by Brook S. Mason

Long the winter retreat for the wealthy, from the Kennedys and Huttons to the Dodges, Palm Beach, Florida, now boasts a new glittering asset, the Palm Beach International Art & Antique Fair.

In its third year, the fair, held on January 28-February 7, racked up impressive sales with a number of dealers reporting multimillion-dollar sales. It attracted 84 dealers, including 30 from England, and others from France, Austria, Belgium, and Germany, as well as a strong New York contingent.

In total, 39,000 visitors attended the fair. That's a hefty figure, considering New York City's Winter Antiques Show, one of the nation's oldest events, brings in 25,000. The Palm Beach fair has come a long way since its first year began with 42 dealers and 23,000 visitors.

How high were the sales? London dealer Leslie Waddington wrote up multimillions in sales for a 1939 Picasso oil portrait, a di Chirico oil, a Matisse drawing, and a Henry Moore sculpture.

Sculpture at a number of varying price points sold briskly. From Palm Beach dealer Irving Luntz, pieces with six-figure price tags were purchased. He reported selling a Miró, a Dubuffet, and a Lipchitz sculpture. "Clients are looking for works that are distinguished," he said.

London dealer Robert Bowman sold a total of 14 bronzes and marbles by both 19th- and 20th-century sculptors such as George Frampton, P.J. Mene, and Enzo Piazzetta in the $50,000 and under range. Animalier pieces were favored. "Even though clients spend less than two months of the year at their Palm Beach houses, they want strong, signed pieces," Bowman said. "A number of people particularly asked for Western pieces, cowboys and Indians," he added. Next year, he plans to bring bronzes in that manner by American sculptor Charles Humphriss.

The clientele cruising the aisles buoyed such sales. Spotted were Sotheby's CEO Alfred Taubman and his wife, C.Z. Guest, financier Ronald Perelman, plus David and Julia Koch. Latin Americans such as Pepe and Emilia Fanjul were also part of the mix. Decorators scoured the booths. Mario Buatta, Betty Sherrill, Juan Pablo Molyneux, and Tino Sevrogudachi of the London-based Mlinaric firm attended.

American Impressionists were featured by a number of dealers. Spanierman Gallery, New York City, offered four dappled sunlit oils by Theodore Robinson. His October Sunlight of a young girl sewing was priced at $850,000. Edward Potthast was also strongly represented. Hammer Galleries had paintings by George Innes and "Grandma" Moses.

In addition to paintings, shoppers favored the decorative arts. Long touted by the legendary Jayne Wrightsman, French antique wallpaper panels and period wallpaper sold briskly. Paris dealer Carolle Thibaut-Pomerantz wrote up a set of Dufour's Monuments of Paris from 1812 for $65,000 and Art Deco woodblock-printed wallpaper from 1928 for $25,000. In addition, she sold several Mandarin glass ball table lamps, popularized by Chanel, at $4000 each.

Another aspect of Palm Beach taste is Continental furniture. Ariane Dandois of Paris sold three sets of consoles, all heavily rococo, including a Neapolitan console in white and gold for $150,000. "Clients here buy four or five things at once," noted Dandois. New York City's Florian Papp also reported heavy sales. "By the end of the fair, we only had three pieces left," said Mindy Papp.

Clearly, Americana is not a strong component of the Palm Beach taste. There was no Federal furniture in sight. Asprey & Garrard of London, New York City, and Beverly Hills, featured a uniquely American piece, a silver seal of the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts headed by the Reverend Thomas Bray. Dated 1770, the solid silver seal, weighing 30 ounces, is important historically in terms of the founding of our public library system. By the end of the fair, the hand-engraved seal priced at $145,000 had not found a buyer.

Of course, jewelry sold well with a total of ten jewelry dealers participating. Fred Leighton, who has a shop on New York City's Madison Avenue and another at Bellagio in Las Vegas, reported seven-figure sales. Nineteenth-century jewelry with cushion diamonds was popular with clients, but Leighton also sold four sets of new jewelry in the style of Verdura for $100,000 a set.

Arms and armor are also part of the Palm Beach taste. British dealer Peter Finer, who routinely participates in the Winter Antiques Show, totaled more than 50 sales. Swords, sabers, and crossbows, even a pair of 1690 Dutch pistols for $145,000, were snapped up. He sold a set of 48 German engravings of shields to a Massachusetts decorator.

Oriental ceramics and enamels sold. A number of Qianlong pieces were sold by Cohen & Cohen of London. "The clients here are extremely knowledgeable," said Michael Cohen. David Cole of Orientations Gallery, New York City, packed up a distinctive 14.3 inches tall cloisonné enamel vase in pale, graduated aquamarine with carp worked in gold wire. The vase, signed with the seal of Ando Jubei, had an applied silver rim and foot. The price was in the five figures.

David Lester, the show organizer, was naturally pleased by such spirited sales. Lester also produces the Beverly Hills International Art & Antique Fair and contemporary art shows Art Miami and Art Palm Beach. Currently, he has two new fairs scheduled for the year 2000, the Aspen International Art & Antique Fair and the Hamptons International Art & Antique Fair. For more information, call (561) 220-2690.