#Insights #Auction #Sales #January #WorthPoint
Will Seippel, CEO of WorthPoint, enjoys watching the items sold at auctions held by our WorthPoint Industry Partners. We thought it would be a great idea for him to select some of his favorite sold items and explain why those sales stood out to him. Gaining insights from Will is an excellent way to learn about buying and selling trends in our industry. We want to empower you to buy and sell with confidence. Take a look at his thoughts on a few of our partners’ recent sales.
Wow, the new year is off to a fast start! We’ve added 292,036 items to the database, totaling over $61 million in sales—that’s about $209 per lot! With such impressive numbers, some pretty cool things have made their way in, and my job is to highlight the best of them.
The Throne of the Galaxy
There’s been a lot of buzz around the Star Wars sale at Hake’s—and for good reason! But let’s not forget, there are other galaxies where cool Star Wars collectibles are being sold, like Omega Auctions. In their January 5th sale, they had something truly out of this world: a Phantom Menace Prop Chair from 1999! Used in the cockpit of the J-Type 327 Nubian Royal Starship, this iconic piece went for $3,176.83, complete with a solid provenance. Honestly, I was almost tempted to buy it myself—just imagine watching your favorite Star Wars movies from the comfort of that chair. If that’s not a throne for an astronaut in any neighborhood, I don’t know what is!
This original screen-used chair was obtained directly from set manager David Bubbs, and it’s got some serious history behind it. While the premiere invitation and after-party necklace from Bubbs aren’t included, the provenance adds a nice touch of authenticity. Talk about a collectible with star power—this prop chair would definitely be the centerpiece of any Star Wars fan’s collection!
A Hidden Gem
On the other hand, here’s a hidden gem that flew a bit under the radar—a striking portrait of Axl Rose, done in an abstract style by Scottish artist Lakshman Wimalasena sold for only $730.67 at Omega Auctions. The colors and overall vibe of this piece are incredible, and I can easily imagine it lighting up any modern space in Miami or California. Measuring 40″ x 51″ (100cm x 130cm), it’s a real statement piece, and what makes it even cooler is that it was created for the Lulea Kallax shirt brand—so there are likely shirts out there with this design on them. Original works by Wimalasena typically go for over £2,000, so at the price it went for, this one was an absolute steal. If I had a booth in Miami or LA, you can bet this would’ve been front and center!
Gumdrops, Anyone?
And to be honest, there are so many amazing items I’d love to share with you today, but sometimes, it’s the simpler pieces that catch my eye. Take, for example, this pair of 1940s Bakelite bangle bracelets from Ripley’s Auctions. These “Gumdrop” bangles, which sold for $1,062.50, really hit that sweet spot between affordable and charming. With a 2 5/8” inner diameter (which I think was meant to be the width), they’re a perfect fit for most wrists—unless, of course, you’re very tiny! Despite a small crack on the green one, these vintage beauties are still a total steal!
Will Seippel is the founder, president, and CEO of WorthPoint. Will has been an avid collector since 1974 and dealer of just about all things antique—with an emphasis on ephemera— since 1984. He is also the creator and founder of HIP, a website devoted to recording the best of the world’s history that has been saved on film.
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