carved in high relief with elders and attendants climbing rockery with plants and a giant tree close at $1,400. That was followed by a well carved large ivory Rat Zodiac, Chinese, Twentieth Century, signed. The central seated large rat was surrounded by the rest of the figures of the zodiac in high relief. The 41/8-inch-tall figure brought a closing bid of $1,600, and a group of four Chinese carved ivory figures depicting three boys and an elder, all wearing tunics and pants, mounted on wood bases sold for $1,500.
From the same collection in the July 13 sale, a pair of Chinese carved ivory birds, late Nineteenth Century, with well detailed birds perched on a pine tree branch, 75/8 inches high, with carved wood stands brought $2,880; a well carved ivory figure of Shan Lao, Chinese, Nineteenth Century, the immortal with elongated head and flowing beard, wearing a long robe, holding a gnarled staff and a peach, flanked by a crane, made $2,150. A Chinese ivory concentric ball and stand, circa 1850, containing approximately 12 inner loose balls with pierced trellis design, supported by the stand with a standing boy holding a peach below, also sold for $2,150.
In the art category, the big lot of the April sale was a pair of works by Joseph Groupy (French, 1689‱769), the “Sacrifice of Lystra” and “The Charge to Saint Peter,” after Raphael’s tapestry cartoons, gouache on vellum laid down, each measuring 8¼ by 12¾ inches, framed. Estimated at $1/1,500, the pair sold for $4,750. In the June sale the top art lot was a German Royal Berlin KPM porcelain plaque, late Nineteenth Century, impressed KPM, scepter mark and “H,” of a young beauty in an interior wearing a red dress feeding birds perched on a rod. The 19-by-11½-inch plaque in a gilt frame sold for $12,000 to a dealer from Dade County, Fla. It was followed by a pair of oil on board works called “Venetian Views” by Edward Pritchett (English, 1828‱864), each measuring 7 by 8½ inches The pair brought $8,500. The July 13 event boasted an abstract work by Earl Reiback (American, 1948′006) called “Looking Glass,” a 33¾-inch circular infinity mirror originally acquired directly from the artist. Estimated at $600/800, it sold for a surprising bid of $3,600.
The big hitter of all three sales, however, resulted from a cold call to the gallery prior to the April sale. A lady wanted to be sure she had the right opinion on her diamond ring. Kogan invited the caller to visit the gallery and meet with a gemologist, who identified it as a pear-shaped diamond in a platinum ring weighing approximately 12.40 carats, J-K color, SI 1 clarity, flanked by two baguettes weighing approximately 1.30 carats of G-H color and VS clarity.
Satisfied, the lady consigned the ring for sale in the April auction. On sale day, a local phone bidder outlasted three other phone bidders and two gallery bidders with the winning bid of $75,000, within the original estimate.
Kogan said, “Big stone with a big price in hard times. Go figure.”
Prices reported include the buyer’s premium. For information, 561-805-7115 or www.agopb.com .
