Stephen Fletcher at Skinner shares his insights on beginning to collect antiques and how beneficial it can be for those starting their first homes. While I’ve heard some say “the golden age of antiques collecting is over,” in fact, it’s not over, and for some, it’s just beginning. There’s so much opportunity out there, especially for twenty- or thirty-somethings just starting out and setting up homes. Many members of this generation remain unaware of the antiques world, and often head straight to Pottery Barn, Restoration Hardware, or IKEA for copies of original items we see here at Skinner every day. Things don’t need to be this way. With a little information and effort, younger collectors can acquire affordable antique furnishings, and enjoy living with distinctive works of art and antiques instead of cookie-cutter, mass-produced furnitur...Read More

There was a time, not so long ago, when basic commodities such as coffee and sugar were exceptionally expensive. In the late 18th century and early 19th century, one could tell they were rubbing elbows with the right crowd if a stout, box-like chest with legs and a lock, was seen on display in an entertainers' home. Found primarily in Kentucky, Tennessee and North Carolina, the case piece that has gone from a functional symbol of wealth to a charming collectible is the wonderfully sweet, American sugar chest.  Lot 222, Kentucky Cherry Sugar Chest, 19th Century; Estimate $3,000 - $5,000 Due to the high cost of sugar, only distinguished homes had the means to acquire it. This brought fourth a wave of smartly designed chests made of fine woods such as cherry and walnut, complete with bottom drawers and a flat top. Antique Sugar chests could al...Read More

It's not everyday that the 'unreserved' gods shine down upon the auction block. This past weekend, on February 23rd-25th, Bidsquare users jumped at the opportunity to acquire affordable goods during Rago's Unreserved Session 1, Session 2 and Session 3 sales. The sprinkle of activity coming in from the platform quickly developed into a gleeful downpour, drenching lovers of modern design in their favorite makers from Gio Pointi to Harvery Prober and Verner Panton! Here are some of our favorite finds that were scooped up on Bidsquare: Lot 1420, George Nelson; Howard Miller, "Spike" electric wall clock, Zeeland, MI, 1950s; Sold for $544 We had our eyes on both of the George Nelson; Howard Miller "Spike" clocks featured in Rago's catalog, and this one was handed to the Bidsquare platform right in the nick of time!  Lot 1782, Style of Sam Maloof,...Read More

After a short winter break, the Asian Art auction market resumes in full-force during the month of March. Bidsquare will showcase many Asian-themed auctions, including the highly anticipated Asian Works of Art sale on March 16th at Skinner.  This sale contains over 540 lots from the various regions of Asia including China, Japan, Korea, the Himalayas, India and the Islamic World. All of the essential categories are covered from ceramics, furniture, porcelain, jade carvings, paintings, textiles, woodblock prints and metalwork.  Lot 237, Nephrite Jade Openwork Carving, China; Estimate $10,000 - $12,000 In the Chinese section of the sale, one of the most impressive pieces is lot 237, a Nephrite Openwork Carving. This endearing scene of two ladies on a heavenly river raft is expertly carved from a fine piece of pale celadon jade. The carving co...Read More

When the Museum of Modern Art purchased William de Kooning's Woman, I in 1953, the collection committee is said to have admitted that it was "quite frightening" - many of de Kooning's peers also sensed a violent, even misogynistic handling of the female figure. Despite its seemingly insensitive execution, the painting was, no doubt, a modern masterwork. Standing at an unignorable six-feet- high by five-feet-wide, the deranged, gopher-toothed female presence was demanding, riveting and well…somewhat expected. The painted female figure had been making rebels out of men for over a century by the time William de Kooning took a stab at her; Edouard Manet's 1863 Olympia being one of many influential examples. Oddly, it seems a subject that will never be exhausted. The treatment of "woman as art," remains the perfect vessel for portraying a spectr...Read More

Whimsical, refined, unexpected; for collectors of American decorative arts and furniture, catalogs like the one coming up at Skinner are exactly what one needs to get the wheels of intrigue spinning. Artworks and objects point to specific events and persons, highlighting inventive craftsmanship and the tenacious colonization of our recent past.  We called upon Skinners’ Associate Deputy Director for American Furniture & Decorative Arts and Historic Arms & Militaria Specialist, Christopher Fox, for guidance and insights into their much-anticipated American Furniture & Decorative Arts sale coming up on March 3rd. Lot 48, Remarkable Pieced and Appliqued Cotton Civil War Memorial Quilt; Estimate $100,000 - $150,000 BSQ: Two of the highest estimates in your upcoming auction are for antique quilts, each having their own special story. One of them...Read More

On March 3rd, Potter & Potter Auctions will be offering, 'The Magic Collection of John Daniel' for auction. John Daniel was a well-known magician and an extraordinary collector and dealer of all things magic-related. This auction contains 491 pieces of magic memorabilia from his collection including vintage posters and photographs, books, props, equipment and costumes.  From an Asian Art perspective, some of the more interesting items in this sale are the silk embroidered Chinese dragon robes from the 19th Century that were actually worn by magicians during their shows. Lot 304, Virgil’s Chinese Imperial Chestnut Dragon Robe; Estimate $2,000 - $3,000 The first dragon robe is lot 304, Virgil’s Imperial Chestnut Dragon Robe. Made in the second half of the 19th Century, the brown tone denotes a duke wore this garment. The robe is typical in it...Read More

In the present era of excessiveness, where daily news has been replaced by minute-to-minute hearsay and same day delivery still isn't fast enough, nostalgia seems to be making an ironic comeback. Retro technology is trending; vinyl records, turntables, film cameras, vintage videogame consoles, etc. It appears that when Millennials come up for air from the depths of their phones, they are looking to appreciate the media that came before them - objects with manual interaction and a single function.   Although, major retailers like Urban Outfitters are aiding in the effort to redistribute first generation technology and fashion, auctions remain the best place to find the genuine article. Let's be honest, it feels good to take a step back and simplify every now and then. Here are 5 things you didn't know you needed, coming up on Bidsquare: 1. N...Read More

Concert promoter and impresario, Bill Graham organized, produced and marketed rock music from the mid-1960’s until his untimely death in a 1991 helicopter crash. Over the course of a career that spanned nearly three decades, Bill Graham promoted a Hall of Fame of rock and folk music stars. The Grateful Dead, Janis Joplin (with and without Big Brother and The Holding Company), and Jefferson Airplane are among the bands with whom he is most closely associated. Many of the performances Bill Graham promoted were held at the now historic Fillmore and Winterland Arena in San Francisco and nearly all were heralded by bright, bold and brilliantly designed concert posters produced by prominent artists contracted by Graham. These “Bill Graham Presents” concert posters are among the most collectibles artifact of Bill Graham’s music legacy and have bee...Read More

When it comes to metalwork, the age, value and character of an object can be mistakenly lifted away with one fell swoop of a Lysol wipe. For instance, if you have or happen to uncover your great-grandmothers' Tiffany Studios candlestick holders, we command you to drop the polish! Antique sculptures and decorative objects develop what is known as a “patina” (pa-TEEN-uh) over the course of time. A patina refers to surface changes caused by chemical reactions, dirt buildup, scratches or any other naturally occurring events. However, when it comes to metal castings in materials such as copper or bronze, an artist often chooses a finish right away; and that becomes its original and most valued patina. Color choice, texture and finish are an integral part of the artwork and collectors simply swoon over patina’s that are left undisturbed.  For thi...Read More