(Flat Rock, N.C.) – A Reed & Barton “Francis I” sterling tea and coffee set with matching tray, totaling over 270 troy ounces, sold for $11,000 at a massive three-day multi-estate sale held February 21-23 by Richard D. Hatch & Associates.Reed & Barton “Francis I” sterling tea and coffee set with matching tray. The set included a teapot; coffee pot; sugar and creamer; and 22” x 30-1/2” handled tray. It was the top lot in a sale that grossed more than $500,000. “Many fine silver pieces changed hands at this sale and perhaps ... Read the full story

(Pittsfield, Mass.) – A gorgeous rosewood laminated marble-top center table by J. & J.W. Meeks, in untouched all-original condition, sold for $48,875 at an Exceptional Antique Auction held February 23 by Fontaine’s Auction Gallery. The sale was held in the firm’s spacious gallery, located at 1485 W. Housatonic Street in Pittsfield. The Meeks table was the day’s top lot of the over 1,000 sold. “By any measure this was a hugely successful auction,” said John Fontaine of Fontaine’s Auction Gallery. “About 350 people ... Read the full story

A highly valuable Victoria Cross group of Vietnam War medals will be offered at a Sydney Auction conducted by Bonhams & Goodman on Tuesday 20 May at 6.00pm. The widow of the “Galloping Major” Peter Badcoe, VC has also consigned an extraordinary collection of archival material including 37 personal letters from her late husband containing an unprecedented insight into life at the front during the height of the Vietnam War. Most of the letters will be available at the viewing preceding the auction however the family has asked that a small group of ... Read the full story

NEW YORK — Christie’s has announced an unparalleled collection of period jewels from the 17th century through modern day in the April 15th evening sale in New York: Rare Jewels and Gemstones: The Eye of a Connoisseur. With 115 lots, this extraordinary collection expects to realize record prices for historical jewels, iconic emblems of the Art Nouveau and Art Deco periods and also one of the most important pink diamonds ever to be offered for sale at auction. François Curiel, Christie’s Chairman of Jewellery, commented, “When I reflect upon ... Read the full story

The results of Swann Auction Galleries’ March 13, 2008, autograph auction exceeded pre-sale estimates by nearly $200,000, though not all lots were sold. All prices listed include buyer’s premium. The sale featured notable Americana items, rare photographs, and collection of postcards, many illustrated, from diverse 20th-century luminaries, sending felicitations to the Eiffel Tower upon her centennial in 1989. The top lot was a John Hancock autographed letter, which was signed with initials to George Washington upon Washington’s retirement, dated October ... Read the full story

MONTEREY, Calif – Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca announced that Kruse International will host a collector car auction at the world-famous race track during the Monterey Festival of Speed, May 16-18. The auction is just one part of the numerous events taking place during the race weekend for families, car enthusiasts, and race fans to enjoy. The collector car auction will take place on Saturday, May 17, and will be encompassed all weekend by sports car and open-wheel racing, as well as numerous fan activities. Coordinated by Mike Hennessy Classic ... Read the full story

Amazing assortment includes high-end game used baseball bats, game worn gear, baseball cards and blue-chip items from other sports and non-sports genre Mastro Auctions’ Sports and Americana Premier sales are known for many things in the industry. With each Premier Auction, the hobby not only anticipates but expects quality, diversity and that something extra that Mastro Auctions always brings to the bidding table. In the upcoming April Premier event that extra bonus manifests itself in the form of extraordinary depth in a number of collecting areas. ... Read the full story

New York – Swann Galleries’ third auction of African-American Fine Art on Feb. 19 was its largest and highest-grossing sale in the category to date, bringing in more than $2.7 million. Once again benchmarks were set for works by important and lesser-known African-American artists. The top lot, Building More Stately Mansions, an oil painting by famed Harlem Renaissance artist Aaron Douglas, sold for $600,000 – an auction record for the artist’s work. It was purchased by the Rhode Island School of Design Museum where it will be exhibited in their ... Read the full story

When quality goods come out, so do the bidders. This was the case recently when James D. Julia’s antiques and fine art auction, their largest winter sale to date, grossed nearly $2.9 million. Assembled from various collections and estates from across North America, it featured the Estate of Jane Stradley of Kemblesville, Pennsylvania and Princess Anne, Maryland and selections from the Heldenbrand Estate of South Portland, Maine. One of the most noteworthy nautical finds to come out of Maine (or anywhere for that matter) in many years was an exceedingly ... Read the full story

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla – Collector car sales remain strong after two days of No Reserve auction action at the 6th Annual Barrett-Jackson Collector Car Event in West Palm Beach, Fla. Combined automotive sales from March 27-28 totaled nearly $10 million with automobilia sales up almost 50 percent from last year. Attendance numbers at the Americraft Expo Center at the South Florida Fairgrounds climbed nine percent from last year, as approximately 33,300 visitors enjoyed the first two days of the automotive lifestyle event. The auction continues today with ... Read the full story

Calabasas, CA – Profiles in History offered over 1100 iconic Hollywood items at a two day Hollywood memorabilia auction — March 27 & 28, 2008. TOP 30 AUCTION HIGHLIGHTS: $345,000.00 King Kong six-sheet movie poster. $126,500.00 Leaping Alien Warrior figure from Aliens. $115,000.00 “Ming the Merciless” cape from Flash Gordon. (Univ., 1936) $115,000.00 Hydraulic screen-used Velociraptor from The Lost World: Jurassic Park II. $103,500.00 Michael Keaton’s complete “Batman” costume from Batman Returns. $97,750.00 Pteranodon display ... Read the full story

New York – Results are drawn from LiveAuctioneers.com’s more than 675 affiliate auction houses across the globe. The company’s database is updated daily with new hammer prices, and represents one of the Web’s most up-to-date resources available. Gent’s Rolex Explorer II wristwatch Sold at Clars’ Fabulous February Auction, Feb. 2-3. The top Internet lot was a fabulous gentleman’s Rolex Explorer II wristwatch with black dial and bezel and oyster bracelet. The wristwatch, with original Rolex box and papers, was estimated at $2,000-$3,000 and ... Read the full story

MT. CRAWFORD, Va. – Green Valley hosted its sixth annual winter auction of glass and lighting Jan. 25-27, selling more than 3,500 pieces in 1,804 lots over four sessions. The sale was conducted at the firm’s auction galleries in Mt. Crawford, Va., located in the heart of the Shenandoah Valley, and was also available on the Internet via eBay Live Auctions. The auction grossed more than $375,000 and resulted in more than 320 successful absentee, telephone and Internet bidders. Green Valley first offered 128 uncataloged box lots of miscellaneous pattern ... Read the full story

New York – Collectors and admirers of vintage estate jewelry are looking forward to the April 22 auction of fine jewelry at Bonham’s, preceded by previews in Bonhams’ showrooms in Los Angeles and San Francisco before coming to New York City where the preview and simulcast sale will take place in the auctioneer’s new Manhattan showroom slated to open earlier in the month. Among the 200 lots will be a number of items expected to spur heavy bidding from members of the trade and an international pool of collectors. ... Read the full story

Bloomsbury’s Bibliophile sale with its distinctive orange cover (3rd April), is particularly noteworthy for its strong Conjuring section. Last year Bloomsbury had a whole sale dedicated to Magic books which attracted magicians from all over the country; the wires were humming with bids from the United States and Europe. Unrelated to conjuring, but no less magical, are various lots including The Worst Journey in the World. Antarctic 1910-1913 by Apsley Cherry-Garrard. Regarded as the ‘best written and most enduring account of exploits in the Antarctic’, ... Read the full story

A Moorcroft vase, one of the largest ones ever made by this very popular factory is going under the Charterhouse hammer in their Decorative Arts auction on Friday 18th April at The Long Street Salerooms, Sherborne. England. Saleroom staff member David Sims with the massive Moorcroft vase in the Charterhouse auction on Friday 18th April £600-1,000 “Moorcroft is perhaps one of the most recognizable pottery manufacturers from the 20th century with its distinctive tube line decoration, deep lustre glazes and wonderful designs.” Commented Richard Bromell. ... Read the full story

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla – The world’s premier collector car auction company, Barrett-Jackson, and SPEED™, the definitive motorsports and automotive lifestyle network, have reached an agreement on a multi-year contract to continue live broadcasts of the Barrett-Jackson Collector Car Events in Scottsdale, Ariz., and West Palm Beach, Fla., and extend coverage to include Barrett-Jackson’s new Las Vegas auction. The deal gives SPEED exclusive rights to live coverage of Barrett-Jackson’s three auctions and will include multi-platform support such as ... Read the full story

New York, NY – This spring in New York and later this year in London,, Sotheby’s will offer works from the Collection of Helga and Walther Lauffs, one of the most important German private collections of Contemporary art to ever appear on the market. This collection includes major works from artists ranging from Joseph Beuys, Yves Klein and Piero Manzoni, to Carl Andre, Dan Flavin, Tom Wesselmann and Robert Rauschenberg, and comprises important representatives of Minimalism, Pop art, New Realism, Conceptual art and Arte Povera. Approximately 34 works ... Read the full story

LONDON – Christie’s are proud to provide a day of inspirational decorative delights with a dynamic twist on Thursday, 24 April 2008. Coinciding with The Victoria and Albert Museum’s new exhibition on Thomas Hope, supported by Christie’s, the morning session of the sale presents the various stylistic facets of Thomas Hope (1769-1831), showcasing the range of styles associated with the Regency period for which he is renowned. Estimates range from £2,000 through to £100,000 for exemplary pieces such a Regency mahogany ‘Curule’ desk-bergere, ... Read the full story

Manhattan, New York – Spink Smythe’s March 20th (auction #278), spring paper money auction was well received by collectors of world banknotes, with heated bidding on higher quality lots. As has become the trend at Spink Smythe during recent numismatic auctions, quality lots have once again inspired bidders. This was typified by frantic bidding on several lots where the final bid well exceeded their pre-auction estimates. One of the more interesting lots offered was a 1932 Bank of Ethiopia, 500 Thaler, uncirculated note (see photo) which was ... Read the full story