Auction Waves

The enduring legacy of historic works of art, the forever beauty of classic jewelry, all the wonders and the whimsies of our Summer Splendor Auction are captured for you by Elizabeth McLeod in her guided tour of bidding highlights!

From fine art to treasures from around the world, from unusual autos to a breathtaking selection of jewelry, Elizabeth McLeod brings you catalog highlights of Day 3 of our Summer Splendor Auction, with commentary by jewelry specialist Sylvia Li and our founder and auctioneer, Kaja Veilleux. And don't miss our new video version, available at the Thomaston Place Auction Galleries YouTube Channe...

Adventures in art await with Elizabeth McLeod as your docent, guiding you through artistic highlights both fine and folk from the second day of our Summer Splendor Auction. Our auctioneer and founder Kaja Veilleux shares his appreciation for the works of Gilbert Stuart and Robert S. Duncanson, and takes an up-close look at a remarkable hand-made wooden clock from 19th Century Maine, and an extraor...

Soldier, administrator, and distant relative of Winston Churchill? That's General Sylvester Churchill, and in this edition of Auction Waves, you'll hear his story as Elizabeth McLeod takes you on a walking tour of Day One of our Summer Splendor Auction, featuring several items of Gen. Churchill's personally-owned memorabilia, including the impressive presentation sword he received i...

When is a knife more than a knife? Outdoor expert Zeb Casperson knows, and he tells all when he discusses fine outdoor knives from Thomaston Place Auction Galleries’ North American Collection Auction in the latest edition of Auction Waves. Learn the origin, the significance, and the many practical uses of the traditional Inuit ulu knife, and discover the work of Chuck Bowen, Alaska's legendar...

Host Elizabeth McLeod discusses the unique features and histories of Native silver and turquoise with seasoned gem-trader and silversmith Laura Anderson.

Sylvia Li joins host Elizabeth McLeod to review unusual and spectacular pieces in the April 24th sale, with particular emphasis on an impressive assortment of Victoriana, including an unusual "poison ring" with a hidden compartment for your favorite keepsakes.

Elizabeth McLeod continues her conversation with founder and auctioneer Kaja Veilleux, as they review the important services the house provides after the auction is finished.

Thomaston Place Auction Galleries founder and auctioneer Kaja Veilleux joins host Elizabeth McLeod to demystify the process of auction consignment.

Get to know a fresh new voice behind the auction podium as Elizabeth McLeod introduces you to Connor Johnson, now rising to the challenges of this exciting career under the tutelage of master auctioneer Kaja Veilleux.

Winter may be on the way out, but the excitement of Winter Enchantment 2026 lingers on! Elizabeth McLeod reviews the highlights of our latest three-day feature sale. From Louis Vuitton to the lost lore of alchemy, it was an auction to remember!

Host Elizabeth McLeod chats with Thomaston Place Auction Galleries' jewelry specialist Sylvia Li about current and upcoming jewelry trends, and where you can find these styles in our upcoming Winter Enchantment 2026 auction catalog. Explore the jewelry featured on Day 3 of Winter Enchantment 2026

All great achievements require time, and so do great auctions! Join Elizabeth McLeod and Darrin Guitreau, Thomaston Place Auction Galleries' horological specialist, for a talk on the romance of fine wristwatches and detailed reviews of Darrin's top three timepieces in our upcoming Winter Enchantment Auction.

No need to drop in a nickel as you learn the colorful history of a 20th Century American institution! Elizabeth McLeod welcomes prominent jukebox collector and historian Ed Liss for a swinging discussion of the rise of these flashing mechanical marvels, and of the Rock-Ola company and the engineering genius behind it — with a special focus on the Rock-Ola Magic Glo Model 1422 appearing as Lot 3014...

The future isn't just coming – it's here! Join Elizabeth McLeod for a wide ranging conversation with Michael Clawson of International Artist Publishing and the American Arts Collective Podcast, as they explore art market trends for 2026, the influence of technology on the auction world, and the challenges posed by the rise of Artificial Intelligence. Michael Clawson is dedicated to eleva...

Megan Pinette of the Belfast Historical Society & Museum sits down with Elizabeth McLeod for a closer look at a fascinating lot featured in our upcoming Winter Enchantment Auction : an impressive scrimshawed powder horn bearing an image of the Belfast-built three-masted sailing vessel Ivanhoe, and the family record of this storied vessel's captain!  Additional auction highlights include a...

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 , an...

Elizabeth McLeod and Thomaston Place Auction Galleries jewelry specialist Sylvia Li sit down for a fun and educational review of Sylvia's top five picks in our upcoming Jewelry Auction: The Unreserved Collection and our December 5th sale . From a field guide to spotting Tiffany in the wild to the many shades of aquamarine, it's two gals sitting around talking gems! Thomaston Place Auctio...

Solved! The Case Of The Mystery Plate! In this special post-auction edition of Auction Waves , Elizabeth McLeod reviews highlights of our just-completed Autumn Majestic Auction and unveils the full story of an enigmatic license plate from 1909 that fascinated our gallery team! Special Guest Expert Alan Young gives us the facts. In this episode, we peel back the curtain on the research, speculation...

Flag expert and historian James Ferrigan of the North American Vexillological Association (NAVA) joins Elizabeth McLeod for a fascinating journey through The Glory of Old Glory — America’s most iconic symbol. Together, they explore a series of early American flags featured in Day 1 of our Autumn Majestic Auction , and Ferrigan shares his expertise in flag design, symbolism, and preservation , reve...

With our Autumn Majestic auction ready to go this week, we bring you a special release of Auction Waves! Elizabeth McLeod and Kaylor Bergman review the procedure and the advantages of phone bidding in this exciting four day auction, and Elizabeth follows clock expert Peter Rioux as he explains the procedure for setting up a two-century-old New England Tall Clock, available for your bids in this au...

Inspired by the remarkable discovery of a hidden second image on the verso of Lot 4380 —a work by James Fitzgerald featured in our upcoming Autumn Majestic Auction —Thomaston Auction presents an exclusive conversation between Elizabeth McLeod and Dr. Susan Danly , acclaimed American art historian and Fitzgerald expert. In this in-depth discussion, Danly—former Senior Chief Curator at the Portland...

Contemporary sculptor Harvey Peterson worked in Maine for fifteen years, creating a fascinating series of articulated wooden figures in a unique vernacular style, three of which are featured in our upcoming Autumn Majestic Auction. In this edition of Auction Waves, Harvey Peterson joins Elizabeth McLeod for a vigorous exploration of these works.  Born in Seattle, Washington, Harvey has spent most...

Collector and researcher Eric Taylor of porcelainplates.net joins Elizabeth McLeod for a fascinating look at the earliest years of the not-so-humble automobile license plate, and gives his surprising pick as the rarest item in an impressive collection of pre-WWI plates featured in our Autumn Majestic Auction .  Together, they discuss the early automobilists and uncover how these resilient, hand-cr...

From East to West, how did remarkable Asian art and antiques find their way to Maine? In this episode of Auction Waves , Elizabeth McLeod sits down with Chris Timm of the Maine Maritime Museum in Bath to uncover the fascinating journeys behind these treasures. Together, they explore the global networks, maritime stories, and cultural exchanges that shaped this surprising history. Located on the Ke...