THE LATEST ARTICLES
Julie Brener Davich
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September 21, 2025
The China Ceramics Syndrome
Sales at Christie’s, Sotheby’s, and Bonhams had mixed results for Chinese ceramics and furniture that underscore the changing patterns in international trade.
Julie Brener Davich
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September 7, 2025
Bottle Rockets
Once the gold standard for collectors, Bordeaux wines have seen better days and higher values. A new offering of nearly 1,000 prewar bottles, straight from the house of Rothschild, hopes to reset the market.
Julie Brener Davich
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August 31, 2025
The Old Masters’ New Wave
A rising generation of women is pushing to break into the old boys’ network at Maastricht, while trying to lower the barriers to entry along the way. Of course, it still helps to have inherited the family business.
Julie Brener Davich
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August 22, 2025
Dream Weaver
Legendary collector Pauline Karpidas has a genius for bringing together the fantastical and the surreal, and somehow making it work. The eclectic contents of her London flat, on offer at Sotheby’s next month, will feature a wide range of paintings and furniture. But for design collectors, the main draw is a rare, high-volume trove of Lalanne.
Julie Brener Davich
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August 17, 2025
The Antiques Roadshow Hangover
Regional auction houses have largely taken over the lower end of the decorative arts category, after Sotheby’s and Christie’s retreated to luxury sales while partnering with the smaller players on prestige collections. Meanwhile, a group of digital rivals has risen up to eat their lunch.
Julie Brener Davich
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August 10, 2025
Drive to Survive
Several of the world’s most collectible cars are coming up for auction this week in Monterey, including onetime owner Larry Ellison’s McLaren, estimated at $23 million, a 1961 Ferrari Spider (also at least $20 million), and a rare yellow Ferrari F50 once owned by Ralph Lauren.
Julie Brener Davich
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August 3, 2025
The Rise of Wearable Art
Artists from Lalanne to Picasso have made jewelry, sometimes as one-offs for friends and lovers, sometimes in larger numbers. Now, the niche field of artists’ jewelry is hitting its stride among buyers who might not splurge on a painting, but can spring for a pendant.
Julie Brener Davich
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July 29, 2025
Jane’s Addiction
News and notes on the aftershocks from the $10.1 million Birkin prototype sale at Sotheby’s Paris and the state of the secondary “quota” bag market.
Julie Brener Davich
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July 27, 2025
Gehry’s Boy From Biloxi
Unheralded during his lifetime, ceramicist George Ohr later drew praise from museum curators (and Warhol and Johns) for his abstract expressionist teapots and vases. This week, several of his works from the Donald Hecht collection are up for auction.
Julie Brener Davich
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July 20, 2025
JARheads
Luxury sales at the auction houses have grown exponentially as a percentage of their global business in the past few years, just as prices for fine and decorative arts have fallen. Jewelry, in particular, is performing exceptionally well.
