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.
On April 16, 2025, WorthPoint added a whopping 545,715 items to its Price Guide, bringing the total value to $213,654,737.93, with an average lot value of $391.51. Quite a haul!
Hidden in Plain Sight
You truly never know what treasures are hiding in someone’s home—and CTBids proves that time and again. A recent example was a painting by Henry Farny, one of my personal favorites, which slipped under the radar despite his name carrying serious weight in the art world. Known for his Western scenes rich in earth tones and depictions of Native American life, this piece was an unexpected departure: a nighttime impressionist-style painting, likely of a river or lake near his Cincinnati home. It was dated 1867, when Farny was just twenty, which may explain the difference in subject and style from his later million-dollar masterpieces.
The painting had been authenticated, signed (the signature was hiding behind the matting), and relined, though oddly, the listing omitted the size entirely—a rookie move in my book. As I always say, “size matters,” especially when determining value. It sold for $8,025.18, which might be a fair price from this American master, but without the dimensions, it’s hard to say for sure. If it were a medium or large piece, I would’ve been in the bidding for the name alone—because even in this early work, you can see the promise of Farny’s future greatness.
Pristine Beauty
We’ll be adding Heritage data for a few more weeks, which is a major task considering they moved nearly $3 billion worth of collectibles last year. One item that caught my attention in their recent sales was a Brittany 1498 Almost Uncirculated Gold Coin, which sold for $132,000. What really struck me wasn’t just the price, but the fact that this coin had been preserved in such pristine condition for over 500 years. Brittany, now part of modern-day France, was a fiercely independent region at the time, and this coin was minted as part of Anne of Brittany’s effort to assert her sovereignty. I often wonder where this coin might have been stashed away all these centuries. With its historical significance and beautiful design, it’s amazing to think how much history is embedded in such a small, tangible piece of art.
Perfect for a Man Cave
I’ve always had a soft spot for carved furniture, especially when it’s done in dark woods like walnut. King Galleries had an incredible Black Forest gun rack featuring Diana the Huntress, complete with a deer head, wild boar, and hunting dogs, making it a stunning example of Black Forest carving. This piece would have been a perfect fit for the mancave in my basement, and at $7,200, it was a steal for such a detailed and unique item. Measuring 31″ x 26″, it was the ultimate display of craftsmanship.
Do You Know What a Schrank Is?
I also came across an interesting Schrank that sold at MaxSold, which is a term many people may not be familiar with. A Schrank, derived from the German word “kleiderschrank,” is essentially a large wardrobe or closet, often tall and imposing. These pieces are designed to be easily assembled and disassembled, which makes them quite unique compared to most traditional furniture. This particular one, which was misspelled as “Shrunk” by the cataloger, had a very French Provincial feel to it rather than German, with intricately carved hunt scenes that almost seemed more Chinese in influence. It measured 65″ x 95″ x 18″, and though it looked like a solid piece of European furniture, likely made from yew or oak, its design leaned more toward French style. At $2,478, it was an excellent deal for such a substantial and beautifully crafted item.
It was a fun day, but tomorrow’s a new one! Always is in this business—never a dull moment!
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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