Antique Auction Forum

Antique Auction Forum

Bringing you audio podcast interviews focusing on the full range of collecting antiques, art, decorative art as well as auctions and the history of it all. We conduct interviews with Auctioneers, Artists, Antique Dealers, Art Dealers, Appraisers, Experts & Specialists, Historians, Curators, Avid Collectors, Show Promoters and more. We hope to provide information touching on all segments of the industry.

Episodes

208. Margaret Schwartz Modern Antiquarian

May 9, 2026 • 42 mins
Margaret Schwartz, known as The Modern Antiquarian, joins me to talk about how she went from a spontaneous antiques tour to filling a 20 foot container in a single day and launching a successful business. We discuss what it really takes to learn the trade, including early mistakes, pricing challenges, and how to spot reproductions in a market where fakes can easily fool newcomers. Margaret also shares her shift into garden antiques...
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207. $1 Start Turns Into $200,000 | Rare Bible

April 20, 2026 • 36 mins
What started as just another estate auction turned into one of the most shocking results I’ve ever seen. A worn, heavily used 18th-century Bible, something most people would overlook, ended up selling for nearly $200,000. And the most incredible part? It started at just $1. In this conversation with Dan Meader of John McInnis Auctioneers, we break down exactly how this extraordinary result came together; Dan and his colleague Jay W...
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206. The Lasting Marks of Human Hands

March 1, 2026 • 7 mins
In this reflective episode, Martin explores how antiques connect us to the forgotten lives of the past. A chance discovery of a granite canal post near a historic 1790 house sparks a deeper meditation on craftsmanship, stewardship, and legacy. From 18th-century canal workers to New England cabinetmakers, the objects that survive today are more than decorative artifacts — they are physical evidence of human effort, ambition, and car...
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205. Smartphones vs. 18th-Century Furniture (‘My Kids Don't Want my Antiques')

February 27, 2026 • 6 mins
This is a short podcast on my observation. Each week I hear the same unsettling phrase: “My kids don’t want my antiques.” It’s a reflection of a larger shift — fewer young people feel emotionally connected to the objects of the past, and categories like formal dining furniture, china, and traditional collections have taken a hit. Is it the internet, changing lifestyles, disposable culture, or simply shifting priorities? In this epi...
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204. Brown Furniture Isn’t Dead: A Boston Masterpiece Sets a New Benchmark

January 3, 2026 • 12 mins
A Boston mahogany linen press has just shattered expectations, soaring to a price level rarely seen in today’s market for American brown furniture. In this episode, Martin breaks down the remarkable sale at John McInnis Auctioneers in Amesbury, where competitive bidding pushed this exceptional piece into record territory. Joining the conversation is Martin’s good friend, Peter Sawyer—and the underbidder on the piece—who offers a ra...
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203. Linda Zimmermann on Civil War Soldier Albion Brooks

December 4, 2025 • 78 mins
Martin sits down with author and historian Linda Zimmermann to explore her powerful new book, A Civil War Soldier and Me—the true story of Sgt. Albion Brooks of the 8th Connecticut Volunteers. Over the course of 30 years, Linda traced Albion’s life through original letters, diaries, and family papers spanning three generations. In this conversation, she and Martin discuss how a single Civil War soldier became a personal obsession,...
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    202. Why Antiques Matter with Johanna McBrien

    April 24, 2025 • 51 mins
    In this episode, we’re joined by Johanna McBrien who has worked in the field for more than 40 years in the antiques, publishing, and museum fields. From Historic New England to teaching at RISD and Boston Architectural College, Johanna has spent her career digging into the rich stories behind furniture, interiors, and decorative arts. Johanna discusses her love for 18th century Salem, MA furniture (see our related video: https://ww...
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    201. Fire Buckets & The Borden Limner

    December 7, 2024 • 17 mins
    The Single Portrait Martin grew up near historic Portsmouth, New Hampshire—a treasure trove of Colonial-era antiques and stories. In the 1980s, he uncovered a set of stunning fire buckets and portraits linked to local artist John S. Blunt. With help from his friend, historian Joe Copley, Martin pieced together their history, leading to a record-breaking $32,500 bid at auction. It’s a story about discovery, passion for history, and ...
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    200. Jake Sconyers | The Boston Molasses Disaster

    September 5, 2024 • 61 mins
    The 1919 Molasses Flood was a tragic and significant event in the history of Boston’s North End, reflecting the challenges of a rapidly changing city after World War I. In this episode, Jake Sconyers from the HUB History podcast delves into the disaster, examining the working-class Italian immigrant community it affected, the lasting impact on the neighborhood, and how the Great Molasses Flood has become a piece of Boston's endurin...
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    199. Martin Willis, My Life with Antiques

    August 4, 2024 • 34 mins
    First ever monologue discussing how I got into antiques, and the adventure along the way. From digging bottles, a 1964 garage sale, to my dad auctioning for the first time by replacing a drunken auctioneer. Let's not forget a $300k rug fragment that came from the box lot of things that could not sell at a yard sale. This fragment was from the same home that we were all excited about the Paul Revere silver spoon & and lastly  a ...
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    198. Former FBI Art Crime Recover Agent, Robert K. Wittman

    July 18, 2024 • 59 mins
    Robert K. Wittman had a remarkable career as an FBI agent for 20 years, from 1988 to 2008. Specializing in art theft and cultural property crime, Robert became the FBI’s go-to expert for these types of cases. His impressive work undercover led to the recovery of over $300 billion worth of stolen art and property across 20 different countries. His extensive undercover operations are detailed in his book, Priceless: How I Went Underc...
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    197. Dan Carlin (replay)

    October 27, 2021 • 35 mins
    2010 interview with HARDCORE HISTORY'S Dan Carlin, a fascinating guest who's podcast still holds up after 11 years. Dan talks about prep for his shows, the predictable things that happen when you reflect on history and much more.
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    196. Art Guard Bill Anderson

    March 27, 2021 • 28 mins
    Founder of Art Guard, Bill Anderson discusses the art theft market, as well as Art Guard’s system which is dedicated to protecting anything that’s valuable and portable. A system that is always on, operating discreetly in the background, managed from anywhere on a mobile device.
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    195. Adam Zimmerman, New York Antiques Dealer

    February 8, 2021 • 25 mins
    Adam discusses the antiques business today in the New York City surroundings, an area of exodus, the merchandise available and how to handle things as a buyer and seller in a COVID restricted environment. Check out his website: Syl-Lee Antiques
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    194. Stephen Schofield on Coins & Stamps

    November 19, 2020 • 52 mins
    Martin Willis interviews longtime friend Stephen Schofield on coins and stamps, and how rare are rare coins? What about collecting stamps? What to do for more information about what dad or grandad may have stashed away. Who to trust and what the importance is of condition and care for these historic pieces passing through our lives. For images and info check out his auction website: http://www.centennialauctions.com/
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    193. Maine Artist, David Vickery

    October 6, 2020 • 32 mins
    One of Maine's noted artists, David Vickery discusses his path on becoming an artist by first looking through a camera lens, what challenges him and what inspires him. Check out his Varieties of Maine Realism at: http://www.dvickery.com/https://www.dowlingwalsh.com/artists/david-vickery
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    192. Brimfield ONLINE

    May 7, 2020 • 25 mins
    Martin Willis speaks with Mike Lord & Justin Nash who decided that they were not going to let one of the country's largest antiques shows not happen during the virus, so they created an online event to rival the experience of being there. Gates open May 12, 10:00 AM EDT. #Feelthebrim https://feelthebrim.com/https://www.facebook.com/groups/BrimfieldOnline/
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    191. Owls Head Transportation Museum

    April 24, 2020 • 43 mins
    Curator, Rob Verbsky on the collection of planes, antique cars, motorcycles, memorabilia and more. What is considered transportation, interesting stories, the rarest of the collection, how it all began, the future and more. Check out these related links: http://owlshead.org  http://owlshead.org/collections/category/aircraft http://owlshead.org/collections/category/automobiles http://owlshead.org/collections/category/motorcycles htt...
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    190. Auction Houses Coping with COVID-19

    April 4, 2020 • 73 mins
    Interviews with auction houses around the country on the new reality of "Online Only Auctions", with Stephen Fletcher of Skinner Auctioneers in Boston; Wes Cowan of Cowan's Auctions, Ohio; Rick Unruh of Clars Auction Gallery, Oakland, CA and Greg Willett, a global picker, Wisconsin. www.skinnerinc.com https://www.cowanauctions.comhttps://clars.com https://www.gregwillettantiques.com
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    189. Richard Wright & David Rago

    February 11, 2020 • 35 mins
    Interview with Richard Wright and David Rago about their Rago/Wright merger, how it is expanding business and their perspectives on material they handle, such as buying, selling and collecting in the current market. Check out the websites: https://www.ragoarts.com/ https://www.wright20.com/Show Notes and Transcript
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