2025: The Year in Review

Louis Comfort Tiffany was one of America’s preeminent masters of the decorative arts. His Tiffany Studios became famous for achievements in glass, especially vibrantly colored windows and lamps. Public taste shifted during the 1920s, and the scrolls and natural curves central to Tiffany’s designs fell out of favor. Scholars rediscovered his work in the 1950s, followed by the art market a decade later. Today, Tiffany Studios pieces are prized for their high production quality, nature-inspired designs, and stunning colored glass.

After suffering serious injuries in a motorcycle accident in 1966, singer-songwriter Bob Dylan was bedridden and rumored to be dead. To promote his forthcoming album, Bob Dylan’s Greatest Hits, CBS commissioned Milton Glaser to design a poster to be packaged with it. Inspired by a Marcel Duchamp self-portrait, Glaser depicted Dylan in profile, his curly hair rendered in saturated colors against a white background. The swirling colors evoke the psychedelic era.

When architect and industrial designer Eero Saarinen (1910–1961) contemplated his groundbreaking Womb Chair, he said, simply: “Now more than ever, we need to relax.” More than seventy years later, Saarinen's words remain true. With its organic form and liberating comfort, the chair debuted in 1948 and remains a design wonder. The Womb Chair from Knoll International sold for $3,810 at auction in February.

Created by Italian luthier Antonio Stradivari, the Stradivarius violin is one of the most celebrated musical instruments in the world. It is believed that Stradivari crafted about 960 violins, with roughly 650 surviving today. When a Stradivarius comes to market, it sells for millions. A 311-year-old example known as the “Joachim-Ma” Stradivarius sold for $11.25 million at Sotheby’s on February 7. Made in 1714 during the golden period of violin making, it was once owned by Joseph Joachim, a leading 19th-century violinist and close associate of Johannes Brahms. The violin was later owned by Si-Hon Ma, whose estate donated it to the New England Conservatory in 2015 to support a student scholarship program.

When Kovels Antique Trader stepped into a new editorial era this year, one article stood out through its striking visuals and fascinating backstory. Rory McEwen, the Scottish artist who painted flowers with almost impossible precision, approached life with the same striking intensity that makes his art unforgettable. His technique felt modern, yet his botanical illustrations were eerily and beautifully accurate. According to curator Ruth Stiff, who organized exhibitions of McEwen’s work in the summer of 2025, his art “changed the course of contemporary botanical art and inspired a whole new generation of artists.” It was the perfect beginning to this journey.

One of the most meaningful stories we revisited this year centered on McClelland Barclay, the celebrated illustrator who brought strength and dignity to his wartime posters and unexpected elegance to his jewelry designs. His “Fashion Takes Wing” bracelet from 1941, seen here with one of his U.S. Navy recruitment posters, reminds us that Barclay’s talent was never limited to a single medium. He approached each piece with the same dedication, whether he was supporting the war effort or creating beauty for everyday wearers. Our readers embraced his story, and it remains one of the highlights of the year.

Erté’s work reminded us why Art Deco still feels so modern. His elegant lines, radiant colors, and sense of effortless movement gave this year’s collectors a moment of pure visual escape. Returning to his world of style and imagination was one of the true highlights of 2025.

A deep dive into haunted dolls was one of the most unforgettable features of the year. Robert the Doll, pictured here in his sailor suit and surrounded by decades of letters, set the mood, but he was only one of many eerie playthings that captured readers’ attention. Their spooky stories lingered long after the page was turned.

Few things unlock pure nostalgia like vintage Fisher-Price toys. Our feature on these childhood classics brought readers right back to wobbling pull toys, and Little People worlds built on the living room carpet. Whether you grew up with the chattering phones, the rolling puppy, or the Little People barn set spread across the floor, Fisher-Price reminded us that the best toys do more than entertain.

This feature began as a journey into folklore and family history, but it came with an unexpected twist. The Bible, believed to be linked to Johnny Appleseed, turned out to have a very different story behind it. Uncovering that truth became the heart of the article. Readers loved the mix of curiosity, detective work, and gentle myth-busting. For the full story and the surprise ending, visit the Kovels Antique Trader website and, in true Paul Harvey fashion, read the rest of the story.

Robert McGinnis delivered some of the most iconic imagery of the mid-century. He captured glamour with a sharp edge, and this vibrant illustration shows him at full strength. McGinnis shaped the look of paperback thrillers, spy films, and mid-century glamour, and his art still stops collectors in their tracks. Revisiting his work this year was a reminder of how art can be bold without losing its elegance.

Nutcrackers took center stage in one of our most joyful features of the year. Their German roots, detailed craftsmanship, and endless personality made this look at holiday collecting a reader favorite. From classic kings to whimsical Santas, these timeless figures proved that a little Christmas magic never goes out of style. It was a cheerful and sentimental pause in a busy year.