Antique Auction Forum Podcast By Martin Willis cover art

Antique Auction Forum

Antique Auction Forum

By: Martin Willis
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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.Copyright Martin Willis Art
Episodes
  • 206. The Lasting Marks of Human Hands

    206. The Lasting Marks of Human Hands
    Mar 1 2026
    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 care. Through the lens of early American furniture and historic infrastructure, this episode considers what it means to be stewards rather than owners, and asks an important question: what will survive of us? Antiques are not about nostalgia — they are about continuity, perspective, and the quiet responsibility of preserving memory across generations.
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    8 mins
  • 205. Smartphones vs. 18th-Century Furniture (‘My Kids Don't Want my Antiques')

    205. Smartphones vs. 18th-Century Furniture (‘My Kids Don't Want my Antiques')
    Feb 27 2026
    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 episode, I explore what’s really happening in the antiques world, whether we’ve lost something along the way, and why a hopeful email from a 14-year-old listener might signal that the next generation of collectors is already quietly forming.
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    6 mins
  • 204. Brown Furniture Isn’t Dead: A Boston Masterpiece Sets a New Benchmark

    204. Brown Furniture Isn’t Dead: A Boston Masterpiece Sets a New Benchmark
    Jan 3 2026
    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 rare behind-the-scenes perspective on what made this linen press so important, why serious collectors recognized its significance, and how quality, provenance, and condition can still ignite intense demand. Peter also noted that when an object comes to market combining condition, quality, form, rarity, and limited availability, buyers would be wise to pay close attention. Together, they explore what this sale signals for the future of Boston furniture and whether reports of “brown furniture’s death” have been greatly exaggerated. YOUTUBE VIDEO
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    13 mins
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