It’s mid-March and that means another round of Asia Week in North America! Typically this event will bring hundreds of international collectors, scholars and art lovers to the New York area where they participate in the dozens of Asian-themed auctions, gallery and museum openings, and lectures. With the abundance of global travel restrictions, this year will be much more subdued despite the USA’s progress with vaccinations. Many potential attendees will have to rely on a virtual approach – through apps including Zoom, Wechat, and Facetime – to preview the thousands of artworks on display. Here’s all hoping the world will have a semblance of normalcy in the coming months. Skinner in Boston is one of the major stops on the Asia Week tour. This month, they will be offering their online Asian Works of Art sale from March 16th until March 25th. ...Read More

The internet wasn’t always the boundless landscape of shoppable items and virtual experiences as we now know it to be. The early developers who saw it as a sharp tool for military intelligence and academic research (snooze…) would have never foresaw the degree to which the online world has become a personal and dynamic extension of our everyday lives. As a matter of fact, the first secure transaction ever made on the internet was 27 years ago, when a college kid named Dan Kohn sold his friend a Sting solo CD for $12.48, plus shipping - a radical ideal in 1994, but in our post-covid world, making purchases through the internet is readily commonplace and evolving quickly across multiple industries. Now, the convenience of restocking one's refrigerator is met with the same clickable ease as, say, securing a valuable artwork during a live, onli...Read More

The phrase “art for art's sake” aptly expresses the spirit of fine art, which typically holds more aesthetic appeal than functional value. It is this very characteristic which distinguishes fine art from crafts and applied art, which has a utilitarian focus. Tracing back the history of human civilization, one can find enriching examples of various artifacts crafted for the sole purpose of aesthetics.  What is Fine Art? According to the aesthetic theories of the Italian Renaissance (15th – 16th centuries CE), fine art is the highest form of art as it allows a wholesome expression of artistic imagination unlike other forms of art that are governed by practical considerations. Another distinguishing factor is the number of people involved in completing the artwork. Fine art is all about a single artist completing a piece or series, whereas app...Read More

One of the most important and mesmerizing designs in Asian art is the geometric diagram known as a mandala. You might not be that familiar with the term ‘mandala’, but its presence has been recently popularized in pop culture from tattoos, to adult coloring books to the protective Tao Mandala shields used by characters in Marvel’s superhero movie Doctor Strange. Let me explain what is a mandala and what does it mean? In Sanskrit (considered the world’s oldest language), a mandala can be translated to ‘circle’ and it can be found in numerous East Asian religions including Buddhism, Hinduism and Jainism. At its essence, the mandala guides the viewer for religious meditation, but it can also be a complex microcosm of the universe. Mandalas are very common in Tibetan Buddhism, and these types will be the examples used for this short essay. As a...Read More

The popularity of luxury and expensive items is on a constant rise. Leading expensive watch brands provide limited-edition and first-class items to collectors and other patrons. Designer brands are especially capable of blending fashion and reliability. They design and manufacture watches that live up to their prices while making a style statement. Many customers look for watches that suit both their budget and fashion preferences. Luxury vintage watches are the product of outstanding craftsmanship intended to last for centuries. These watches can be used and enjoyed by you and your descendants. The first step in your expensive watch investment is finding the right brand. Here are some of the most expensive and quality watch brands in the world.  Lot 2086, An 18 Karat Yellow Gold Ref. 3448 Wristwatch, Patek Philippe for Tiffany & Co., Circa...Read More

“A thing of beauty is a joy forever…” The first line of John Keats’ poem, Endymion, is an apt analogy to describe folk art pieces dating back to the 18th century. Every folk art object is a labor of love, handcrafted with a sense of simplicity, honesty, and resourcefulness. However, the timelessness of these items lies not only in their visual appeal but also in the practical nature of their designs. Handmade by people without any formal training, folk art pieces are meant to serve a utilitarian purpose with aesthetics in mind. A blend of simplicity and resourceful creativity is what makes folk art an interesting genre. Everyday objects such as crockery, stoneware, quilts, and chests exemplify folk art at its best. Lot 116, Black toleware coffee pot, ca. 1900; Sold at Pook & Pook, Inc for $3,936, October 9, 2020 During the 1920s, folk art i...Read More

Inauguration Day is upon us. A day filled with spangled pomp, ceremony, and historic speeches designed to frame the mood and aspirations of our young democracy. With the guidance of the Marine Band's harmonizing horns playing grand marches and national compositions, as they have for incoming presidents since Thomas Jefferson, a baton of political power will be passed. At noon today, as mandated by the United States Constitution, on January 20, 2021, Joe Biden will be sworn in as the 46th president of the United States to mark the commencement of his four-year term as president and Kamala Harris as vice president. Our nation's very first inauguration of George Washington as the first President of the United States, however, was held on Thursday, April 30, 1789 on the balcony of Federal Hall in New York City. Washington's inauguration was hel...Read More

Have you ever wondered what the true difference between a lithograph and print is? Understanding the key characteristics of these different methods can be especially important if you’re looking to start collecting in the art market. The ability to recognize a lithograph can also provide a better experience when browsing museum collections and art galleries. Although, it can seem tricky at first, knowing what sets a lithograph apart from other printmaking processes is essential when considering rarity, price and technical appreciation. Lot 13, George Bellows, Preliminaries, alternatively titled Preliminaries to the Big Bout, 1916, edition of 67 (Mason, 24). Signed "Geo. Bellows (F.B.B.)" in pencil l.r., inscribed "No 44" in pencil l.l., identified on a label from H.V. Allison & Co., Inc., New York, affixed to the backing. Lithograph on paper...Read More

December 1, 2020 - Giving Tuesday has become almost as big an event for the holiday shopping season as Black Friday, Small Business Saturday and Cyber Monday. On Giving Tuesday, we are all reminded how important it is to make charitable efforts a part of the holiday festivities. This year in the midst of a global pandemic the sentiment couldn’t be more important. There isn’t a charity or cultural institution that couldn’t use a donation. And it can be overwhelming to choose where to funnel your funds. An excellent guide that jewelry designers follow is to pick one in your community or near and dear to your heart. Mish Tworkowski, the creative force behind the New York City based Mish fine jewelry label, has long been inspired by the wonders of nature. Floral motifs are a constant in his classical work with a twist. The vibrant colors of a g...Read More

The pandemic has fueled renewed interest in board games as people worldwide stay safe at home and seek diversions. The recent popularity of the Netflix series “The Queen’s Gambit” has toy industry and market analysts noting triple-digit increases in the sale of chess sets to an already “hot” market.   Above and below: French .800 Silver and Parcel-gilt Chess Set, late 19th/early 20th century, bearing maker’s mark “G Fres” possibly for Guillemin Frères, sold for $25,830 Chess is an ancient game, originating in 6th-century India; it wasn’t until the mid-19th century that the form of the pieces we are familiar with today were standardized. The Staunton Pattern pieces, as they are known, were originated by Nathaniel Cook, an architect by trade, and produced by Jaques of London. The firm assigned the name “Staunton”  to recognize the world’s top...Read More