For collectors, antique maps offer far more than geography. They reveal how earlier generations understood the world, politically, scientifically, imaginatively, and even emotionally. The upcoming Antique Maps, Charts, Atlases, Engravings, Historical Documents & Books auction from Old World Auctions on March 11, 2026 brings together a compelling selection of cartographic works spanning centuries and styles. Below are five highlights that showcase the diversity and artistry of early mapmaking. Featured Auction Highlights:  Florence, Italy - Wit - Florentia Pulcherrima Etruriae Civitas Estimated at $2,400–$3,000, this elegant plan of Florence by Frederik de Wit exemplifies the precision and grandeur of 17th-century Dutch engraving. Florence is presented in crisp detail, its walls, churches, palaces, and the meandering Arno River meticulously ...Read More

Few objects capture the romance of America’s golden age of amusement parks quite like a carved wooden carousel horse. With flowing manes, prancing stances, and hand-painted trappings, these figures blur the line between functional ride and sculptural folk art. For collectors of Americana, folk art enthusiasts, and designers seeking statement pieces, the opportunity to acquire museum-worthy examples of classic carousel carving is always significant. That opportunity arrives in the March 6, 2026 Winter Americana. Day Three sale presented by Jeffrey S. Evans & Associates, where several exceptional carved and painted wooden carousel horses take center stage. Carousel horses occupy a distinctive place in American decorative arts. Created primarily between the late 19th and early 20th centuries for traveling carnivals and permanent amusement park...Read More

As winter lingers and we find ourselves dreaming of longer days, it’s the perfect moment to start envisioning how we’ll refresh our outdoor spaces for spring. Patios, gardens, terraces, and poolside areas are no longer afterthoughts, they’re extensions of our homes, designed with as much intention as any interior room. The upcoming Modern Design for Outdoor Living auction from Billings on March 1, offers a curated selection of sculptural seating, statement tables, and conversation-starting works that blur the line between art and design. Whether you’re planning a full garden redesign or simply looking for one transformative piece, these highlights invite you to think boldly about outdoor living. Sculptural Impact: Robert Livingston Moore Few elements elevate a garden like a thoughtfully placed sculpture. The abstract garden sculpture by Rob...Read More

In the pantheon of late 20th-century style, few figures remain as enduring, or as studied, as Carolyn Bessette Kennedy. At a moment when fashion was often defined by excess, she distilled her wardrobe to its most essential elements: impeccable tailoring, a disciplined neutral palette, and silhouettes that felt at once modern and timeless. Her aesthetic, quiet, deliberate, and unmistakably New York, helped define 1990s minimalism and continues to influence designers, stylists, and collectors today. That legacy now takes center stage in Exceptional Fashion: including items from the wardrobe of Carolyn Bessette Kennedy, presented by The Fashion Auctioneer. The sale represents the most comprehensive collection assembled to date dedicated to her iconic style. At its core are four historically significant pieces from Carolyn’s personal wardrobe, ...Read More

Nantucket has long been a magnet for artists drawn to its shifting light, weathered architecture, and deep maritime history. From early 20th-century painters who captured the island’s working harbor to contemporary artists reinterpreting its coastline today, Nantucket continues to inspire a rich and evolving artistic legacy. In Osona Auctions’ upcoming sale on Bidsquare, collectors have the opportunity to acquire works by four artists closely tied to the island’s creative story: Polly Bushong, Joan Albaugh, Lucien van Vyve, and Meghan C. Weeks. Each painting offers a distinct lens on Nantucket, its charm, its atmosphere, and its enduring sense of place. Featured Auction Highlights:  Polly Bushong Oil on Panel "A Day at the Circus" Polly Bushong was an active presence in Nantucket’s art community during the 1950s and 1960s, and her work refl...Read More

Collectors know that coins and currency are more than metal and paper, they are miniature works of art, economic artifacts, and tangible pieces of American history. On February 28, 2026, Mebane Antique Auction Gallery presents the U.S. Numismatic Gold Silver Coin Currency Bullion Auction on Bidsquare, featuring key-date rarities, pristine modern issues, Southern mint gold, and historic Federal Reserve notes. Whether you collect for investment, history, or the thrill of the hunt, these five lots represent a compelling cross-section of the sale. Featured Auction Estimates:  1895-O Barber Dime PCGS Key Date Coin The 1895-O is widely regarded as a better date within the Barber Dime series, particularly challenging in stronger grades. Struck at the New Orleans Mint, examples with solid detail and original surfaces continue to see steady demand f...Read More

Paper dolls are one of those objects that feel instantly familiar. Almost everyone remembers cutting carefully around tiny ankles, trying not to lose a single tab, and arranging outfits just so. But behind that childhood nostalgia is a surprisingly rich history; one that stretches across centuries, countries, and cultural shifts. The earliest paper dolls appeared in Europe in the late 18th and early 19th centuries, long before they were considered toys. At the time, fashion plates were the primary way styles circulated beyond royal courts and elite salons. Paper dolls grew out of this tradition, offering an interactive way to engage with current dress. Many early examples were sold uncut and hand-colored, intended for careful assembly at home. They weren’t meant to be disposable; they were meant to be studied, admired, and preserved. In Eng...Read More

The story of Emile Pierre Branchard is one of quiet persistence, late-blooming creativity, and an unlikely rise into the canon of American self-taught art. Working largely outside the traditional art world, Branchard painted not for recognition, but for himself; yet his work ultimately earned the attention of major galleries, collectors, and even the Museum of Modern Art. A Life Shaped by Washington Square Branchard was born in New York City in 1881 to French parents and spent nearly his entire life at 61 Washington Square South, a building later known as the legendary “House of Genius.” The boarding house was run by his mother, Madame Branchard, and became a hub for artists, writers, and intellectuals passing through Greenwich Village during one of its most vibrant cultural periods. “Doorway of 61 Washington Square Park” New York Bound Col...Read More

Few garments in the history of fashion have achieved the near-mythic status of the Delphos gown. Created in the early 20th century by Mariano Fortuny, the Delphos remains one of the most recognizable and collectible designs ever produced, an object that exists at the intersection of fashion, art, and intellectual experimentation.  Introduced around 1907, the Delphos gown was radical for its time. While women’s fashion in the early 1900s was dominated by rigid corsetry and structured tailoring, Fortuny proposed something altogether different: a fluid, columnar gown inspired by ancient Greek sculpture. Made from finely pleated silk, the Delphos skimmed the body rather than reshaping it, allowing for natural movement and emphasizing the wearer’s individuality. The effect was both modern and timeless, sensuous without being overt, intellectual ...Read More

American sculptor Charles Cary Rumsey (1879–1922) is best known for his powerful bronze sculptures that capture movement, physicality, and the mythology of the American West. A gifted athlete as well as an artist, Rumsey was an accomplished polo player; an experience that deeply informed his understanding of balance, motion, and the relationship between rider and horse. This firsthand knowledge of athletic movement would become a defining element of his sculptural work. Charles Cary Rumsey, 1879-1922, full length portrait, seated on horse with polo mallet, facing left, Library of Congress Born in Buffalo, New York, into a prominent family, Rumsey initially pursued sports before fully committing to sculpture. He studied in Paris under Emmanuel Frémiet, a leading sculptor of animals and equestrian subjects, whose influence is evident in Rumse...Read More