Every so often, a sporting moment comes along that people remember exactly where they were when it happened. The 2012 Australian Open final was one of those moments. Now, a tangible piece of that unforgettable match is available to bid on Bidsquare.com: Novak Djokovic’s racquet from the longest Grand Slam final ever played. On January 29, 2012, Djokovic faced Rafael Nadal in the final of the Australian Open, producing a match that would become the longest Grand Slam final in history. Lasting five hours and fifty-three minutes, the match was a physical and mental marathon marked by relentless baseline rallies, extraordinary athleticism, and unwavering resolve from both players. Djokovic ultimately emerged victorious in five sets, securing one of the most significant wins of his career and further defining one of the greatest rivalries in spo...Read More

For collectors of modern art, Derrière le Miroir occupies a unique space between fine art, publishing, and history. Neither a traditional magazine nor a simple exhibition catalog, Derrière le Miroir was a groundbreaking art publication that brought original works by the most important artists of the 20th century directly into collectors’ hands. Published in Paris from 1946 to 1982, Derrière le Miroir remains one of the most influential and collectible art periodicals ever produced; and several exceptional examples are coming to auction soon on Bidsquare. Derrière le Miroir was founded by Aimé Maeght, one of the most important art dealers and publishers of the postwar period. Maeght was the driving force behind Galerie Maeght, which became a central hub for modern masters including Joan Miró, Marc Chagall, Alberto Giacometti, Georges Braque,...Read More

Bold geometry, luxe materials, and unapologetic glamour are back; and this time, they’re not just reserved for penthouses and historic buildings. Art Deco, along with its modern revival Neo Deco, is re-emerging as a powerful decorating trend for today’s interiors. Originally flourishing in the 1920s and 1930s, Art Deco embraced symmetry, craftsmanship, and the belief that beauty and modernity could coexist. Today’s Neo Deco interiors reinterpret those principles with a lighter, more contemporary hand; pairing sculptural forms, geometric silhouettes, and metallic finishes with streamlined spaces. Interior design publications and tastemakers are spotlighting Deco-inspired lighting, decorative objects, and furniture as statement accents that bring personality, confidence, and timeless sophistication into modern homes. Art Deco works best when ...Read More

Long before film, long before snapshots, and long before photography became widely accessible, there was the daguerreotype; an object as much as an image. Introduced in 1839 by Louis Daguerre, the daguerreotype process produced a single, direct-positive photograph on a silver-coated copper plate. Each example is entirely unique, impossibly detailed, and fragile in both material and history. Unlike later photographic formats, daguerreotypes have no negative. What you see is what was made, no reproductions, no editions. This singularity is a major reason they remain so compelling to collectors today. Often housed in velvet-lined leather, wood, or thermoplastic cases, these early photographs were treasured personal objects, meant to be held, protected, and passed down. Visually, daguerreotypes are almost sculptural. Depending on the angle of l...Read More

The estate of Jane Stanton Hitchcock offers an intimate portrait of a woman whose life was defined by intellectual curiosity, cultural engagement, and a deeply personal approach to collecting. A novelist, philanthropist, and lifelong supporter of the arts, Hitchcock moved fluently between literary, artistic, and academic circles, cultivating relationships with artists, writers, and thinkers who shaped the cultural landscape of the late 20th century. Best known for her novels Social Crimes and One Dangerous Lady, Hitchcock brought a storyteller’s sensibility to every aspect of her life, including her collections. Books, artworks, and furnishings were not acquired as status symbols, but as companions in a life devoted to ideas. Her long involvement with major cultural institutions, including serving as a trustee of the Museum of Modern Art, p...Read More

Few decorative arts traditions balance technical mastery and visual drama as effectively as cut glass. From candlelit aristocratic tables to grand chandeliers in European salons, cut glass has long symbolized refinement, craftsmanship, and luxury. Today, antique and vintage examples continue to captivate collectors for their brilliance, weight, and enduring artistry. Cut glass is created by cutting clear or colored glass by hand or wheel to form facets, patterns, and relief designs that refract light. Unlike pressed glass, which is molded, each cut requires precision and permanently alters how light moves through the material, giving cut glass its distinctive sparkle. While early examples date back to Roman times, cut glass reached its artistic peak between the eighteenth and early twentieth centuries, particularly in England, France, and B...Read More

Ruth Henshaw Bascom (1772–1848), affectionately known in her day as “Aunt Ruth,” was one of early America’s most prolific and distinctive folk portraitists. Born in Leicester, Massachusetts, in 1772, Bascom created more than 1,400 life-size profile portraits over the course of her long career; a remarkable output documented meticulously in her lifelong diaries. Unlike formally trained artists of her era, Bascom carved out a unique space in the early 19th-century art world by blending pastel, cut paper, foil, and collage, bringing both charm and psychological presence to her subjects. She worked mainly in New England communities and often created portraits of family, friends, and neighbors, many of whom couldn’t afford typical commissioned artistry. By accepting barter or modest payment, Bascom ensured her art remained a meaningful and acces...Read More

As winter settles in, our homes naturally turn toward comfort. Extra blankets reappear, textiles grow heavier, and interiors take on a more layered, intimate feel. Few antiques feel as seasonally relevant, or as enduringly useful, as the blanket chest. Originally designed to safeguard textiles and personal belongings, it remains a functional and visually compelling form well suited to modern life. Blanket chests first emerged in seventeenth-century Europe, when built-in closets were rare and households relied on sturdy wooden chests to store linens, clothing, and valuables. Often placed at the foot of the bed, these early examples doubled as seating and were built for longevity, featuring dovetail joinery, iron hardware, and flat or lift-top lids that favored durability over ornament. Their importance only grew in America, where early homes...Read More

For centuries, portraits have served as one of art history’s most enduring and revealing forms. From Renaissance depictions of power and patronage to intimate modern studies of identity, portraiture has evolved alongside society itself. Early portraits emphasized status, lineage, and symbolism, often idealizing their subjects to reflect wealth or authority. By the 18th and 19th centuries, artists began to balance technical precision with psychological insight, capturing not just likeness but character and inner life. As modernism emerged, portraiture expanded even further; loosening traditional rules, experimenting with materials, and redefining how artists interpret the human figure. Today, portraits continue to resonate with collectors because they offer something deeply personal: a moment of connection across time. The following highligh...Read More

French Art Deco rugs represent a vibrant chapter in 20th-century design—where the floor became a canvas for modern art. Originating in France during the early decades of the 1900s, Art Deco was more than a style: it was a celebration of modernity, geometry, luxury, and a break from the elaborate curvilinear patterns of the preceding Art Nouveau era.  Named after the landmark Exposition Internationale des Arts Décoratifs et Industriels Modernes held in Paris in 1925, Art Deco reimagined decorative arts with bold forms, rich colors, and streamlined motifs. This influence extended to textiles and rugs, where weavers translated modernist principles into hand-knotted wool and silk compositions.  French Art Deco rugs are particularly prized for their balance between artistic expression and functional design. Characterized by geometric patterns, r...Read More