FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Josh Chait
310.285.0182
josh@chait.com

GRAND TURN-OUT FOR I.M. CHAIT GALLERY’S FEBRUARY 20TH INTERNATIONAL AND ASIAN FINE ART SALE!

View Sale

Lot 201

Beverly Hills, CA, February 21st 2005 - Nearly four hundred in room, absentee, phone, and internet bidders from all over the world vied for a chance to take home one of the many great artifacts put up for auction in yesterdays highly-successful sale.

Of the many 20th century Spanish painters, Emilio Grau Sala is one of the acclaimed artists that stand separate from the rest. Born in 1911, Sala is known for his colorful still life and figure paintings and created many wonderful works until his death in 1975. The sale offered a wonderful oil on canvas painting by Sala. Entitled “Honfleur”, signed on the lower left and dated 1963, this stunning piece fetched an impressive $35,250.00.

Several lots of interest during the sale were those of the great Samurai sword. The Chait Gallery had a proud offering of these magnificent treasures from Japan. Hand-forged and crafted, the countless hours spent to create a Samurai blade is considered to be a sacred act.

To this day, Samurai swords are revered by historians, sword collectors and the public alike. One of the lots was a Samurai long sword (KATANA) that dates back pre-1596 (Koto Katana) by Kane-yoshi, Muromachi era Circa 1450, accompanied by an August 2004 Nihon Bijutsu Token Hozon Kai, "Hozon" origami; with a second older shirasaya with sayagaki held together by a "tsunagi", at or around Heian or Kamakura era. This fine piece sold for $5,287.50.

Other items that generated much interest:

Lot 205
XUANDE IMPERIAL DRAGON DISH

Chinese Ming Dynasty Xuande mark and of the Period, imperial blue and white dragon dish, with central medallion of writhing dragon, the exterior with two dragons amid clouds; D: 7 3/4" sold for $8,225.00.

Lot 297
CHINESE JADEITE CRAB BASKET

Well carved and with fine light and apple green, together with rust color, Chinese jadeite "crab basket", crabs walking amid foliage, wood carved wave-form stand. Sold for $1,468.00.

Lot 322
MASSIVE CHINESE JADEITE GROUP

Large Chinese carved jadeite group of boys playing amid lotus, fungus and barrel overflowing with “money” taels; with a barber off to one side cutting the hair of one of the boys; L:13 1/6” massive wood stand. Sold for $4,700.00.

Lot 336
CARVED WHITE JADE LION

Very finely detailed and of very fine even color, Chinese carved white jade model of a lion with cub, good detailing allover, fine wood stand. Sold for $2,937.50.

Lot 163
PAIR ADORNED IVORY ELEPHANTS

Pair of well carved ivory models of caparisoned elephants, each in ornate 14K gold strappings, inset with various semi-precious stones including turquoise, coral, lapis lazuli, emeralds and rubies, with chairs and umbrellas each L: 4", wood stands, lucite box. Sold for $3,231.25.

Lot 96
ANTIQUE FLINTLOCK PISTOL BY DURS EGG

Antique flintlock pistol by Durs Egg (British, 1748-1831), original and fully functional with engraved details and D. Egg, accompanied by two powder horns and silver oil bottle in a case, all of later date. Sold for $2,937.50.

Lot 93
ANTIQUE FRENCH NAPOLEONIC INFANTRY OFFICERS SWORD

Antique French Napoleonic Infantry Officers Sword from the first Empire Period, mounted with a single "D" guard, lion head pommel and ebony grip, the curved blade engraved with unit designation and retaining most of the original bluing and gold; leather scabbard is brass fitted; L: 29" (blade), 36" (overall). Sold for $1,645.00.

Lot 274
PAUL JACOULET PRINT

Fine Paul Jacoulet (French, 1902-1960) print, "Premier Amour, Yap Ouest Carolines" depicting a semi-nude beauty in relaxed pose, good mica ground, pencil signed and with seal, 12" x 15 1/2". Sold for $2,467.50.

Lot 198
EARLY HAN BRONZE HORSE HEAD

Extremely rare, Chinese early Han Dynasty bronze horse head of unusually large size, with strong and expressive stylized features, with flared nostrils and gaping mouth; L: 12”. Sold for $20,562.50.

Lot 202
IMPORTANT MASSIVE MING BLUE AND WHITE JAR

Important, massive and beautifully executed, Chinese Ming Dynasty blue and white porcelain jar of "windswept" pattern, Circa 1500; the body with various typical figural designs in landscape, floral and usual detailed borders; H: 15 1/4". Sold for $23,500.00.

I.M. Chait Gallery will host an Antiques and Estates sale this Sunday, the 27th of February 2005. For more information on the Chait Gallery and future auctions, please call 310 285 0182, or visit our website at www.chait.com