Sold at Kodner Galleries
Russ Kodner
Miami, FL – November 13, 2013 – And to the highest bidder goes … Every three weeks, starting January 8, Kodner Galleries puts its treasures up for auction. The gallery comes courtesy of Russ Kodner, who says he’s been in the auction game since he was a kid, as well as being a GIA Certified Gemologist, which comes in handy when jewelry rolls in. “The business was started in 1906. I have done just about every job at the gallery from loading trucks to appraising fine works of art and amazing estate jewelry. The business has grown enormously. Now I run the business with my professional staff of appraisers/catalogers, photographers, IT manager, packing and shipping department, office staff and a whole crew to load the trucks.”
Russ Kodner
What does running an auction house entail, exactly? First and foremost it requires finding items others simply can’t live without. Those items come courtesy of collectors who wish to make space for new items or hope to pick up a little extra cash. Those items are then picked up at daily house and estate calls, as well as consignment pieces being accepted at the Dania Beach gallery, where there are appraisers available to price everything from fine art prints to vintage Rolls Royces.
In the past, the gallery has received what Kodner calls “a huge assortment of extraordinary things,” like old master paintings, Bernie Madoff property, huge diamonds, 18th Century French furniture, Chinese-carved jade snuff bottles, all selling for $100,00-plus. As for the most bizarre things Kodner has ever come across he recalls, a collection of toothpick holders selling for more than $100,000 and a silver pickle fork valued at $50 to $100 going for more than $4,000.
While those rarities make for great auction fodder and interesting tales, Kodner says what tends to sell the best are big name brands like Cartier, Tiffany, Louis Vuitton, Lalique, etc., “Names everyone recognizes as high quality,” he says.
If you should happen to stumble across an unwanted treasure in your own home, Kodner says call the gallery at 954-925-2550 or bring it in. Or, if you prefer to turn one man’s castoffs into your treasure, save the date to raise your paddle for the second week of January.
Marysol Patton
