Those into high-end jewelry are eager for Leslie Hindman Auctioneers to hold their two-day Important Jewelry sale. The catalog is loaded with top draw stones and cutting-edge design, all curated by experts, so demand is guaranteed to be high. Lot 132 is sure to be one of the stars of the sale – an exquisite Golconda-type diamond and ruby ring. Containing a potentially flawless octagonal step cut diamond, plus six baguette-cut diamonds, the ring gets real pop from its eye-catching array of square and rectangular mixed cut rubies. Youll be in grand company once you snare Lot 437 - a platinum, diamond and tsavorite garnet bangle bracelet from Van Cleef & Arpels. Founded in 1896 by Alfred Van Cleef and his uncle Salomon Arpels in Paris, the wares of the iconic French house has been worn by style icons such as Empress Farah, the Duchess of Winds...Read More

Harry Houdinis grand illusions and daring, spectacular escape acts made him one of the most famous magicians of all time. Through the years, Houdini gained fame after repeatedly escaping from police handcuffs and jails. Harry was even given certificates from various wardens for escaping from their prisons. After making his name in America, Harry toured Europe, where he expanded his repertoire by escaping from straitjackets and coffins. Eventually, Harry was able to accomplish his dream of having a full show dedicated to his magic. Harry Houdini, born Erich Weisz on March 24, 1874, in Budapest, Hungary A previously unknown manuscript by horror and sci-fi master H.P. Lovecraft, for a work that was commissioned by magician Harry Houdini, has been discovered and is coming up for auction on April 9. The 1926 work, “The Cancer of Superstition,” i...Read More

We’re almost at the end of another exciting Asia Week in New York City! Asia Week is the annual March pilgrimage to Manhattan for Asian Art lovers. From the 10th-19th visitors were able to visit exhibitions, lectures and auctions. The participants included over ten museums, five auction houses, and at least forty Asian Art dealers. A guardian kings head, part of “Kamakura: Realism and Spirituality in the Sculpture of Japan” at Asia Society. Credit Byron Smith for The New York Times  Some quick highlights include the transcendent exhibition “Kamakura: Realism and Spirituality in the Sculpture of Japan” at the Asia Society. The show features over thirty top-quality Buddhist sculptures from the Kamakura Period (1185-1333). At the Rubin Museum, visitors will see the new and improved “Buddhist Shrine Room” and the contemporary artist Genesis Bry...Read More

Back before Reality TV made the ridiculous seem normal, the traveling circus was the bastion of the weird and wonderful. People came from miles around hoping to see not only exotic animals, clowns and trapeze, but also acts promoted as breathtaking and bizarre. Bearded-ladies, half men-half women, the Incredible Snake Boy, this was the fare promoters traded in, and in a world lacking television or Internet, the tool used to sell tickets with greatest effect was the circus banner. Snap Wyatt was the king of the circus banner. From the 30s through the 60s his massive canvases were on display all over the country, luring punters in with their fantastic tales. At the time no one really valued these pieces as art, yet today, as nostalgia for that bygone era increases, Wyatt’s colorful creations are in huge demand whenever they appear at online a...Read More

Bidsquare and the Association of Professional Art Advisors are pleased to present the first session in One Art Nations four-part webinar series: The Four Stages of Collecting. Part I, Before You Buy will discuss the best way to embark on your journey as a collector. On Tuesday, March 22, Meghan Fox Kelly will discuss how to create a meaningful collection based on your personal needs, interests and resources. Well be explaining the finer details of the acquisition process and how you can benefit from services of an experienced advisor even before you make that first purchase. Participants will learn: How to define your unique collection strategy About the tools available to new and experienced collectors When and how to work with a qualified advisor The financial and personal commitment involved in collecting art Art collectors of all levels...Read More

Comic strip buffs will be out in force on Friday, March 18, when Brunk Auctions hold their Jewelry, Modern & Southern sale. Nestled in among the 254 lots on offer are four sets of "Popeye the Sailor" story board drawings, plus one "Casper the Friendly Ghost" story board. These are extremely rare offerings from the golden age of American animation sure to have collectors licking their chops in anticipation. Elzie Crisler Segar created Popeye in 1929, when he first appeared in the daily King Features comic strip "Thimble Theatre." Although the strip was in its 10th year when Popeye made his debut, the one-eyed sailor with the spinach obsession quickly became the star. Aside from comic strips, Popeye would go on to appear in theatrical and television animated cartoons, and in 2002, TV Guide ranked him #20 on its "50 Greatest Cartoon Characters...Read More

With a mission to celebrate and promote Asian art in NYC, the eighth edition of Asia Week New York kicks off March 10 and runs through to the 19th. A collaboration of top-tier Asian art specialists, auction houses, museums and Asian cultural institutions, Asia Week New York presents one non-stop, event-filled week, drawing collectors and curators from every corner of the U.S. and beyond. Here at Bidsquare, we’re doing our bit by auctioning off a stunning array of Asian collectibles, both from China and beyond. Our auction houses are presenting sales filled with premium Asian works of art, offering bidders a gilt-edged opportunity to either add to or build on their collections from the Far East. 2016 celebrates the Year of the Monkey, the ninth in the 12-year cycle of the Chinese zodiac. The monkey has always been a positive symbol in Chines...Read More

Keith Haring (1958-1990) had a short but impressive career. No other artist has left a creative signature on the world like Keith Haring. His iconic imagery adorns the walls of galleries, museums and private collections across the world. Painting and drawing from an early age Haring was inspired by his cartoonist father; though he abandoned his first formal arts education and shied away from becoming a commercial graphic artist to pursue a life that was part of the thriving alternative sub culture of 80s New York. Keith Haring, Photo Source: My TFI News Artists were beginning to work outside of the confines of the gallery, taking their work to the streets, subways and former dance halls. During this time he formed artistic alliances with fellow artists Kenny Scharf and Jean-Michel Basquiat all of whom explored graffiti and developed strong ...Read More

The original U.S. Navy diving helmet remains an absolute design classic. Resembling something lifted out of a B-grade Hollywood sci-fi flick from the 1950s, it was developed in 1916 in a drastic attempt to improve the Navy’s inefficient diving equipment and techniques. So good was the helmets design that it wasn’t replaced until 1984, when a lighter fiberglass model was introduced. On Thursday, March 3, Cowan’s Auctions offers bidders the opportunity to chanel their inner Jules Verne when they offer Lot 239 of their Firearms & Accoutrements sale. Dated August, 1949, this U.S. Navy dive helmet is constructed of brass and copper, and has glass viewing windows. The piece has been refitted and polished and comes with a stylish wooden stand. Lot 239 is just one of the many eye-catching lots up for grabs in this Cowan’s sale, beyond a deep catalo...Read More

Lino Tagliapietra sketches his designs in advance, but his approach seeks spontaneous perfection during the glassblowing process. As one profiler has written, "most of his decisions are made in front of the furnace”. With Venetian glass in his blood, Tagliapietra began working with glass at a young age at the island’s glass furnaces and factories. Born in Murano, Italy, an island with a history of glass-making that dates from 1291, Tagliapietra became well versed in the Venetian glass trade secrets. His work has brought him across the globe. Tagliapeitra’s impressive resume as a teacher and mentor has played a key role in the international exchange of glassblowing processes and techniques between the principal American centers and his native Murano. His influence is also apparent in China, Japan, Australia and around the world. Lino Tagliap...Read More