They came swooping in from out of nowhere. A colony of copper-red bats, painted upon two delicate Chinese bowls, squeaked a powerful sonar signal loud enough for human ears. Described as a 'Pair of Youngzheng Style Porcelain Loving Bowls,' in Rago's Remix: Contemporary + Classic on April 7th, the pair of unassuming vessels caught the attention of several Asian art collectors who continued to trade bids until a high estimate of $1,500 turned into a $102,400 bombshell. The winning bid, placed and secured through Bidsquare, was just one of many highlights seen from the platform that day. Lot 2194, Pair of Youngzheng Style Porcelain Loving Bowls; Sold for $102,400 Bidsquare captured over 23% of the total sales made during Rago's Remix auction - here are some of our favorite wins: Lot 2252, Gorham Martele Silver Tea & Coffee Service; Sold for $2...Read More

If you hand a cassette player to a sixteen-year-old, chances are they won't know what it is, or even how to open it - forget about flipping the tape over and holding down rewind. It's strange to imagine that this pattern of invention and obsolescence has been the true mark of technological progression for centuries. How long will it take before the next cycle of confusion begs the question 'what was this used for?' - I'm nominating the salad spinner as an amusing chin-tapper for future anthropologists.  Skinner's upcoming Clocks, Watches & Scientific Instruments sale on April 20th is latent with items of intrigue that capture our curiosity and invite wonder for even the most basic of tools. We reached out to Skinner specialist, Jay Dowling for the ‘skinny’ on several of their upcoming items:  Lot 189, Rare Tiffany & Co. No 2 Astronomical Ma...Read More

The March edition of Asian Art auctions just wrapped up and there were many astonishing pieces on display! This season saw the sale of major items from China, Japan, Korea, India and the Himalayan region, all offered through Bidsquare. Artwork from China continues to be the top sellers, but there were many surprises from other Asian regions. By far the biggest highlight was a Korean Eight-Panel Folding Screen, Yojiyeondo, presented as lot 514 at Skinner’s Asian Works of Art Auction on March 16th. Lot 514, Eight-panel Folding Screen, Yojiyeondo, Korea, 19th century; Sold for $405,900 With a conservative estimate at $5,000-$7,000, this screen sold for over 80 times its low value at $405,900! It depicts a scene of the Queen Mother of the West, Seowangmo, and various deities gathering for a large birthday banquet. This story is Chinese Daoist o...Read More

We know how exciting it feels to dive, high estimates first, into a new auction catalog to admire upcoming showstoppers - it's how you know what to watch out for during the live sale! However, if you only browse the big shots you could accidentally overlook the little steals hiding in the back.  In this week's Bidsquare Picks, we're plucking fresh finds with estimates of $500 or less: Lot 314, Lancaster County, Painted Plank Seat Chairs, 19th Century; Estimate $400 - $500 If you're looking to update your dining room but don't want to completely redecorate, swapping out your chairs might just do the trick! These antique, floral painted, plank seat chairs are featured in Pook & Pook Inc's upcoming The Ruth Bryson Collection, Quarryville, PA on April 14th. Graze the best Lancaster County, Pennsylvania German folk art paintings, furnishings and...Read More

It's often suggested that people forget to be thankful for the "little things in life." Sometimes, those "things" are really, really little. So little, in fact, that they can fit on the tip of pen - precisely because that's exactly what we're talking about! Image detail of Lot 69, Three Sailor Fountain Pens | Brunk Auctions We've come a long way since our thoughts were being meticulously knocked into clay tablets. Evidence of using sharpened writing implements with ink, such as reed pens and feather quills, date as far back as the 7th Century and can be found on ancient scriptures such as the Dead Sea Scrolls. However, the most pivotal changes to the modern methods in which we make our marks began in the 19th Century and continued onward with the invention and mass production of the beloved fountain pen.  Elegant examples of the fine crafts...Read More

Humanity’s love of silver is well documented. Archeologists have discovered examples of silver ornamentation dating to 4000 B.C. Odds are good that there are examples of silver ornamentation among your possessions, as well. But what do you know about this alluring metal? And what factors determine the worth of objects shaped from and adorned by it? The following blog is informed by a presentation delivered by Jenny Pitman, formerly the silver department director at Christie’s and currently Rago’s representative in Westchester and Connecticut, at the Historical Society of Princeton in March of 2018. Lot 2012, Georg Jensen, Sterling Silver Tea & Coffee Service; Estimate $6,000 - $9,000 Silver Quality Standards Silver is a soft metal that is easy to work with but lacking in durability. As such it is often alloyed with other metals, primarily c...Read More

Having a concrete idea of ones likes and dislikes can seem the most practical approach when seeking out new home accessories and furnishings. Its never been easier to filter, navigate and click straight toward your taste - sometimes the internet even appears to find more options for you (a creepy yet convenient happenstance). However, what if your usual patterns are causing you to overlook styles you didn't yet know you'd love?  In this week's Bidsquare Picks, we urge you to disrupt your search data and crisscross around our upcoming catalogs. When browsing for antiques and vintage designs, you don't have to feel held down to one style, embrace the unplanned allure of online auctions! Lot 2280, Pair of Regency Painted and Parcel Gilt Armchairs, England, 1815; Estimate $2,000 - $4,000 To make it even easier on you, the challenge to consider ...Read More

Mrs. Ruth Bryson was a widely distinguished antiques dealer and collector in Quarryville, Pennsylvania. Her expertise was unmistakable, noted by the exceptional personal collection of antiques she leaves behind following her death in July 2017. On Saturday, April 14th Pook & Pook Inc. will exhibit and share her private collection with an auction of unparalleled quality, comprising of just over 300 lots in their sale, The Ruth Bryson Collection, Quarryville, PA.  Lot 190, Jacob or Jonas Weber, Painted dresser box, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, Mid 19th c; Estimate $12,000 - $18,000 Born in 1929 in Quarryville, Pennsylvania, Mrs. Bryson was the daughter of the late Ira and Okie Shumate. She was a 1952 graduate of Lebanon Valley College and two years later married Jack Bryson, a native of Ephrata, PA. The couple soon moved their growing fami...Read More

Rago’s Remix Auctions are built around the understanding that the most livable spaces are not contrived or overly curated. Rather, they are kinetic and welcoming expressions of the people who occupy them, a blend of contrasting and complementary colors and forms that come together like the flavors of a fine cocktail. Ahead of Rago's Remix: Contemporary + Classic Auction, on April 7th, they sat down with Arlen Sam Brown, Design Director at Rago and lead (Re)mixologist to sample some of her most tantalizing room recipes. When one’s passion for entertaining and collecting collide, the result is an evocative space that is at its best when filled with friends. Lot 2110, Adrian Pearsall, Disk Bar, USA, 1970s; Estimate $1,000 - $1,500 This Adrian Pearsall Disc Bar is the kind of piece that, as a designer, I immediately want to build a room around....Read More

An artist can spend a lifetime perfecting their signature. More than a mere marking of ones name, or a way to place claim over an object, a signature is a declaration. It solidifies the completeness of ones creative thought and it’s usually the last moment an artist will spend on a particular work. What a curious statement than for an artist to purposefully refrain from such an important act of accreditation. However, for Parisian jewelry designer, Suzanne Belperron, the absence of her written signature was a magnifying act that elevated her unique style - a risky yet bold act of confidence - “Mon style est ma signature," she would simply proclaim.  Photo: © Archives Olivier Baroin / Portrait of Suzanne Belperron The upcoming sale at Fortuna Auctions, The Estate of Bo Legendre on April 25th will showcase some of most important selections of...Read More