Fine art investing in uncertain times.

• Position: Your Life - Brief Article

With ongoing military action overseas and an uncertain stock market at home, many investors are holding back. There is one purchase investors can make with assurance, though--blue-chip fine art. "The phrase `history repeats itself' could not be more true in this case," indicates Jon Kodner, vice president of Kodner Gallery, Ladue, Mo. "During the stock market crash in the late 1920s, rare artwork proved to be a viable and stable asset. Museums, dealers, and collectors competed to obtain great works of art, maintaining consistent activity in the art market."

The Federal government recognizes the strength and stability of blue-chip fine art, he points out. During World War II, the government implemented programs to promote art. "Another interesting fact is that government powers always have seized assets such as fine minerals, gems, and rare art because of their financial strength and security as legitimate assets." Among the reasons blue-chip fine art makes for a wise investment are:

* While businesses may be lost and forgotten, important or established artists remain popular, recognized from a scholarly perspective. Moreover, they hold interest culturally and historically.

* An artist's work is limited to his or her lifespan...