Skinner to Host Fine Musical Instruments Auction in Boston
Sale to featuring a Rare Martin D-45 Guitar and Gene Krupa Drum Set
BOSTON, Mass. – October 26, 2011 – Skinner, Inc. will host an auction of Fine Musical Instruments on November 6th at noon in its Boston gallery. More than 350 lots are highlighted by fretted instruments, violins, bows, cellos, woodwinds, and brass instruments.
The Martin D-45 Guitar and Fretted Instruments
Of particular note is a Martin D-45, lot 18, the first guitar of the twentieth century to gain widespread popularity as a collector’s item only 20 years after its production.
C.F. Martin & Company was reluctant to list the D-45 as a regular item in its catalogue. Beginning in 1933, a few dozen were made at the request of famous cowboy personalities including Gene Autry, Nolan “Cowboy Slim” Rinehart, Tex Fletcher, and Jackie Moore. Martin added more pearl inlay on these instruments than on any other D-size guitar produced, and used only selected pieces of spruce and rosewood of exceptional quality.
The D-45 offered in the Boston auction bears the serial number 79583 and comes from the family of the original owner. It was purportedly played on the Grand Ole Opry radio show a number of times, but was never used professionally, so it has the patina of age without a career’s worth of pick wear. It is well conserved, having never been repaired or refinished, and retains all of its original parts. There were 24 D-45s built in 1941, in batches of six. The present work is the first of the fourth batch. The auction estimate ranges between $180,000 and $240,000.
A Stratocaster Fender electric guitar from 1958, with original case and strap will also be featured. This guitar, to be sold as lot 8, is certified original in all its parts, without modification, and has an estimated auction value of $14,000 to $18,000. An American tenor banjo by the Vega Company of Boston, c. 1927 will be offered as lot 15. The Artist model expects to fetch between $1,800 and $2,200.
The Gene Krupa Drum Set
Lot 21 is the only extant drum set belonging to Gene Krupa. Universally acknowledged as the first “superstar” drummer, Krupa’s contributions to the jazz, swing, and bebop, and to the design of modern drums and cymbals are legendary.
Krupa’s lifelong collaboration with Zildjian Cymbals and Slingerland Drums contributed to the evolution of the modern drum set, and his exuberant showmanship and masterful style helped to spread the popularity of American music.
Offered with a letter of provenance, this drum set was the last Krupa played. He used it from 1962 until 1972, when he presented the kit to the school of St. Paul the Apostle in Yonkers, New York, where he was a parishioner and where his children had had been students. The set has an estimated auction value between $10,000 to $15,000.
Stringed Instruments and Bows
A Genoa violin by Paolo De Barbieri will be offered. Lot 26 is an excellent modern Italian violin from 1939 from the original owner’s family. Bearing the maker's label, branded internally and to the lower rib, the violin is being offered with case and two bows. The auction estimates range from $12,000 to $16,000. A French violin from the school of J.B. Vuillaume, c. 1860 goes up for bid as well. Lot 25 has an estimated auction value of $10,000 to $14,000.
The auction includes a broad selection of bows by fine French and English makers, including Hill, Sartory, Maline, Ouchard, Fonclause and Gaude.
Catalogue, Preview and Event Information
Previews for the auction will be Friday, November 4th, 12 to 7 p.m., Saturday, November 5th, 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday, November 6th, 9 to 10:30 a.m. On Friday, a reception featuring live music from Tomoko Omura Quartet will be held at 5:30 p.m. R.S.V.P. online at http://conta.cc/musicNov4.
Illustrated catalogue #2569B is available by mail for $35 ($42 for foreign requests) from the subscription department at 508-970-3000 x3240. It is also available at the gallery for $32. Prices realized will be available at skinnerinc.com during and after the sale. Skinner's site also allows users to view all lots in the auctions, leave bids, order catalogs, and bid live in real-time through SkinnerLive!, Skinner’s live online bidding applet.
About Skinner
Skinner, Inc. is one of the world’s leading auction houses for antiques and fine art. With expertise in over 20 specialty collecting areas, Skinner draws the interest of buyers from all over the world and its auctions regularly achieve world record prices. Skinner provides a broad range of auction and appraisal services, and it is widely regarded as one of the most trusted names in the auction business. Skinner’s appraisal experts regularly appear on the PBS-TV series, Antiques Roadshow, and its specialty departments include American Furniture & Decorative Arts, American & European Paintings & Prints, European Furniture & Decorative Arts, 20th Century Design, Fine Ceramics, Fine Jewelry, Couture, Fine Musical Instruments, Asian Works of Art, Fine Wines, Rare Books & Manuscripts, Oriental Rugs & Carpets, American Indian & Ethnographic Art, Fine Judaica, Antique Motor Vehicles, Toys, Dolls & Collectibles, Discovery and Science, Technology & Clocks. Skinner galleries are located in Boston and Marlborough, Mass. For more information on upcoming auctions and events, visit Skinner’s web site www.skinnerinc.com.
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Contacts
- David Bonsey, Director of Fine Musical Instruments, 508-970-3224, dbonsey@skinnerinc.com
- Kate de Bethune, Director of Marketing, 508-970-3231, kdebethune@skinnerinc.com