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

Marco Olivier is a South African sculptor based in Cape Town and the owner of a bronze foundry where he produces original works in bronze and resin. His sculptures are recognized for their distinctive textures and painted surface effects, and range from small-scale works to large public installations. Olivier creates his bronze sculptures using the traditional lost-wax casting process. His larger installations are often fabricated in fibreglass and stainless steel–reinforced synthetic resin, a method that allows for structural durability in both indoor and outdoor settings. This approach enables his work to function across a range of environments, including public spaces, architectural projects, and private collections. He has installed numerous public artworks throughout South Africa, many of which were produced at his own expense as a way...Read More

Few forms of jewelry carry as rich a blend of history, craftsmanship, and personal storytelling as the cameo. Defined as a relief carving; often of a figure, scene, or profile; cameos have enthralled cultures for millennia, serving as symbols of status, sentiment, and artistic mastery. Originating in ancient civilizations as carved gems and seals, cameos evolved into cherished personal ornaments. Stone carvings in Greece and Rome depicted mythological figures and rulers, and the tradition continued through the Renaissance into the Victorian era, when shell and hardstone cameos reached peak popularity as brooches and pendants set in gold. Today, cameo jewelry, whether antique or contemporary, offers collectors a window into changing tastes across eras. Here are five standout cameo lots on Bidsquare that reflect the breadth and beauty of this...Read More

Diamonds have long been valued for their beauty, rarity, and enduring appeal; but understanding what truly drives quality and value is essential for making an informed purchase. To create a universal standard for evaluating diamonds, the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) established the 4 Cs: Cut, Color, Clarity, and Carat Weight. Together, these criteria provide a consistent framework for assessing a diamond’s appearance, rarity, and market significance. The Exclusive Christmas Day Prestige Auction presents a rare selection of GIA-graded diamonds that exemplify excellence across all four Cs. Before exploring the highlights, here’s a closer look at how each factor contributes to a diamond’s overall quality. The 4 Cs Explained Cut describes how precisely a diamond has been shaped and faceted to interact with light. More than any other f...Read More

Brian Donnelly, known professionally as KAWS (stylized in all caps), is one of the most influential contemporary artists of the past three decades. Born on November 4, 1974, in Jersey City, New Jersey, KAWS studied illustration at the School of Visual Arts in New York City, graduating with a BFA in 1996. Early in his career he worked as a freelance animator before fully embracing his identity as an artist. KAWS began making a name for himself in the 1990s through subversive graffiti and “subvertising” — altering public ads, billboards, and bus stops with his own imagery. His signature characters, such as Companion, Bendy, Accomplice, and Chum, grew out of this urban context and soon transitioned into fine art forms including large-scale sculptures, paintings, prints, and collectible toys. Recognized for his bold reinterpretations of pop cul...Read More