I don't think he's greedy.  15% of appreciated isn't that much:  assuming the current auction settles for $2500, and in the next auction it sells for $2600, then that's only $15.  I suspect agent's fees are usually a % of total, not a % of the diff.  And if in the subsequent auction it sells for $2400, then that's $0 commission.<p>The contract declares the box to be no longer "A Work Of Art" should the contract terminate.  But I don't think that means it's worth nothing.  Ex-works-of-art are pretty rare.<p>Who here knows about an art work titled "Erased de Kooning Drawing" ?