Bonhams Skinner

American auction house Skinner was founded in 1962 by Robert W Skinner – an engineer with a passion for antiques. For 45 years it was run by partners Karen Keane and Stephen Fletcher (who was Skinner’s first employee), before the firm was sold to Bonhams in 2022. At that point the firm was rebranded as Bonhams Skinner.

In addition to its flagship Boston saleroom, Skinner also operates from Marlborough, Massachusetts; Coral Gables, Florida and New York City.

Bonhams Skinner holds regular sales across the year in more than 20 collecting areas, including categories such as fine art, American, Indian and ethnographic art, antique dolls, Judaica, textiles & couture and musical instruments.


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Marie Antoinette portrait appears at Skinner

18 January 2021

This large 19th century portrait of Marie Antoinette and her children from the studio of the French artist Elisabeth Louise Vigée le Brun (1755-1842) is one of the highlights of Skinner’s Fine Paintings and Sculpture sale in Marlborough, Massachusetts, on January 22.

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Strong selling rate as market responds to abundant Wedgwood offerings

11 January 2021

A vast quantity of Wedgwood was on offer in a pair of decorative arts auctions held in Massachusetts at the end of last year.

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New York estate provides ancient pottery to Skinner

21 December 2020

More than 70 lots of classical ancient pottery were included in the latest Skinner (25/20/12% buyer’s premium) sale of European Furniture and Decorative Arts in Marlborough, Massachusetts.

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Rare TR-900 survivors dive into Massachusetts auction

02 November 2020

The latest online sale of Clocks, Watches, & Scientific Instruments held by Skinner (25/20/12% buyer’s premium) in Marlborough, Massachusetts included two of perhaps only 50 surviving Tornek-Rayville TR-900 stainless steel dive watches.

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Wrapping the Pont Neuf – three times

21 September 2020

Christo (1935-2020) is famous for the series of monumental projects to wrap landmarks around the world undertaken with his wife and collaborator Jeanne-Claude (1935-2008).

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Eskimo baskets bring high demand at Skinner

31 August 2020

One of the highest prices in the large 650-plus lot American Indian and Ethnographic Arts auction held by Skinner (25/20/12% buyer’s premium) in Massachusetts was the $4000 (£3075) paid against a $400-600 guide for a trio of Eskimo baskets woven from baleen.

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Tiffany pendant in Japanese style trebles estimate at Skinner

17 August 2020

Japonisme, the craze for Japanese art first described by the French critic and collector Philippe Burty in 1872, became a key part of Tiffany & Co’s jewellery oeuvre from c.1877.

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Oak furniture rubs shoulders with Old Masters in Massachusetts single-owner selection

17 August 2020

George Way (1950-2019) developed an early fascination with oak furniture. He was especially interested in seat furniture and at the age of 16 he began a half-century quest to build up the largest privately owned collection of 17th century chairs in America, assembling over 100 Dutch and English examples.

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Collection with a ruff appeal in Massachusetts

06 July 2020

Massachusetts auction house Skinner will be offering over 200 pieces from the collection of George H Way in its sale of European Furniture and Decorative Arts to be held from July 20-28.

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‘Yongzheng’ lotus mouth vase passes £1m at Skinner

29 June 2020

The latest sale of Asian Works of Art held online by Skinner of Marlborough, Massachusetts included this blue and white bottle vase with a Yongzheng (1722-36) mark.

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US saleroom Skinner reports record participation

22 June 2020

US auction house Skinner (25/20/12% buyer’s premium) reported record levels of participation at its latest American & European Works of Art sale.

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Market for iconic Rolex 'tool' watches turns tropical

15 June 2020

The market for vintage mechanical wristwatches, which began in earnest in Europe in the 1990s, is not yet fully 30 years old but is maturing rapidly.

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John Ruskin's sketch of French cathedral emerges at Skinner

18 May 2020

Both American and European works are on offer in Skinner’s wide-ranging sale of paintings and sculpture to be held live online in its Marlborough rooms on May 31.

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Pick of the week: Pastiche clock is the real deal for buyer

20 April 2020

This monumental English longcase clock sold in a Massachusetts auction is a remarkable exercise in antiquarianism.

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No dispute over its quality

09 March 2020

Included in a recent sale of American and European paintings and works of art sale at Skinner (25/20/12% buyer’s premium) in Boston was this 7¼x 12¾in (19 x 32.5cm) oil on copper painting, 'The Dispute'.

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Strong supply of Wedgwood and Staffordshire among English ceramics at Boston sale

10 February 2020

A good range of 18th and 19th century English ceramics is included in Skinner’s February 14 sale of European furniture and decorative arts in Boston.

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George Tinworth plaque stages a Shakespeare show in terracotta

27 January 2020

This Doulton Lambeth terracotta plaque by George Tinworth will be included in the ceramics section of Skinner’s February 14 sale of European furniture and decorative arts in Boston.

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Rare example of chameleon stone alexandrite sells at Skinner

27 January 2020

According to a popular story, alexandrite, one of the three main varieties of chrysoberyl, was discovered in the Urals by the Finnish mineralogist Nils Gustaf Nordenskiöld (1792-1866) and named in honour of the future Tsar Alexander II of Russia.

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Gifford takes the Grand Tour

20 January 2020

A picture of a famous Italian Grand Tour view by one of the best-regarded artists of the American Hudson River school of painting is one of the highlights of a sale at Skinner in Boston on January 24.

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Boston enjoys the Etruscan revival

30 September 2019

Among the best known of Castellani’s essays in the archaeological revival style is this ‘Etruscan’ gold and glass grapevine pattern necklace.

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