Presidents' Day at the Palm Beach Jewelry, Art & Antique Show attracted thousands of enthusiastic collectors eager to admire the more than 200,000 items on display, including fine art, sculpture, furniture, silver, textiles, bronze, antique and estate jewelry, objets d'art, porcelain, ceramics, pottery, watches, clocks, Asian art and antiques, glass and more ranging in date from the antiquities to the 20th century.

TV personality Regis Philbin and his wife, Joy, were among the thousands of attendees at the show on Monday. "This show is very refreshing," said Regis Philbin. "It's laid out very nicely and the prices are right."

Sales were strong throughout Monday's show and dealers were once again pleased with the array of serious collectors shopping the show floor.

"We've never missed a show," said Sherry Sheaf of Sherry Sheaf & Company. "The attendees understand fine jewelry and, consequently, keep raising the bar on quality product and detailed service. For this reason we've branded our exhibit exclusively with VHERNIER, the hottest contemporary Italian jewelry designer."

Annamaria Castracane, managing director of VHERNIER USA adds, "The booth has generated an infectious vibe among show goers. Our showroom-style layout and avant-garde collection has drawn people in by the masses.  We look forward to the final outcome."

James Butterworth of Antique American Wicker also commented, "We're having a wonderful show. It's been wall-to-wall people, and like every other year, we've done well. This is our favorite show."

"We are certainly into six figures and still have some nice large deals pending," adds Howard Brassner of Art Link International.

Sales highlights of the day include:

Pierre/Famille sold a set of very important diamond and opal cufflinks, circa 1910, that had an asking price of $25,000.

Jeff R. Bridgman American Antiques sold two great civil war flags and a wonderfully carved eagle dating to the last quarter of the 19th century that came out of a federal courthouse in Columbus, Ohio. In addition, they sold a pair of beaded, doe-skin American Indian-made moccasins with a circular American flag decoration, circa 1880.

Cavalier Galleries sold a Peregrine Heathcote painting titled Moving On that was done especially for this show. "It's been a great show for us," said Ron Cavalier.

Santos sold several Chinese monochrome imperial pieces.

Lion Heart Autographs sold a William Penn land grant for property in Pennsylvania, circa 1685, and a Mark Twain signed photograph, circa 1889.

McCarty Gallery sold a number of paintings, including a Chinese painting by Deng Jianjin titled Portrait of a Young Woman in Landscape. "I've never been in a show where the attendance has been so good," said Mark McCarty.  

Whitley Collection sold a pair of Zeiss German binoculars from World War II. Zeiss is considered the ultimate makers of optical instruments.

French Country UK sold several pieces, including a French 17th-century stone lion with a regal crown from a chateau in Burgundy, circa 1695, and a French 18th-century papier peint chinoiserie screen depicting the story of Theses and Ariadne, circa 1760.

Valerio Antiques sold a solid mahogany-framed buffet veneered in Makassar Ebony with details in nickel-plated metal and a Portoro marble top by Maurice Rinck, made in France, circa 1930.

The Palm Beach Jewelry, Art & Antique Show runs Saturday, February 19 - Tuesday, February 22 at the Palm Beach County Convention Center. Hours are Saturday - Monday from 11:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. and Tuesday from 11:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. Tickets are $15 and include admission into the show's educational lecture series. For more information, please call 561.822.5440 or visit www.palmbeachshow.com.