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 May 29, 2025, WorthPoint added 228,814 items to its Price Guide, totaling $23,419,146 in value, with an average lot value of $102.35.
My goal with this daily column is to learn alongside you and share insights from the vast WorthPoint database. With so much information available, it can be overwhelming to grasp everything it contains. That’s why I don’t just highlight the most expensive items—I focus on what’s interesting, emerging trends, and the occasional oddity that makes collecting so engaging.
What a Deal!
Damewood Auctioneers of Northern Virginia offered a piece on May 21 that flew largely under the radar: a “walnut high chest” that hammered for just $632.50. The title was generic, and the photos, marred by glare and a harsh red stain, didn’t do the piece any favors. However, a closer look reveals something quite different—a substantial, likely late-1700s Virginia-made chest with classic Chippendale elements, including reeded columns, bail pulls, and shapely feet. Yes, the backboard had been replaced, and there was evidence of a modern shellac job, but for the price, it was a true bargain. I would have happily bought it, refinished it in a darker walnut, and given it pride of place in my home.
What made this piece particularly intriguing was its construction method: the drawer divider frames were pegged directly into the case uprights, rather than using standard dovetails. This is highly unusual and may point to a specific regional maker or workshop tradition—possibly one that has been documented but not widely recognized. At 5’5″ tall and 45.5″ wide, this is not a subtle piece of furniture, but it embodies the quiet strength of Colonial Virginia craftsmanship. It also highlights the current undervaluation of large, non-trophy colonial furniture in today’s market. I’d love to know if Colonial Williamsburg or another institution has studied this specific joinery technique—it might unlock more than just the identity of a cabinetmaker, but a whole school of overlooked Southern craftsmanship.
A Top Performer
On the other end of the collecting spectrum, Dawson’s held a jewelry auction featuring 309 lots, bringing in a strong total of $523,612.42. The top performer was a striking 1970s Cartier octagonal wristwatch, which achieved $62,724.89. Crafted in 18ct yellow gold with a cream enamel dial and blue sword hands, the watch featured a manual-wind Jaeger LeCoultre movement and classic Cartier touches like Roman numerals and a cabochon crown. Despite lacking its original box or papers, it still drew fierce bidding, once again proving Cartier remains a dependable name in the auction world.
It’s Magical
Two Harry Potter wands from Deathly Hallows sold at Ewbanks for what seemed like impressive prices, each fetching $7,327. One wand was from Part 1 and the other from Part 2, both key to the story and beloved by fans. Though I’m no expert on the nuances between the two films, these props clearly carry significant value given their central role and established provenance. The Part 1 wand, made for Daniel Radcliffe, even shows signs of wear from filming, making it uniquely authentic. The Elder Wand from Part 2, known as the most powerful wand in the series, is equally iconic and comes with a metal core, highlighting its importance both on-screen and in the story’s climax. These sales underscore the enduring appeal of well-documented movie memorabilia tied to major franchises.
Abraham Lincoln Artifacts
The standout highlight of the day was undoubtedly the Freeman’s Hindman auction featuring 138 Abraham Lincoln-related items, many connected directly to his assassination. The blood-soaked gloves Lincoln wore that tragic night commanded a staggering $1,512,500, helping drive the sale’s impressive total gross of $7,967,194 with a median lot value of $12,080. This extraordinary collection captured the attention of collectors and historians alike, offering a deeply personal glimpse into one of America’s most pivotal moments.
Other remarkable lots included the handkerchief Lincoln had on that fateful night, which sold for $826,000, and a broadside issued during the manhunt for John Wilkes Booth that brought $762,500. A page from Lincoln’s 1824 math primer, reflecting his early education, commanded $521,200, while a cufflink worn by the president that evening fetched $445,000. These pieces underscore not only the historical significance of the items but also the high demand for tangible connections to the former president.
Souvenir hunters posed a real challenge during that period, much like today. The theater was eventually shut down to prevent looting, but not before numerous artifacts escaped. A chair from an adjoining booth on the night of the assassination sold for $15,360, consistent with other theater chairs that have surfaced in previous sales and period drawings. Even a small 4″ x 6″ travertine stone fragment from Lincoln’s receiving vault, acquired during restoration work in 1960, found a buyer at $2,432, illustrating the wide range of artifacts collectors are willing to pursue from such a historic event.
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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