Mike Ingham, Director of Rago Unreserved, talks about the upcoming January 2016 sale. Check out hand-picked highlights from Ragos specialists!

It’s probably something we’ve all experienced over the holidays: when scrounging around in your grandmother’s attic in search of seasonal decorations or when cleaning up after a big family dinner, the move of a box or the opening of a drawer reveals an intriguing object. Maybe it’s a carefully wrapped piece of porcelain, or it could be a painting secreted away among other family heirlooms. You can tell it’s been hidden for years, and as you admire it a question starts to creep into your mind: what could this possibly be worth? If you’ve been in this scenario and have been wondering how to answer this question, this post will help with some suggestions as to how to proceed in identifying, valuing, and potentially selling a vintage or antique item. Do Some Digging The first step toward determining the importance of your item is to research it...Read More

William Will is arguably the most prolific American pewterer of the 18th century. From his Philadelphia shop, he produced pieces of exceptional quality and quantity. Will was also known for his creativity and ingenuity, working with a diverse repertoire of forms to create unique designs. His work is a staple of most great American pewter collections. But who was William Will? Apart from creating fine pewter, Will turns up multiple times in the historical record, giving us clues, however brief, into what appears to be quite an active life beyond the walls of his shop. Left: Fine Philadelphia pewter tankard, ca. 1780, attributed to William Will. One of the finest American tankards extant, this piece is Lot 176 in Pook & Pook, Inc.’s January 15th and 16th Americana auction. Right: Philadelphia pewter tankard, ca. 1780, bearing one of Will’s ma...Read More

When you think about the country most synonymous with drinking tea you invariably think of the British. Not surprising really – for Brits, from eight-year-olds though eighty, down copious amounts of the stuff. It is their chief elixir against illness, their number one crisis management tool, and their favorite way to unwind. Great Britain without tea is like the Middle East without oil. Yet it is the Chinese who have a far deeper tradition with the prized leaf. In fact, tea originated in the southwest of China, beginning its life as a medicinal drink. It became a popular throughout China during the Tang Dynasty (618-907), before spreading eventually to other East Asian countries and beyond. On Wednesday, December 30, bidders can explore China’s age-old relationship with tea when Converse Fine Arts & Antiques Auctions hold their New Years As...Read More

With Christmas looming large, we can all get a little desperate in our search for that special outlet offering one-of-a-kind quality gifts. Let’s face it, the thrill of buying a loved one a shirt from The Gap can get a little diminished when they see it the following week on 34 different people. Good thing then that Bidsquare and Rago have teamed to hold a Holiday Flash sale. Passed lot offerings from Rago’s Great Estates, Coins & Currency and Fine Jewelry Auctions are up for grabs under a “Buy it now” format. No need to worry about getting outbid at this sale – all you have to do is just login and press BUY. Lot 1380 - $39,680 - Harry Winston diamond & gold Bypass ring The sale runs till December 22, but with lots selling fast it’s best not to dawdle! Here, we’ve shined a light a handful of personal favorites, but head over now to Bidsquar...Read More

Owners of antiques have been cautioned never to refinish their antiques lest their value be diminished, so much so that refinishing is almost a dirty word, with some people opting for the term “restoration” as it has a gentler, more elegant connotation. But is this caveat always true? Should antiques always be kept as is, even if children, pets, a household move or the ravages of time have taken their toll? Listings for antique furniture items for sale often have descriptions like “in original surface” or “untouched” and the price tag is commensurate with rarity, condition and importance. For most people, however, unless you are seeking or already own museum-quality examples, some restoration may not necessarily be a bad thing and when well-done, can enhance a piece’s beauty. The trick is doing as little restoration as needed and getting a ...Read More

Alexander Calder was one of 20th Century American sculptures most influencial figures. Going against his parents wishes that he avoid the life of a suffering artist, his career spanned over four decades and left a legacy that included a variety of sculpture, theatrical productions, jewelry, painting and printmaking. He also designed paint jobs for a commercial airline and a limited edition BMW. But it is as the inventer of the mobile, a form of sculpture named by Marcel Duchamp to mean both "motion" and "motive," for which Calder is best remembered. On Tuesday, November 15, Leslie Hindman Auctioneers offer two Calder mobiles in their Post War and Contemporary Art sale, and such is the artists continued popularity that both are sure to be in strong demand. Lot 91 - Toadstool with Feather, was created by the artist in 1948 and is a classic ex...Read More

Is there a better time than the first week of December to hold a quality jewelry auction? With Christmas trees going up and stockings in desperate need of stuffing, it’s the perfect time to present bidders with a catalog filled with the best in quality jewelry. Good thing then that Heritage Auctions is staging their Fine Jewelry sale on Monday, December 7. Featuring over 440 lots filled with a vivid array of exotic stones and designs, this is a gift-wrapped opportunity to anyone looking to snare that special piece for someone close at heart. Yellow diamonds are always a big hit with collectors, and Lot 54395 is sure to be one of the highlights of the sale. Featuring a rectangular cut-cornered fancy yellow diamond enhanced by trapeze-cut diamonds, this ring, which is already creating its share of buzz, has an estimated value of $300,000-$400...Read More

In 1998 an English friend of mine was riding his Vespa through Shoreditch in the wee hours of a Saturday morning when he noticed a strikingly painted mural on the wall up ahead. He also noticed that a large chunk of the work was painted on a piece of wood attached to the wall. Lot 285 - Girl with Balloon screenprint, and Lot 290 - Love Rat screenprint Being an enterprising type with a true appreciation of the word “free,” he pulled out his trusty screwdriver, removed the painted wood and took it home on the back of his scooter. Fifteen years later, with a few more mouths to feed, he sold the piece on for 75,000 pounds. The mural was by Banksy. Lot 292 - Pulp Fiction screenprint Banksy, the English-based graffiti artist, political activist and film director, is clearly one of the most polarizing artists of his generation. Starting out in Bri...Read More

We all know that putting together a Thanksgiving dinner is no small undertaking. Not only does it require meticulous planning and hours of toil, but there’s also guest logistics, child management and a plethora of other tasks requiring constant attention. So when time comes to serve dinner it’s important that you utilize pieces that will truly do the fruits of your labor justice. Bidsquare's online auctions are full of expertly curated collectibles more than capable of elevating the levels of "joie de vivre" at your Thanksgiving table - take a look now, and say goodbye to those disapproving sneers your mother-in-law offers every time she looks down at your cutlery! Dinner Service Time to throw out those chipped Ikea plates and send in the cavalry! This 34-piece English porcelain dinner service consists of one large serving bowl, one platter...Read More