Included in Leslie Hindman Auctioneers’ December 14 Post War and Contemporary Art auction is sculpture Metal Negro y Metal by Jesús Rafael Soto. Lot 3,  Jesús Rafael Soto, Metal Negro y Metal, Painted wood, metal and nylon thread, 1969; Estimate $100,000 - $150,000  This sculpture by artist Jesús Rafael Soto will be available in Leslie Hindman Auctioneers' upcoming Post War and Contemporary Art auction. This is the first time the sculpture will be offered for sale since it was purchased by the current owner in 1969, the same year it was made. Venezuelan born Soto is best known for his large-scale installations that draw inspiration from the kinetic and op art movements. Soto’s work often blurs the lines between his interest in movement and also the illusion (accentuate) of movement. This sculpture is one such example of that dynamic. The ca...Read More

It came to me like an unthinkable apparition...the sheer exactness of it all! I felt bamboozled...simply wide eyed! I am talking about the hypnotically decorated New York City townhouse of Neil Patrick Harris and husband David Burtka that I stumbled upon this week. When he isnt winning Tony Awards, filming hit television shows or popping up in movies, Neil Patrick Harris is doing magic. Not only does he serve as the President of the Board of Directors of Hollywoods Magic Castle and performs his own tricks - he collects.    In this edition of Make Room, were helping you to start the ultimate illusionist den of your own. [Disclaimer] Recommendations for hidden passageways will not be given, as that would clearly defeat the purpose. Photo: Neil Patrick Harris and David Burtka’s Harlem townhouse; Architectural Digest Lets begin at the end of th...Read More

Even if you havent seen Casablanca, you've probably quoted it. The famous phrase, "Here's looking at you, kid" that we find ourselves smoothly reciting, was originally ad-libbed by Rick Blaine (Humphrey Bogart) in the most iconic romantic melodrama ever filmed. The timeless classic continues to sweep starry-eyed viewers off of their feet and should one of them happen to be you, we found the perfect chair to catch your fall.  Lot 511, Kathy Callahan, Humphrey Bogart Chair, Plywood and paint, Massachusetts, 1991; Estimate $300 - $500 Dry your eyes! Youll never have to rehearse bitter-sweet goodbyes to Rick Blaine again! Coming up at Skinner, 20th Century Design sale on December 14th is a unique, hand-painted chair depicting Humphrey Bogarts character from Casablanca. How can you resist the design possibilities that this nonchalant stud so coo...Read More

It’s not every day an auction house sells a life size fiberglass cow in a top hat alongside Abraham Lincoln’s signature, a Hadrosaur dinosaur egg, and a New England Queen Anne tall chest. On December 13th, Pook & Pook is going to do just that when they offer up The Eclectic Collection of John Rexroad of Madison, Connecticut, over 300 lots of antique furniture, fine art, clocks, petrified objects, Native American items, ceramics, famous signatures, WWII posters, textiles, trade signs, and more. Lot 231, Life size painted fiberglass cow; Estimate $200 - $300 John Rexroad was born into the field of antiques. Collecting art and antiques has been with him for his entire life.  As a child John was surrounded by historic artifacts and art collected by his grandparents during their world travels. John’s passion for collecting evolved throughout his...Read More

There are enough precious metals burning deep inside Earths core to cover it in a thirteen-foot thick layer of high luster, extremely valuable bedrock (we choose to picture a globe of pure gold). The myriad of magical materials waiting to be mined or violently spit out by volcanic eruptions have fascinated mankind for millennia - especially when its destined for design.  Starting this weekend, Bidsquare will begin the holiday auction season in a series of fine jewelry sales from auction partners such as Leslie Hindman Auctioneers, Fortuna Auction, Rago, Cowans Auctions and Skinner. Here are some upcoming selections that epitomize the extreme beauty of our natural world: Lot 132, Cartier Coral, Diamond, and Emerald Flower Brooch; Estimate $15,000 - $25,000 Blooming inside the catalog at Fortuna Auctions' Magnificent Jewels sale on December 1...Read More

The rooms we love never look as if they came ready-made from a box. They reflect the person who lives within their walls. Ragos Remix - Authentic Style auction on December 2nd is an homage to bucking the norm in favor of authentic style. We (Rago) sat down with Rago’s Design Director, Arlen Sam Brown, to discuss a few of her favorite pieces of décor in the sale and to get some tips on working them into a broad range of design styles. Lot 645, Pair of giltwood fauteuils, French, Late 19th/early 20th c; Estimate $500 - $700 This pair of armchairs is the embodiment of the Remix story - a pair of 100 year old gilt wood fauteuils re-upholstered in a whimsical and contemporary embroidered fabric. You couldn’t ask for a cleaner example of old meets new. Perfect as a pair of french chairs pulled up to a bistro table in the kitchen. Elevate your din...Read More

I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving! December is typically a quiet period for Asian Art, but there are always great items to discover on Bidsquare. First up is Jackson’s International Auctioneers and Appraisers three-day sale of Native American, Asian, European and American Works! Day 1 of the sale takes place on December 5th and features over 500 Asian Works of Art from China, Japan, and the Himalayan Region. Highlighting this sale are two incredible Japanese pieces from the late Meiji Period (1868-1913). Lot 79, A Very Fine Japanese Mixed Metal Bronze Lidded Urn; Estimate $800 - $1,200 One of these is lot 79, A Very Fine Japanese Mixed Metal Bronze Lidded Urn. Standing at a good height of 9.5 inches, the attractive urn has fluted sides containing realistic mixed metal chrysanthemum blooms in silver and gold. The urn’s shoulders a...Read More

Theres one in every family - the person who has (almost) everything! However, we at Bidsquare believe that the impossible, particular and eccentric personalities are the most exciting to surprise. Weve wrapped up an unexpected gift guide that offers determined loved ones with a plethora of present options. With rare and authentic items added everyday, you can bid and browse for that particular "one" without even having to take your slippers off! The Hobbyist Collector: Help someone start their fine print, poster, or vintage sign collection! Book worms will crunch through the pages of our first and limited-edition options while those with the need for speed can cruise happily through catalogs featuring vintage toys, luxury collectibles, and blinking oddities.  Top Row: Lot 677, Rattan Bicycle, Estimate $800 - $1,200; Lot 310, Jim Dine, Hand ...Read More

The majority of coins produced in the United States today are minted in three main cities: Denver, San Francisco and Philadelphia. This was not always the case. Throughout American history, there have been mints in many U.S. cities. Several noteworthy coins in Ragos Coin & Currency (12/02) auction come from the now defunct Charlotte and Dahlonega Mints. In the period before the civil war, the mints at Charlotte and Dahlonega were used exclusively for the production of gold coins. Given its proximity to the first gold mine in the United States, the Charlotte Mint was a natural choice. From 1835 until its capture by the Confederacy in 1873, it produced approximately $5 million in gold coins. While the Confederacy attempted to maintain production at the mint, they were forced to halt as the Southern economy faltered under war-time stress. Exam...Read More

You would have stopped to watch. Keith Haring, a slender boy in his twenties with a cut-off shirt and circular glasses, briskly exited subway cars armed with white chalk and influence. Between 1980 and 1985 Haring produced hundreds of (illegal) New York City "subway drawings" on unassuming, black matte walls that would have otherwise remained blank and lucky commuters watched him do it.  Public art for all was Harings innermost modus operandi and it would continue to be so after his explosive success and untimely death in 1990 via The Keith Haring Foundation. His iconic illustrations ride on the hind of continuous line and spell out messages of love, war, birth, sex, and life and there isnt a single person they are lost on.   Lot 371, Keith Haring (after) Dinner Service, Set of 29 Pieces, Porcelain, Germany; Estimate $2,000 - $3,000 Coming ...Read More