Leland Little Auctions’ Fall sale is set down for Friday, September 9, and with nearly six hundred lots ready to go under the hammer, including jewelry, fine art, modernism, fine silver, Asian art, couture, Antique furniture and ceramics & pottery, demand is sure to be strong. Of special interest however, especially for collectors of indigenous art, are the 143 lots of African art sure to kick off the sale with a real bang. On offer is a stunning range of pieces from countries across Africa. Whether you’re a seasoned collector or looking to get started, this is a gilt-edged opportunity to savor the rich artistic history of the planet’s oldest continent. Africa’s history is the history of civilization, be sure to take a look! Lot 63 is comprised of two stunning bronze masks attributed to the Senufo people, a tribe of about one and a half mil...Read More

Since their first forays to the exotic East, Westerners have had an almost endless fascination with the Buddha. Whether searching for spiritual enlightenment, a change in fortune or a new direction in décor, the allure of the cross-legged figure has proved irresistible. He is the rock star of new age spiritualism and the pacifists prince. Buddha So who was the Buddha? Well, Gautama Buddha, also known as Siddhārtha Gautama or Shakyamuni Buddha, was an ascetic and sage who lived around 400 B.C., upon whose teachings Buddhism was founded. He is recognized by Buddhists as an enlightened or divine teacher who attained full Buddhahood, who shared his insights to help sentient beings end rebirth and suffering. From a design aesthetic, the Buddha figure has always been admired for its elegance and the presence it brings to spaces, both indoors and ...Read More

Newell Convers Wyeth, better known as N.C. Wyeth, grew up on a farm in Massachusetts at the end of the nineteenth century. Wyeth showed his artistic talent early, and studied at the Massachusetts Normal Art School in Boston. In 1902, Wyeth received the opportunity that would shape the rest of his career and firmly cement his place in the canon of American art—to study with the father of American illustration, Howard Pyle. Arguably the most successful of Pyle’s protégés, Wyeth encapsulated all of his teachings and within two years was well on his way to establishing his own career.   Wyeth in his studio, c. 1903, Photo Source: N.C. Wyeth Wikipedia Wyeth ventured west in 1904 and 1906, spending vital time observing, studying, and absorbing all the rich subject matter of the west. In his own words, Wyeth described this early attraction, saying...Read More

In its 2016 August issue, Art+Auction profiled 250 auction houses around the globe, many houses on Bidsquare were featured on the list. Blouin Art+Auction reports: Although the art market remained robust this past year, there has been a marked shift in the global landscape. According to the 2016 Art Market Report, produced by Dublin-based economist Clare McAndrew and released under the aegis of the European Fine Art Foundation (TEFAF), there was a 7 percent decline in sales worldwide, from $68.2 billion in 2014 to $63.8 billion in 2015, with much of that decline coming as a result of a contraction in the Chinese economy. Despite the drop, sales in the United States rose 4 percent, to a record $27.3 billion, confirming the nation’s primacy as the global market leader, with a 43 percent share of the market. Sales held steady in the United Kin...Read More

Mike Ingham, Director of Ragos Unreserved Auction, shares some favorite lots in the upcoming August 2016 Sale. The sale includes something for everyone - lots from every department, multiple continents and four centuries. Watch now!   Browse the catalogs for Ragos upcoming Unreserved Auctions: Unreserved Jewelry, Unreserved Auction Session 1 and Unreserved Auction Session 2.

Bidders near and far will once again converge on Fairfield, Maine this month for James D. Julia’s Annual August Fine Art, Asian & Antiques sale. Running from Wednesday, August 24 to Friday, August 26, the sale features an astonishing selection of fine art, decorative art, and nautical art; antiques and Asian articles; historical items; and many remarkable, one-of-a-kind treasures. Good news for those unable to make it out to Maine - online bidding is available, look now at the full catalog! The sale’s selection of Rockport School paintings is always outstanding and this year features favorite Cape Ann artists including Gruppe, Glackens, Morrell and Gillette. Lot 1120 (above), Rockport, Mass 1936 No.3 by William Glackens, comes accompanied by a letter from the artists son Ira, where he describes to a friend just how freezing the water was th...Read More

James D. Julia is holding their annual summer Asian Art auction on August 26, 2016 as part of their three-day decorative arts sale. Comprised of 280 lots, the total number of items has been considerably pared down from previous years to enhance the quality of the art auction. Important Pair of Porcelain Plaques by Wang Dafan Highlighting the sale is lot 3660, an Important Pair of Porcelain Plaques by Wang Dafan (1888-1961).  Each panel depicts a scholar with maiden and date to the summer of the jiyi year (1929), the panels were painted by one of the eminent members of the Zhushan Bayou (Eight Friends of the ‘Pearl Hill’), a group that specialized in famille rose porcelain wares during the Republican Period. Wang Dafan is best known for his depiction of large historical figures and novel shading techniques. These panels were purchased by an ...Read More

Later this evening the eyes of the world will turn to Rio de Janeiro for the opening ceremony of the XXXI Summer Olympiad. For the next seventeen days (August 5-21), the worlds greatest athletes will compete in venues across the city in a quest to turn lifelong dreams into Olympic gold medals and lucrative endorsement contracts. Some will succeed, most will fail as history, both good and bad, is created for us all to savor. The Olympic Games is also a great source for collectibles, a fact not missed by Bidsquare. As the seconds tick down on the beginning of the Rio Games we thought what better time to highlight a selection of the Olympic memorabilia featured on the site? Below, were offering a taste - for more, look through upcoming catalogs on the square.  The Berlin Games of 1936 go down in infamy as the games Adolf Hitler tried to approp...Read More

The Coeur dAlene Art Auction cemented its place at the head of the Western Art market July 23 with a hugely successful day at the Tuscany Ballroom at Peppermill Hotel Resort in Reno. There was spirited bidding throughout, both in the ballroom and on Bidsquare, where online auction & bidding was exclusive for the second year in a row. The sale saw totals crash through the $18 million barrier, with five lots selling for over $500,000, and 40 above $100,000. Overall, Coeur dAlene produced a stunning 95% sale rate across the 313 lots on offer. The sale topper - Lot 163 - Howard Terpnings The Long Shot Topping the sale at $1,344,000 was Howard Terpnings The Long Shot, which blew the doors off its pre-sale estimate of $500,000. Terpning was strong in the sale, with Blackfoot Storyteller selling for $728,000, while four other works by the octogena...Read More

Black & white photography has always had a broad-based appeal, and in a bouyant art market is currently proving as popular as ever with collectors. Which makes it a great time to check out Hamburg Kennedy Photographs Summer Black and White Fashion Auction - 28 expertly curated photographs by inter-generational black and white photographers being sold under a "Buy Now" format, meaning the piece you love can be yours with just one casual click of your keyboard. Get busy! Marilyn Monroe has moved more black & white pictures and prints than just about anyone in history, as the worlds fascination with her continues unabated. Lot 17, by renowned documentary photographer Elliot Erwitt, captures a relaxed Marilyn reading on the couch, eternally beautiful, forever break hearts. Lot 20, Frank Horvats "Givenchy Hat B" looks to capture the drama and hi...Read More