#proxipicks

WARNING: This week's picks are so incredibly luxurious, you may find yourself draped in 15 fur coats as you sip Cristal from a gold-plated glass after viewing them. You've been warned...

Willem de Kooning – Oil Painting I grew up studying abstract expressionist artists from the ‘50s – ‘60s era, and Willem de Kooning was one of the more influential artists from the “New York School,” and a personal favorite. This is a rare opportunity to bid on an original de Kooning painting with interesting provenance from a top auction house. Get it here!

Diamond Encrusted Rolex Watch Get your drink-on and your snack-on with one seriously blinged-out Rolex watch! I’ve seen a lot of Rolex watches come across the auction block, and I don’t believe I have ever seen one with this many diamonds on the watch face! This watch would go nicely with lot #111 from the same catalog. Get it here!

2011 Ferrari California If you are into luxury, life is just incomplete without a genuine Ferrari in your driveway. The Ferrari California happens to be one of my favorite designs by Pininfarina. I once rode in a Ferrari f40 when I was 15 years old and we did nearly 140 mph. I am not going to lie - it was a little scary.  Get it here!

Ken truly outdid himself this week. He went into the depths of Proxibid.com to find the weirdest, wackiest, most unique items in the Marketplace.

Mission accomplished.

Grammy Award to Barbra Streisand with Misspelled Plaque

I am not going to lie, I thought her name was spelled Barbara, too. I think this item is interesting because you don’t see these awards at auction very often, and the fact that there are misspellings on the plaque of the Grammy makes this piece a little wacky. Get it here: http://bit.ly/1Ch5YPl

  Zamboni Ice Resurfacer

Reason for pick: You have to admit, Zamboni has to be the weirdest name for any vehicle. I have always wanted to drive one of these things and here is my chance bid on my very own Zamboni! Interesting fact; the average ice resurfacer travels 3 miles per hockey game and nearly 2000 miles per year. Get it here: http://bit.ly/1rn7r2O

  1948 Allis-Chalmers Model G Tractor

Reason for pick: I have seen a lot of tractors come across the auction block over the years, and this is one of the more unique and strange looking tractors. One thing I love about antique tractors is their minimalistic approach to engineering – it’s almost as if they were built by nature. The model G was a small carrier tractor that was designed to use belly mounted implements. Nearly 30,000 examples were built between 1948 and 1955. Get it here: http://bit.ly/1r9j9iS

For this week’s selections, Ken was required to wear a hard hat and steel-toe boots in the office while he browsed through all the skid steer loaders in our Marketplace.

We like to think this tactic added a little extra pizzazz to these great finds, but we will let you decide for yourself…

1998 Bobcat 453 Skid Steer with Quick Attach Bucket This is one of the smallest skid steers made, and it just so happens to be in decent condition given its age. There are relatively low hours on this Bobcat, with a fresh looking quick attach bucket.

Case SV250 Skid Steer I learned how to operate skid loaders when I finished concrete while going to college. My first skid steer was a case 1845C – it was a bit tricky to operate and nothing like the new track skid steers which you can operate with just your hands. The SV 250 is solid entry level model – not too big, nor too small – and it is a great all-around choice for construction and earth work. 

From collectible coins to obscure memorabilia, Ken knows about it all! He is truly a jack of all trades, which makes sifting through auctions on Proxibid and sharing the wealth a perfect outlet for his noggin full of knowledge.

Fun fact: Ken has a degree in fine art! So, you may be able to guess what this week’s picks involve…

Did you guess landscape paintings?!

…You did? That’s very specific of you.

Without further ado…

Edouard Leon Cortes (French, 1882-1969) “Place Bastille” – Oil on Canvas I am kind of a sucker for this style of post-impressionism painting. I really appreciate his cloud painting and subtle blue sky coming through, along with reflective qualities of the wet street and the gentle glow of the storefronts. Cortes does an incredible job of capturing the moment and the world around him.  I really dig the frame, too!

Bruce Cheever (American, B. 1963) “Sublime Gift, Grand Canyon of the Colorado” – Oil on Panel As someone who has spent many hours visiting the Grand Canyon you develop a deep appreciation for the landscape, the colors, and the amazing views. Cheever’s “Sublime Gift” provides a unique point of view of this national treasure, with a beautiful color palette and complex lighting. 

David Chapple (American, B. 1947) “Summer Vineyard” – Oil on Canvas This piece caught my eye because it was painted by a former pro football player. I really like this little landscape painting, and I appreciate composition, the light quality, and proper depth of field.

Our VP of Advertising is back this week with these handpicked selections ripe for bidding!

This week, Ken focuses on collectible coins guaranteed to wow veteran collectors and beginners alike.

1916-D Mercury Dime This coin is an interesting specimen. I chose this particular piece based on its top notch seller ratings from proxiblog.org. The site explains that this seller is among the best when it comes to coin grading, descriptions and fast shipping. Oh, and the coins they sell are pretty incredible, too!

Walking Liberty Half Dollar 1929D This lot is a solid example of a Walking Liberty Half Dollar. I would recommend this pick as an excellent choice for someone just getting started in coin collecting. However, the quality of this coin would make it a perfect addition to any collection.

1804 Draped Bust Quarter This is an extremely rare coin that provides a great opportunity for a serious collector. The bidding on this exceptional treasure is sure to continue to climb in the days leading up to the live auction.