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Auction Disasters & Challenges!

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by Martin Willis

Auction disasters and major challenges are rather rare, but when they happen they certainly leave an impression and they can be very interesting (as an afterthought). I have been a little apprehensive about posting this blog and in no way am I trying to scare people away from the auction method.  I believe in auctions as the best possible means of selling almost anything on the secondary market. Some of these stories have a good outcome, but not all of them. Keep in mind, this is a small sampling and I am sure if every auctioneer was polled, there would be some great additional stories. Read more →

Artist Walt Kuhn Was No Clown

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Purchased for $6 and later sold for $32,500
by Martin Willis

Back in the 1990s I went on a house call to see a past clerk of my father’s auctions. Louis Sochia was a pleasant man with a great sense of humor. He, his partners Charlie & Tom were selling their B & B (The Inn at Christian Shore) in Portsmouth, NH, and had some nice things to put in my next auction.

After viewing everything, we were at the top of the stairs, and I pointed and said, “How about that painting?” Louis and his partners laughed and Louis said, “You can buy that right now for $300.”  I thanked him and told him I would not do that, but instead would take it and do some research. It was a painting of a clown putting make-up on in a mirror. It stuck me as being masterful, but it was unsigned. There was something about it that made me think it was very good.  The next day, I brought the painting up to Bruce Collins in Kennebunk, Maine who I thought had a good eye and asked for his opinion.  He instantly agreed that it was masterful and most likely by the artist and got out some books and showed me why he thought so. Read more →

Show Notes, Episode 111. John Rinaldi on Scrimshaw

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The following is a podcast  transcription.

Hi, everyone, this is Martin Wills and welcome to the Antique Auction Forum for episode number 111 with John Rinaldi on whaling scrimshaw.

Couple of announcements:  you can follow us on Twitter at Twitter.com@auction_podcast.  You can like us on Facebook and that icon is right on our website which is antiqueauctionforum.com.

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Show Notes, Episode 110. Leslie Hindman

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Martin Willis:  Hello everyone, this is Martin Willis with the Antique Auction Forum and welcome to episode number 110 with Leslie Hindman.  I hope you enjoy today’s show.  This podcast is sponsored by WorthPoint.  Find out what your antiques are worth at WorthPoint.com.

Hi, everyone, I’m on Skype with Leslie Hindman.  How are you doing, Leslie?

Leslie:  I’m doing really well, great!

Martin:  And we’re calling you at your Chicago office.  Can you tell us, right off the bat; I want to know how you started because I saw that you opened your first auction gallery there in 1982.  What’s your background prior to that?

Leslie:  You know I started working for Sotheby’s in 1978 and they opened a Chicago office and I was the assistant to the woman who was running it.  It was their first branch office that they started in America.  So I started there working, and I didn’t know much about the industry and I loved it immediately. Read more →

The iPhone Period

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Appeal of Simplicity

I was recently inspired to write this because of podcast number 107. with guest Leigh Keno. Leigh made a remark that the younger crowd is influenced by the simple

functionality of the iPhone and similar Apple products. This got me thinking and I pondered if Apple decided to come out with a furniture line, then we (in the antique world), would have to eventually adapt to handling iChairs, iSofas, iLoungers and iDining sets… Ay yi, yi.

Shaker Revolving Chair

I too like simplicity and functionality, but when I think on those lines, my mind drifts immediately to Shaker furniture. It is most likely because I am self-brainwashed into loving just antiques. When I really open my eyes and mind, I can see the attraction and a parallel of appeal. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE READING

 

Brimfield, Social Media & Antiques Collide

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photos by Kate Manko

The year is 2012, the Large Hadron Collider is trying to separate the tiniest of particles, the Kepler Mission is finding all kinds of planets in other solar systems, and the antique market is colliding with social media.

In my attempt to be an antique geek, I am now sitting in the VIP tent at the Brimfield Tweet up. It  is nicely decorated and I dare say the fanciest tent on the grounds. I am looking around and realize I am the only male in the tent of around a dozen or so 20-30-something year old females. Most of which look like they are in the throws of writing something. It actually warms my heart to see young people typing away here at Brimfield. I mean who would have thunk? Even if they are not really interested in antiques, they are writing to what I would assume would be a young audience who may find out about this fun event.

My feet are tired and my brain hurts as I just walked what I would guess would be half the show. It is an upbeat event and I saw camera crews everywhere as they are filming PBS Market Wars. My search has been unsuccessful so far to find something that I can’t live without, but I will remain optimistic.

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