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

Ormolu, derived from the French term meaning “ground gold,” refers to the luxurious technique of applying finely gilded bronze mounts to decorative objects. At its height in the 18th and 19th centuries, ormolu became synonymous with prestige, craftsmanship, and elite interiors, adorning everything from chandeliers and clocks to furniture, centerpieces, and architectural ornaments. Today, authentic ormolu continues to captivate collectors for its sculptural elegance, rich surface quality, and historic significance. The traditional ormolu process involved mercury gilding, in which powdered gold was mixed with mercury and brushed onto a bronze surface. When heated, the mercury evaporated, leaving behind a dense, luminous gold finish. Though visually stunning, the process was highly toxic and eventually banned in the 19th century, making surviv...Read More

On December 30, 2025, Rhoswens presents Modern & Traditional Art Collection, a curated sale of original oils, works on paper, and mixed-media compositions spanning classical and contemporary styles. The auction brings together landscapes, figurative works, and decorative compositions, offering collectors a thoughtful selection that bridges art-historical traditions with modern expression. With accessible price points and a range of visual approaches, the sale is well suited to both emerging and established collectors. A defining strength of the collection is its exploration of artistic lineage and evolution, particularly through works connected to the Pissarro family. Across generations, these artists have engaged with landscape, movement, and color in ways that reflect both shared heritage and individual interpretation. Complementing these...Read More

Israeli artist David Gerstein (b. 1944, Jerusalem) is internationally recognized for his vibrant, multi-layered metal sculptures that bridge the worlds of painting, sculpture, and pop art. Known for transforming everyday subjects into dynamic, three-dimensional compositions, Gerstein’s work is defined by bold color, movement, and an unmistakable sense of joy. Gerstein studied at the Bezalel Academy of Arts and Design in Jerusalem before continuing his education in Paris, New York, and London, experiences that exposed him to European modernism and American pop sensibilities. Early in his career, he worked primarily as a painter, but by the 1980s he began pushing beyond the flat surface, experimenting with wood reliefs and freestanding forms. This evolution culminated in his signature laser-cut aluminum wall sculptures, which allowed him to “...Read More