A torch, a hammer, a paint brush or a camera; innovations in art and design can be forged on the tips of a fiery weld or developed and submerged in a tray of cold chemicals- it is often those who persist with the most passion and fervor that make their craft appear ever so simple. In the midsts of an auction, its easy to forget the first block that these items passed; whether it be the midcentury drafting table of Mies Van Der Rohe or the industrial workbench of a young Louis Vuitton, a few minutes of bids can embody the significance of a lifetimes worth of achievements.  On May 11th - May 13th, Millea Bros Ltd. will host a their 3-Day Select auction on Bidsquare and offer a range of desirables from American Folk Art to French Avant-Garde photography and Couture & Luxury items. To power up this panoramic catalog, Millea Bros ignites Day 1 w...Read More

For hundreds of years playing cards have been bringing people, young and old, together around tables. From competing at snap as a child, to all night poker games in college, to trying our luck at blackjack in Vegas, cards elicit memories involving friends, excitement and usually good times. Indeed, for many of us, playing cards are a reference point for the evolving phases of our lives. And while you might not have always won - sometimes it might even have been painful - but then isnt that element of chance the continuing source of their appeal? On Saturday, May 6 Potter & Potter Auctions offers bidders the opportunity to take their interest in playing cards to a whole new level when they stage Day 1 of their Gambling Memorabilia sale. Over half the 634 lots on offer will be playing cards, a dazzling array of vintage pieces at price points ...Read More

We're not laughing at you, we're laughing with you! Really? Sometimes it's hard to tell. Decoding the human experience through somatic expression, specifically, laughter doesnt always arise from a place of true comprehension - these reactions can come from a multitude of misinterpretations - like knowingly driving through a chatter of half-patched potholes. A plastered smile can act as a camouflage for ones deepest anxieties - a different problem for every overexposed tooth. The latter is especially noticeable when the wattage is on full blast and nobody has cracked open this mouthy metaphor wider than Yue Minjun, Chinas leading Contemporary artist.  This spring, Rago Auctions will be offering six of Yue Minjuns iconic "laughing man" self portraits in their Post War & Contemporary Art sale on May 6th - each lithograph depicting Yue Minjun a...Read More

In the world of American figurative sculpture, Joe Brown is something of an icon. Specializing in athletes, he produced over 400 works in his career, including statuettes, portrait busts, and sculptures. The son of Russian immigrants, Brown was a gifted athlete, and in 1927 won a football scholarship to Temple University. He didn’t graduate, however, and after trying his luck as a pro boxer, got work as an artist’s model, where he discovered a love of sculpture. This led to a seven-year apprenticeship at the University of Pennsylvania.  Brown became the boxing coach at Princeton in 1937, continuing in that position until the early 1960s. He began teaching a sculpting course in 1939, became a resident artist at the university, and was made a full professor of art in 1962. He continued teaching at Princeton until his retirement in 1977. Brown...Read More

There are two places I would have wanted to run into him, a dance floor or a rodeo...preferably the dance floor at a rodeo...and it wouldn't have to be in the context of a movie set either. The late Patrick Swayze, a multi-talented actor, dancer, singer and Egyptian Arabian horse breeder, was the real deal - on and off screen. Originally from Houston, Texas, Swayze's early passions for dancing, which started at his mothers dance school, and his admiration for nature via an authentic Cowboy lifestyle, would synergistically propel him into some of his most memorable roles. He side-stepped into our hearts as an impassioned dance instructor in Dirty Dancing (1987) changed the pottery wheel forever as the lovesick spirit in Ghost (1990) and knocked us out by righteously brawling with ruffians as a Midwestern bar bouncer in Road House (1989).  Th...Read More

Bourbon is about as American as apple pie. First distilled in the 18th Century, its name derives from the French Bourbon dynasty, though whether that attachment stems from Bourbon County in Kentucky or Bourbon Street in New Orleans is open to dispute. Federal law constitutes that to be considered bourbon, a spirit must be produced in the U.S., made from grain mixture at least 51% corn, and aged in new, charred oak containers. Not surprisingly, bourbon, with its blue-collar roots, has long been considered a poor relation to some of the more highly regarded spirits. These days though, following a heightened interest in all forms of whiskey, from rye to Irish to Japanese blends, bourbon is drawing attention from a new breed of collectors who recognize both its quality and burgeoning residual value. It’s a great time to enter the market, which ...Read More

The attempt to forge thought into form - to introduce shapes that provoke, reveal and deceive us. Sculptures that address the limits and spacial wonderment of our three dimensional world. The 20th Century was generous with contemplative artists who, through experimental pushing and prodding, have physically personified the human experience - managing to mold "mood" into modern design. This month, Bidsquare will host two auctions offering artworks by renowned Ceramic and Glass artists such as Harry Bertoia, Karen Karnes, Dale Chihuly, Alex Bernstein, Marvin Lipofsky, Toshiko Takaezu and many others. Wexler Gallery's Contemporary Glass from 1979-2011 will run exclusively on Bidsquare in the Timed Auction format from April 9th - 23rd and Cowans Auctions Modern Ceramics & Modern Art + Design: Live Saleroom Auction will commence on April 21st.  ...Read More

Historic events unfolded in the U.K. last week as they began the legal process to exit the EU. Leaving the people of Britain, faced with an uncertain future and only a vague sense of Brexit ramifications, in need of a constant supply of the one thing that has held the country together for last 500 years - tea. Brits know a thing or two about tea, primarily, that the only way to enjoy a proper cup of tea is to make a pot of tea. Sure, a teabag will suffice in a crunch, but to get the full benefits of a strong brew you need to take the time to do things properly. After all, it’s not just about taste – it’s about ceremony.  Here at Bidsquare we’re currently offering a great range of unique teapots spread across a range of fascinating sales. So if you’re a Brit in need of a brew or perhaps just feeling a wave of empathy for our friends across t...Read More

Turn the dial on your transistor radio, break out the Brillo and tighten the knot on your kimono; we haven't got any dinner reservations and spring is officially upon us. Time to give the house a thorough cleaning; the danish desk is dusty, the Blenko could use some brightening and that shag rug is looking scuzzy. Shake up a cocktail and get started on making your modern design dazzle! Rago Auctions will present their Unreserved Session 1 and Unreserved Session 2 sales on April 7th and April 8th - taking into account that there will be no reserves or "safety nets" on how low these items can sell for, we advise you start practicing your mouse clicking agility to "Bid Now." Don't have enough room for ridiculously affordable vintage decor? You could start by throwing out your bed; it's boring anyway (we've seriously considered it) These select...Read More

In 1903 Harry Houdini spent five months of his extensive European tour in Russia. Within two weeks of his arrival, the legendary magician had gone from virtual anonymity to the most famous man in Moscow. Houdini performed before the highest ranks of Russian royalty, right up to the big man himself, Tsar Nicholas II. Accompanying him on this epic adventure was his wife Bess. Prominent among Houdini’s Moscow patrons were the Grand Duke Sergei Aleksandrovich and his wife, the Grand Duchess Elisabeth of Hesse and Rhine, who were instrumental in helping Houdini establish himself in the Russian capital. The couple performed privately for the aristocrats, who were so taken by their magical abilities that they showered them in valuable gifts, a customary gesture at such performances. Harry Houdini with wife Bess, seen wearing her favorite brooch Ne...Read More