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.
I couldn’t believe my eyes when I was scrolling through the latest additions to our Price Guide. We added over 255,000 items totaling more than $16 million? Yep, you read that right—$63 an item on average. I’m here to share some of the most interesting ones we came across.
Wally World
This week, a Martin Brothers Wally Bird decanter that sold for an impressive $25,000 at the Lion and Unicorn auction caught my eye. These charming ceramic tobacco decanters are a serious collector’s item. Wally Birds are tobacco containers or vases in the style of a grotesque, yet charming, bird. WorthPoint has only recorded nineteen sales of these since 2009 that went above $6,000. It’s been almost a decade since one went for under $10,000. These rarities have mostly made their way through high-end auction houses like Rago’s (seven sales—three in January 2025), Lion and Unicorn (five sales), Morphy’s (two sales), plus a few from Pook and Pook, Freman’s, and Heritage. Given their scarcity, I was surprised to see another come to the market so soon. The fact that four of the twenty came up in the last month is really rare.
But the Martin Brothers weren’t done impressing with this sale. Alongside the Wally Bird was a stunning grotesque aquatic jardiniere, which went for $12,500. This hand-painted, hand-moulded piece from 1891 featured detailed water creatures and plants, showcasing the same eccentric style Martin Brothers is known for. If you’re familiar with their work, you’ll know their figures can bring huge money—two pieces have even sold for over $100,000 each. The moral of the story? If it’s Martin Brothers, and it’s old, you might want to pay extra close attention—it’s probably worth more than you think!
Intricately Designed
Casco Bay recently sold a stunning Chinese white jade carving of a dragon for $37,200, and while it was small—only about 3 inches long—it certainly packed a punch. Despite a tiny missing piece near the tail, the carving still commanded a jaw-dropping price, and honestly, that minor imperfection didn’t seem to matter. The piece was intricately designed with a hollow center and delicate filigree work, showcasing exceptional craftsmanship.
Picasso Is Still Strong
Picasso and Warhol pieces saw strong results at multiple auctions recently. Picasso and Warhol made waves at auctions recently. Bradford’s sold a beautiful Hibou Rouge Sur Fond Noir bowl featuring a striking red bird on black for $17,424. This 17.5″ terracotta piece from Picasso’s iconic Madoura series is a standout example of his mastery of ceramics. They also had a Warhol Blackglama print featuring Judy Garland, which went for $34,606, proving that Warhol’s pop iconography continues to attract serious collectors.
At Neely Auctions, Picasso was still the star, with three works breaking records. Le Picador II from A Los Toros Avec sold for $6,000, a new WorthPoint record. Two more pieces, La Petite Corrida and a linocut Portrait of a Lady after Lucas Cranach, sold for $4,625 and $5,875, respectively—also setting WorthPoint records for these pieces. These strong prices for Picasso’s works highlight the continued demand and appreciation for his iconic art.
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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