Will Seippel, CEO of WorthPoint, enjoys watching the objects offered at auctions held by our WorthPoint Trade Companions. We thought it might be an amazing thought for him to pick a few of his favourite offered objects and clarify why these gross sales stood out to him. Gaining insights from Will is a wonderful approach to find out about shopping for and promoting tendencies in our business. We wish to empower you to purchase and promote with confidence. Check out his ideas on just a few of our companions’ current gross sales.
Let’s kick off at present with some thrilling finds from the most recent WorthPoint replace. On January 21, 2025, we added over 251,000 objects, totaling greater than $15.2 million in worth. That’s a median of about $60 per merchandise, showcasing the unbelievable selection and potential treasures hidden in these auctions.
Out of the Unusual Objects
First, let’s discuss a really standout piece we got here throughout—a French Regency Tombstone Chest from our buddies at Antikeo. The Regency interval would possibly sound like a quick chapter in historical past, nevertheless it really marks some intriguing moments. In France, this was when Louis XV was too younger to rule (1715-1723), whereas throughout the Channel, the UK was coping with King George III’s…nicely, let’s say, “eccentricities.” So, the chest is formally attributed to the French Regency fashion of 1715-1723. The chest doesn’t appear to have a maker’s stamp, nevertheless it nonetheless radiates that traditional interval magnificence.
Now, about that identify—tombstone chest. It’s a little bit of a thriller, nevertheless it seemingly refers back to the thought of a chest at a gravesite holding the deceased’s ultimate belongings. That may be a unusual comparability for a bit of furnishings, proper? However the identify caught. What’s actually hanging about this one is the craftsmanship: violet wooden veneer, gilded copper channels, and complex bronze ormolu pulls and mounts. The cherry-red marble high? Completely gorgeous. The chest offered for $10,652.60, and I’ve to consider it carried some secrets and techniques—or not less than some well-kept treasures.
What actually caught my eye, although, have been the copper drawer guides—one thing I hadn’t seen earlier than. Little particulars like that make this piece stand out, including a layer of expertise that’s onerous to disregard. It’s a true testomony to the artistry of the French Regency period.
Antikeo had one other piece that left me intrigued and skeptical: an 18th-century Canivet Reliquary. In layman’s phrases, it’s a cupboard designed to deal with holy relics, and this one was stated to comprise 140 of them, together with a bit of Christ’s clothes. Created in 1735, it raises the query—how do you show a relic that’s purported to be from Christ’s time? I imply, except somebody’s obtained a time machine, it’s onerous to know for positive. Regardless of the uncertainty across the authenticity of that specific relic, the reliquary itself is a murals. The piece options 12 symbolic niches and 15 medallions, all framed in a superbly carved and gilded construction, making it a hanging show of expertise.
Whereas the historical past and thriller are fascinating, the value tag of $8,000 feels extra like a nod to its non secular and historic significance than any concrete proof of the relics’ origin. An interesting merchandise, little doubt, however one which leaves you questioning concerning the tales behind the relics it homes.
Price a Shot
I really like the work of Karl Fabergé—and I really like vodka. So after I noticed Helios had a cased Russian Fabergé Vodka set, I couldn’t assist however assume, that is the proper mixture of luxurious and enjoyable. Overlook the supernatural or religious relics; I’d reasonably take pleasure in this set with 5 shut buddies and a relaxing martini in hand. In spite of everything, some issues by no means exit of fashion, and a good looking vodka service like this one actually suits the invoice. With six cups, a jug with stopper, and a tray, all crafted by Fabergé in 1890, this set offered for $12,065—proving that good style by no means goes out of style.
Two Beneficial Negatives
Lastly, one lot that caught my eye within the newest eMoviePoster sale was a pair of studio negatives that includes the legendary Grace Kelly. These two authentic 4″ x 5″ photographic negatives introduced in $3,000, and it’s a worth that makes you cease and assume. Studio negatives, and negatives generally, have usually been ignored as artwork types, however this sale might sign a shift. The negatives seize iconic moments like Grace Kelly receiving her Oscar from Natalie Wooden or her with William Holden—timeless photos of Hollywood glamour.
Will Seippel is the founder, president, and CEO of WorthPoint. Will has been an avid collector since 1974 and supplier of nearly all issues vintage—with an emphasis on ephemera— since 1984. He’s additionally the creator and founding father of HIP, an internet site dedicated to recording the very best of the world’s historical past that has been saved on movie.
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