Estate Sales & Auction Blog

What do the world’s tallest tree, giant 3’ frogs, washtub-sized flowers, the first known African albino gorilla, giant ants of South America, and an extensive collection of mineral eggs have in common? Dr. Paul Arthur Zahl: explorer, scientist, writer, and collector!

Who says only children can enjoy a good ‘I spy’ game? In the BRG estate version of I Spy, we take a look at a June 1982 edition of House in the Hamptons magazine article featuring the fabulous Bridgehampton, NY home of Jay Paul. What you can spy with your grown-up eye?

Pristine white sand beaches. Elegant restaurants. Posh dinner parties. Outrageous beach bashes. Multi-million dollar waterfront homes. Such was the 1980's summer lifestyle for jet setters and NYC yuppies. Locals, however, enjoyed a quieter pace – choosing to settle permanently into Long Island’s East End. One such person included Jay R. Paul who designed and built his own French villa paradise in Bridgehampton.

What do rhythmic drums, gentle waves, distant and echoing roar of lions, local tribes people, and festivals have in common? Everything, for one globe-trotting couple. These are just a small sampling of the exotic sights and sounds that Barbara Paul and her husband experienced. Now see their personal curated collection of artifacts, textiles, and more.

Exposure to tens of thousands of fine works of art over the course of a curator's 30 years career gives her a very discerning eye for detail and quality. This is most certainly the case for one renowned former Museum of Fine Arts Boston curator, Barbara Stern Shapiro, as evidenced in her lifetime personal curation ... from Boston to New York and back.

It seems like a long time has passed since our puppy photo shoot over the summer in preparation of our Abandoned Lots Charity Auction benefiting the CT Humane Society. But our friend, Barb Naugle, from CTHS paid us a visit the other day to accept....