"The biggest sea change is that this fair has become virtual," said Perry Rubenstein, a Chelsea dealer.

"There are less surprises," said Zach Feuer, the Chelsea dealer.

The gallery bought the sculpture from Paula Cooper, the Chelsea dealer, who had owned it since the artist's death in 1980.

"Before the sale, people were worried about how it would fare," said Christophe van de Weghe, a Chelsea dealer.

On July 1 Roland Augustine, the Chelsea dealer, became the association's president, and for the first time it has appointed an executive director.

"I think people held back," said Barbara Gladstone, a Chelsea dealer.

"There's a lot of money in this world wanting to be spent," said Barbara Gladstone, the Chelsea dealer.

"We wanted a new challenge," said Matthew Marks, the Chelsea dealer who was an organizer of the Gramercy.

Another early Chelsea dealer, Matthew Marks, has three.

Estimated at $500,000 to $700,000, it sold to Jack Tilton, a Chelsea dealer, for $847,500.