It was just like an auction is supposed to be when a selection of Chinese jades crossed the block at Grogan & Company on April 19. Overseas interest was high: a group of buyers from China were present, the phones were fully staffed and the Internet was jumping.

A carved gray jade covered bowl with dragon mask ring handles on the body and elephant trunk handles to the domed cover sold on the phone for $184,000. Bidding on two carved jade coupes opened at $2,000 and jumped to $50,000 only to settle at $155,250 when another phone bidder prevailed. The gray example was carved with a dragon and two climbing chih lung on cloud bands; the other, a white jade example had four scroll feet, each with a boy holding an insect.

A complete report of the sale will appear in a future edition. ‼i>Frances Mascolo