PHOTOS BY DANI EL LI PPM

graphed posters commemorating the 1996
Olympic Games. The items range in value
from $20 to $1,000.
Eli's Wine Company of Royal Oak, along
with private collectors, donated fine wines
that can be bid on by the bottle or the case.
Last year's first spring fund-raiser fea-
tured a silent auction of artwork by local
artists. The deals were good, says Paul Sil-
verman, co-chair of the 20/30 League, but
this year's auction has more breadth.
"We have artwork that is more recog-
nizable and user friendly. People are in a
gallery, but they get to play. They could

Above:
A collection of antique tin litho friction cars.

Right:
A Tiffany clock from the turn of the century should garner the top price at
the Royal Oak Auction House and Gallery May 19.

Below:
Fine arts dealer Tracey Conn and Fanclub Foundation for the Arts 20/30
League co-chair Paul Silverman are gearing up for Thursday's silent
auction and gala.

walk away with a $1,000 item for $200,"
he says.
A silent auction works this way: Items
are set up with cards bearing their de-

scription and market value. Bidders write
in their name, address and offer on another
card. The highest bidder gets the item —
no yelling or nail-biting involved.

Jazz ensemble Punch 'n' Kitty will pro-
vide the entertainment.
Last year, the silent auction raised about
$1,500.

Going Once
Going Twice
SOLD!

Gamblers who can't afford to lose may find their
bliss at two upcoming auctions:

• Royal Oak Auction House and
Gallery, 600 E. 11 Mile Road, is hosting a
live auction at noon Sunday, May 19. A
preview of the thousands of items up for
bid will be held 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday,
May 18, and 11 a.m.-noon Sunday, May
19. There is no admission charge for the
auction itself, but a catalogue that de-
scribes some of the major items up for bid
is available for a small fee. For informa-
tion, call (810) 398-0646.

• 20/30 League of Fanclub Foundation
for the Arts is hosting a silent auction of
artwork and fine wines at its 2nd Annual
Spring Fund-Raiser at the Townsend Ho-
tel in Birmingham. The party, which in-
cludes hors d'oeuvres, desserts and jazz by
Punch 'n' Kitty, gets going at 7:30 p.m.
Thursday, May 23. Tickets are $25. For in-
formation, call (810) 988-OFAN.

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