In this special year-end edition Elizabeth McLeod recaps the highlights of each of the ten auctions conducted at Thomaston Place Auction Galleries over the year past, and looks ahead to the coming 2026 auction season! From rare coins to classic cars, and fine timepieces to landmark works of fine art, historic Americana, and headline-making estates—including Brooke Astor, Sally Jessy Raphael, and Herb Belkin—this episode revisits the standout moments from a remarkable auction year. Highlights include record-setting results, unexpected discoveries, and memorable bidding moments—from a legendary 1895 Morgan silver dollar and a royal Ottoman pocket watch, to important works by Andrew Wyeth, Ram Kumar, Dahlov Ipcar (including Chickens in the Garden and Antelope Mandala), and James Fitzgerald. The episode also explores the discovery of a previously unknown verso image on a Fitzgerald work ("Two Dories", CR# 1354, Second image verso, "Island Women" CR# 1353) and the collaborative scholarship undertaken between Thomaston Place Auction Galleries and the Mohegan Museum and Fitzgerald Legacy, offering listeners a rare view into the research and stewardship behind significant works of art. Listen to the episode and read the full story. Inviting Collectors Collectors take note: listeners can look forward to more important works by Dahlov Ipcar and James Fitzgerald in the coming year, as Thomaston Place Auction Galleries continues its commitment to stewarding important Maine artists. The 2026 season will also feature important works by artists with strong Maine connections, including Imero Gobbato, Everett Shinn, and William Thon, alongside nationally and internationally renowned artists. No matter how you look at it, 2025 was a year to remember—and in this celebratory episode of Auction Waves, Elizabeth takes listeners on a richly detailed journey through an extraordinary auction season. In addition to fine art, the year brought notable results in jewelry, furniture, memorabilia, and even a classic Mercedes roadster, underscoring the breadth and vitality of the auction program. Throughout the episode, Elizabeth places each sale in context, offering insight into collector enthusiasm, evolving market trends, and the behind-the-scenes rhythm of life at a working auction gallery. Marking both the close of the auction year and the completion of the first full year of Auction Waves, this episode offers a moment to reflect on what has been accomplished—and to look ahead to what promises to be another compelling auction season.
