J.K. Galleries’ farewell to Deerfield Beach markedby strong auction prices on jewelry, decorative art

Sept. 27, 2006

DEERFIELD BEACH, Fla. – J. K Galleries’ last auction in Deerfield Beach prior to the company’s 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 10th featured a large collection of Lladro, art, jewelry and crystal and glass including Steuben, Lalique and Waterford. Both sales benefited from significant online bidding through LiveAuctioneers.com.

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 $1,500 in cash 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 2.5-carat 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-carat diamonds and synthetic sapphires, 7in long, brought $8,050; and another diamond and sapphire bracelet brought $7,130. In estate jewelry, a man’s yellow gold 38mm Cartier Pasha watch, all original with exhibition back, sold for $6,900; and an 18K white gold canary diamond ring, 1.5 carats with .75 carats of accent diamonds earned $6,785.

Designs by Tiffany Studios were 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 achieved $2,040 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 by 17in mixed-media composition 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. Consult www.liveauctioneers.com for updates on future sales.

# # #