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#WorthPoint #AuctionInsights #Collectibles #HistoricalArtifacts #AntiqueFurniture #CartierJewelry #HarryPotterMemorabilia #AbrahamLincoln #AuctionTrends #ArtifactCollecting #VintageFinds #AntiqueAuctions #InvestmentCollectibles #UniqueItems #HistoricalTreasures
Will Seippel, CEO of WorthPoint, regularly reviews items sold at auctions by WorthPoint Industry Partners, selecting standout pieces to share insights and trends with collectors. By analyzing these sales, Seippel aims to educate collectors on buying and selling strategies, empowering them to make informed decisions. On May 29, 2025, WorthPoint’s Price Guide added 228,814 items valued at $23,419,146, with an average lot value of $102.35. Seippel’s daily column focuses on interesting finds, emerging trends, and unique oddities, rather than solely highlighting the most expensive items.
One notable sale was a walnut high chest offered by Damewood Auctioneers of Northern Virginia on May 21. The chest, described generically and photographed poorly, hammered for just $632.50. However, closer examination revealed it to be a late-1700s Virginia-made piece with Chippendale features like reeded columns, bail pulls, and shapely feet. Despite minor restorations, it was a bargain. Seippel noted its unusual construction—drawer divider frames pegged directly into the case uprights—which may point to a specific regional maker or workshop tradition. At 5’5″ tall and 45.5″ wide, this substantial piece exemplifies Colonial Virginia craftsmanship. Its undervaluation reflects a broader trend of declining interest in large, non-trophy colonial furniture.
At the high end of the market, Dawson’s jewelry auction featured 309 lots, totaling $523,612.42. The top performer was a 1970s Cartier octagonal wristwatch, which sold for $62,724.89. Made of 18ct yellow gold with a cream enamel dial and blue sword hands, the watch featured a manual-wind Jaeger LeCoultre movement and classic Cartier design elements like Roman numerals and a cabochon crown. Despite missing its original box and papers, the watch’s strong sale reaffirmed Cartier’s enduring appeal in the auction world.
Harry Potter memorabilia also performed well at Ewbanks, with two wands from Deathly Hallows selling for $7,327 each. The Part 1 wand, used by Daniel Radcliffe, showed signs of wear from filming, adding to its authenticity. The Elder Wand from Part 2, depicting the most powerful wand in the series, featured a metal core and played a central role in the story’s climax. These sales highlight the strong demand for well-documented movie props from major franchises.
A standout auction was Freeman’s Hindman’s sale of 138 Abraham Lincoln-related items, many tied to his assassination. The blood-soaked gloves Lincoln wore on April 14, 1865, sold for $1,512,500, contributing to the sale’s total of $7,967,194. Other notable lots included Lincoln’s handkerchief from that night ($826,000), a broadside issued during the manhunt for John Wilkes Booth ($762,500), a page from Lincoln’s 1824 math primer ($521,200), and a cufflink he wore ($445,000). These items underscore the high demand for tangible connections to the former president. Even smaller artifacts, like a theater chair from the assassination night ($15,360) and a travertine fragment from Lincoln’s receiving vault ($2,432), attracted buyers, demonstrating collectors’ enthusiasm for historically significant pieces.
Seippel, an avid collector and dealer since 1974, founded WorthPoint to help collectors discover, value, and preserve history. His insights into these sales highlight the diverse and dynamic nature of the auction market, offering valuable lessons for collectors at all levels.
