| Press Contact: | Catherine Riedell | David Bonsey |
| Director of Marketing | Director of Musical Instruments | |
| Skinner, Inc | Skinner, Inc | |
|
978-779-6341, x231 |
978-779-6241 x260 | |
SKINNER’S MAY 4TH MUSCAL INSTRUMENTS AUCTION
FEATURES RARE 1656 JACOBUS STAINER VIOLIN
Other Offerings include 17th & 18th Century Milanese Violins,
Selection of Bows and Lloyd Loar Gibson Mandolin
BOSTON, Mass. – April 25, 2003 – www.skinnerinc.com - Skinner, Inc., one of the nation’s leading auction houses for antiques and fine art, and a major force in the sale of fine musical instruments at auction, announced today that it will hold an auction of Fine Musical Instruments on Sunday, May 4thth at 11:00 a.m. in its Boston gallery. The sale will feature several extraordinary violins, a wonderful selection of bows.
Fine Violins
Outstanding in violins is Lot 66, a violin from 1656 by Jacobus Stainer, an Austrian maker who equaled the finest Italian makers for workmanship and tone of his instruments. Stainer was the most influential maker of his time, and his work prevailed everywhere in Europe until the 19th century when the French neo-classic revival of Stradivari and Guarneri became prevalent. This violin is a visual pleasure, blending Baroque curves with a refined golden Italian style varnish. It is his Grand Pattern, suitable for chamber music or solo work with an orchestra. The condition is first rate, and comes with a certification from W.E. Hill and Sons of London, where it was last purchased in 1962 and stored in a collector's vault in Mexico City until 1998. The instrument is estimated $80,000-100,000.
Other fine violins include a fine Dutch violin of 1799 in mint condition by Johannes Cuypers, estimated $20,000-$30,000, a Milanese Violin, labeled Giovanni Grancino, Estimated $20,000-24,000, a Cordanus of Genoa, 1725, estimated $10,000-$15,000, a 1705 violin attributed to Giovanni Tononi, estimated $10,000-$12,000, and a contemporary French Violin, R. & M. Millant, Paris, 1961, estimated $7,000-9,000.
Bows
An excellent and comprehensive selection of over 120 bows including French and English bows for Violin, Viola, and 'Cello will be offered, with works from Eury, Sartory, Voirin, Vuillaume, Lamy, Ouchard, Retford, and Bultitude.
Lloyd Loar
Skinner will once again feature a Gibson F-5 model mandolin from 1924 signed by Lloyd Loar. Last year, world record prices were set at Skinner auctions for these mandolins, and this time it will be complemented by a much rarer H-5 Mandola from the same year in virtually unplayed condition. This mandola sat undisturbed and unrecognized for almost seventy years before being recognized as on of only 20 that were produced. Considered the paramount of mandolins, Bluegrass musicians have been driving the prices of Loar F-5 to the range of $90,000, due to its voice as a lead instrument. Skinner sold a Loar F-5 for $88,000 in October 2002. The mandola is tuned lower and has a deeper, darker sound that is being utilized more and more in modern Bluegrass. Estimates are $40,000-60,000 and $10,000-15,000 respectively.
Guitars
Topping the guitar list is a D'Angelico New Yorker, considered by many to be the finest archtop guitars ever built. The New Yorker remains as the dream guitar of every serious jazz player and is the standard by which all others are judged. . This example has a natural color clear finish and measures a full 18 1/8 inches wide. In near mint condition, it plays easily and has a full orchestral sound. Estimate is $18,000-20,000.
Most unusual is the number of highly collectible vintage Archtop Guitars by Gibson. Featured are four L-5 guitars spanning their Golden Period from 1938, 1947, 1948 and 1962. All are in excellent condition and ready to play, with estimates ranging from $4,000-10,000. Also included will be a Gibson Super 400 from 1947, estimated at $4,000-6,000. Also offered is an American Archtop Guitar, John Buscarino, c. 1990, Model Artisan Hybrid, estimated $5,000-6,000. The lone guitar from Martin is a 1941 000-18, a wartime folk favorite with lightweight bracing and the classic vintage sound. Estimate is $1,800-$2,200.
Preview, Catalog and Website Information:
Previews for the sale are Friday, May 2, 12 to 5 p.m.; Saturday, May 3, 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Sunday, May 4, 9 to 10:30 a.m. Illustrated catalog #2197 is available for $29 by mail ($35 for foreign requests) from the subscription department at Skinner/Bolton (978-779-6241 ext. 240). View lots in color, order catalogs, place absentee bids, and check prices realized in real-time during the auction at www.skinnerinc.com. For more information, call 978-779-6241, or fax 978-779-5144.
Note to Editors: Photos available upon request. Contact Catherine Riedel at 978-779-6241 x 231.
About Skinner:With galleries in Boston and Bolton, Mass., Skinner is a full-service auctioneer and appraiser of antiques and fine art. Regularly seen on the PBS series, Antiques Roadshow, Skinner is one of the nation’s leading auction houses. Skinner conducts auctions year-round and has received world-record prices for many pieces sold at auction. Departments include American Furniture & Decorative Arts, Paintings & Prints, English & Continental Furniture & Decorations, Fine Ceramics, Jewelry, Couture, 20th Century Furniture & Decorative Arts, Fine Musical Instruments, Asian Art, Fine Judaica, Toys, Dolls & Collectibles, Science & Technology, Oriental Rugs & Carpets, American Indian & Ethnographica, and Discovery. For more information on upcoming auctions, visit Skinner’s web site www.skinnerinc.com.