Released on: June 9, 2008, 8:10 am

Press Release Author: Fred & Gail Taylor

Industry: Internet & Online

Press Release Summary: Auction Gallery of the Palm Beaches hosted three major sales
this Spring with impressive results including the biennial Chess Collectors
International sale.

Press Release Body: (WEST PALM BEACH, FL) Brian Kogan, owner of Auction Gallery of
the Palm Beaches, certainly met his goal of the skillful merger of art and commerce
in the three sales in his Gallery in March and May.

For the March 31 sale Kogan presented 376 lots to an inhouse audience of 80
registered bidders and 759 bidders participating through LiveAuctioneers.com. The
inventory ranged from Erte bronzes to French paintings to American and English
antique furniture. The tallest lot in the sale was also the top lot in the sale. A
Federal 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 and
brass finials, a glazed door flanked by reeded columns and a painted metal face
bearing the signature of Cummens. It was followed in the catalog by a pair of
English Regency rosewood card tables with harp bases and rotating "D" shaped tops,
opening to reveal an unlined playing surface. This pair of gamesters attracted 27
bids 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 bombe
form with scroll handle, raised on paw feet and decorated in blue, white and red
flowers closed on the ninth bid at $4,446 while a 33¼in tall marble standing nude
by Prof. Bagnelli (Italian 20th century) made $4,388. An oil on canvas by Louis
Henri 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 based
art form to a narrowly focused event to conduct the biennial auction of Chess
Collectors International on May 1. This sale featured exotic chess sets, memorabilia
and related ephemera from around the world. It was the first CCI sale to be held in
the United States since 2002 and was conducted in conjunction with U.S. Seniors Open
Chess Tournament held in Boca Raton. The 137 lots attracted 50 bidders to the room
and had 82 online through LiveAuctioneers.

The top lot was a unique Japanese 20th century carved ivory set. The two 3¼in tall
kings were each signed with a red seal. One set of competitors was lightly stained
and the other left natural ivory. Each figure represented an activity in traditional
Japanese life. The king was a warlord, the queen held a box, the bishops were ninjas
and 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 bone
figural set, 18th/19th century. Each figure was fitted with a leather hat and all
figures were in period costume. Estimated at $6,000/$8,000, this popular set brought
20 bids and was a nice surprise closing online at $13,420. Most of the remainder of
the lots sold in the $1,500 - $2,500 range.

After the entertaining chess interlude it was time to get back to the serious world
of art. The May 19th event offered 340 lots of art, porcelain, glass and sculpture
mixed with a few pieces of select European antique furniture.

The feature presentation was "Paris Scene" by Jean Dufy (French 1888-1964). The 18¼
by 25¾in gouache work was signed lower right and came with a Certificate of
Authenticity 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 oil
on canvas "Place de la Madeleine" by Constantine Kluge (French 1912-2003). With a
Palm Beach provenance it was estimated at $5,000/$8,000 but after 28 bids it closed
at $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 dated
1984 New York on the reverse. It sold on the phone above estimate at $16,380 and
English 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 and
estimated at $3,000/$4,000, it sold for a delightful $10,530. A 142 piece set of
Georg 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 30
with a major Sporting and Fine Arts auction. For information about this sale and
upcoming sales call (561) 805-7115, email info@agopb.com or visit the website at
www.agopb.com. The Gallery is located at 1609 South Dixie Hwy, Suite 5, West Palm
Beach, Florida 33401.


Web Site: http://www.agopb.com

Contact Details: Auction Gallery of the Palm Beaches
1609 S. Dixie Highway Suite 5
West Palm Beach, FL 33401
561-805-7115