Although nothing is known of the instrument before 1901, Koussevitzky reported having acquired it from a French dealer.

"American and French dealers have not fared much better," he said.

It became the evening's highest-priced work when Catherine Couturier, a French dealer, bought it for $9.9 million.

Mr. Keno made a point to keep in touch with the French dealer.

And I have the radiated tortoises, of course, which I got 45 years ago from a French dealer who couldn't give them away.

As Mr. Marino said: "French dealers do their own thing.

It sent 1,000 cards, made at a cost of about $16 each, to its French dealers as a gift.

This same official was linked with a group of French antique dealers.

He'd made the mistake of telling a French dealer what he planned to do with his paintings.

Vallois, another French dealer, is back for its second year, with a large booth whose walls are covered in parchment-colored undulating paneling.