Date: Fri 09-Apr-1999

Publication: Ant

Author: CAROLL

Quick Words:

Braswell

Full Text:

Braswell Galleries Auctions Items From First Lady Of China

with 4 cuts

NORWALK, CONN. -- Property from a former residence of Madame Chiang Kai-shek

was sold by Braswell Galleries during an eight-hour bidding frenzy.

The sale, originally scheduled to be a part of Braswell Galleries annual New

Year's Auction, was re-scheduled as a single-owner event due to the

overwhelming interest shown at the firm's December preview at the mansion.

The former first lady of China had previously resided in a Lattington, Long

Island mansion and has taken up primary residence in Manhattan.

Within one hour after opening the mansion, it was estimated there were over

1,200 people waiting in line for entrance; less than one hour after preview

opened, the unexpected and overwhelming turnout led gallery owner Gary

Braswell -- for safety and traffic control reasons -- to close the exhibition.

The gallery also responded with additional staff in an effort to deter

hundreds who parked as far as two and a half miles away and walked to the

site.

Despite those measures and local traffic control, the entire town was

overwhelmed by the crowds. Police and newspapers estimated that as many as

20,000 people were turned away as traffic backed up to the Long Island

Expressway exit and onto the Long Island Expressway almost ten miles away. The

massive turnout drew the attention of The New York Times, USA Today, the

London Financial Times, Reuters News Service, The Worldpress and other Chinese

and Taiwanese press.

Although Braswell felt that the majority of those who made the trip were

primarily interested in seeing Madame's former residence, it seemed there

would be more interest in the property than originally anticipated. The

January 30 auction, held in Norwalk, consisted of 727 lots and began with a

standing-room-only crowd and a full press box with international news and film

crews. Buyers could be divided between those bidding for items for their

antique or decorative value and those interested in the items because of their

association with Madame Chiang.

Among the items purchased by the latter group were an ivory handle cane

presented to General Chiang Kai-shek, which realized $3,450; a Neo-classical

styled bedstead from Madame's bedroom, realized $9,200; a group of three

floral ink drawings by Madame, which quickly soared past their estimate of

$400/600 to realize $13,225; and a scroll with an ink drawing depicting a

house atop a mountain landscape, also by Madame (est $300/500), which realized

$24,060.

Antiques and furnishings were highlighted by a bronze automated cathedral

clock, with numerous losses and in poor condition, which found a Pennsylvania

buyer for $73,600 (est $800/1,200). A pair of French chandeliers sold for

$62,500. An antique Chinese scroll depicting a mountainous landscape realized

$7,475.

An oil on canvas by Liu Hai Su, titled "St Gingolph, Les Gorges de La Morge,"

sailed well beyond a presale estimate of $200/400 to realize $16,100. An

Eighteenth Century oil on canvas of a seated woman in a blue dress realized

$5,750; an oil on canvas depicting Chinese fisherman, illegibly signed (est

$400/600), realized $13,800.

Furniture comprised only some two dozen items, as Madame moved most pieces to

Manhattan. Offerings still found very active interest, however, led by a pair

of mahogany console tables fetching $10,925; a Georgian mahogany armchair

bringing $2,875; and a Nineteenth Century classical, Empire-style bergere

realizing $6,000.

Auctioneers Warren Adler and Gary Braswell kept a somewhat slower pace than

the gallery's typical 150 to 170 lots per hour, due to the crowd, many of whom

spoke little or no English.

"It was easy to know when you needed to slow down the pace a bit, [as there

was] a confused or questioning look on a bidder's face," said Adler.

The entire staff, including Kathy Braswell, gallery manager, was very happy

and relieved to have the sale behind them. Those in attendance were very

cooperative and polite, however with all the press attention, the overwhelming

on-site preview, and the communication difficulties arising from dealing with

bidders from around the world, there was a sense of nervous anticipation

concerning how the sale might proceed, but as the event progressed those fears

were quickly alleviated.

Although the sale was not Braswell's largest, it was certainly one of the most

interesting the firm has ever conducted.

For information, 203/899-7420.