NEW YORK.-Today at Sotheby's, Important French and Russian Furniture, Works of Art and Porcelain from the , widow of Giovanni Agnelli, the renowned Chairman of Fiat, brought an outstanding total of $14,201,761, exceeding the high estimate of $11 million. Bidders in Sotheby's 7th floor salesroom competed with collectors from around the world on the telephones for a piece of this esteemed collection. Among the many highlights of the sale were an important Louis XVI Ormolu-Mounted Amaranth Bureau Plat by J.F. Leleu which sold to a bidder in the room for $3,816,000 and a highly important French Bronze Roundel celebrating the French victory at The Battle of St. Gothard, circa 1685, which soared past the high estimate of $600,000 to sell to a Parisian dealer for $2,808,000.

"It has been a privilege to offer property from Marella Agnelli's collection," commented James G. Niven, Vice Chairman of Sotheby's. "Her extraordinary eye and legendary style was evident throughout, and collectors responded with great enthusiasm."

Highlighting a small, but significant offering of porcelain from the Agnelli Collection was a Large Five-Piece Blue and White Garniture which sold to a European buyer for $265,600, well exceeding the high estimate of $120,000. Also featured was an Important Pair of Naples Ormolu-Mounted Monteiths from the 'Servizio Ercolanese', circa 1781-82, which brought $187,200. Commissioned by Ferdinand IV, King of the Two Sicilies, as a gift for his father Charles III, King of Spain, the monteiths were purchased by The Ministry of Culture of Spain.

Bidding was fierce for a very interesting group of Russian 18th and 19th century porcelain, which featured fine examples from the Imperial porcelain manufactory in St Petersburg, including pieces from the 'Yacht,' 'Arabesque' and 'Kremlin' services. A set of twenty-four Russian Porcelain Dinner Plates from 'The Arabesque Service', was sought-after by as many as five bidders, finally selling for $131,200, more than four times the high estimate of $30,000. A set of six Russian Porcelain Military Plates, also made by the Imperial porcelain manufactory in St. Petersburg, brought an outstanding $176,000, well above a pre-sale estimate of $24/36,000.

A Pair of Louis XVI Japanese Lacquer cabinets on stands by Claude-Charles Saunier, circa 1785 from the drawing room of the Agnelli's New York apartment was also among the highlights of today's sale, bringing $848,000 against a high estimate of $600,000.