Skinner to Auction Fine Musical Instruments Boston Gallery Hosts November 4 Auction

BOSTON, Mass. - October 18, 2001 – Skinner, Inc., a leading full-service auctioneer and appraiser of antiques and fine art, will hold an auction of Fine Musical Instruments on November 4, 2001. The auction will begin at 12 noon in Skinner’s Boston gallery, with previews held November 2, 12-5 p.m., November 3, 10:30 a.m.-5 p.m., and November 4, 8:30-10:30 a.m.

The sale will open with a fine selection of fretted instruments, led by a rare flat top acoustic guitar, a Martin OM-28, from 1930 ($6/10,000). Martin produced a small number of these between 1929 and 1933. "They were an innovation in 1929 – Martin made a guitar that banjo players could easily adapt to, with a longer string length, lighter bracing and slender necks," says David Bonsey, director of Skinner’s department of Fine Musical Instruments. "For sound projection, playability, and quality of work, the original Orchestral Model is rarely equaled, and is coveted as a collector’s item or working instrument," he continued. "This guitar was owned by a farmer in Wisconsin who played it throughout the ’40s. He then put it away. He saw a similar one on the ‘Antiques Roadshow’ and gave us a call." The sides and back of the instrument are of rare Brazilian rosewood, and the edge decoration is the famous "Herringbone" style inlay. The inlay itself was supplied by a German company until the second World War.

Other featured Martin Guitars include an early size 2½ guitar, c. 1845 ($9/1,200), a Model D-28 from 1950 in near mint condition ($3,5/5,000), a Model O-28K of Hawaiian koa wood from 1929 ($3/5,000), and a Model D-35 with a 3-piece back of Brazilian rosewood from 1966 ($9/1,200). Featured fretted instruments by Gibson include an L-5 from 1947 in near mint condition ($3,8/4,200); an L-4, c. 1920 ($1,2/1,400); and a rare mando-cello, c. 1914 ($1/1,200). The mando-cello was part of the ensemble built for mandolin orchestras, which were very popular during the ’20s and ’30s. The mandolin is tuned like a violin, the mandola like a viola, and the mando-cello like a cello. There were even huge mando-basses to carry the low notes.

The auction features some extraordinary stringed instruments. Highlights include a violin by Lorenzo Storioni (1751-1802), considered to be one of the last great masters of the Golden Age of violinmaking in Cremona, Italy, according to Bonsey. "Storioni was known for getting every tonal advantage, even from wood that was irregular, by the way he graduated its thickness and the way he shaped it." Once owned and played by a member of the Boston Symphony, this example from 1792 is sold with a certificate from W.E. Hill & Sons dated April 17, 1940 ($100/140,000). Other fine examples of Italian violins include an instrument in very pure condition by Antonio Gagliano II, made in Naples in 1831 ($55/70,000), sold with a certificate of Jacques Français dated June 8, 1998. A violin by Vincenzo Postgilione, made in Naples in 1881 ($40/50,000) will be offered, accompanied by a certificate of Harry Duffy dated May 15,1976; as well as violins by Giovanni Tononi, Bologna, 1696 ($18/26,000) with a certificate of Emil Hermann dated May 15, 1929; and Onorato Gragnani, Livorno, c. 1790 ($12/15,000). Modern violins include an example by Carl Becker, 1940 ($25/27,000) and one from the workshop of Giuseppe Pedrazzini, Milan, 1947 $15/18,000).

The auction also features a fine group of violas and bows. Of special interest to violists is an early viola of Vincenzo Cavani of Modena in near mint condition ($10/14,000). The selection of French bows is very strong, highlighted by an outstanding violin bow by François Pecatte, c. 1860. This was the favorite bow of the late Stanley Ellison Plummer, violin professor, international soloist, and concertmaster of several Southern California orchestras and Hollywood studio orchestras ($12/15,000). Other French bows include a pristine viola bow by Joseph Henry of Paris, ca. 1860 ($18/20,000), and bows by Pierre Simon, Joseph Alfred Lamy, Emile Ouchard, Nicolas Maire, Jean Martin, and Eugene Sartory. Of particular value are several fine French bows dating from the mid 19th century attributed to makers associated with Joseph Henry, Dominique Peccatte, and Nicolas Maire.

Illustrated catalog #2112 is available for $29 ($35 for foreign requests) from the subscription department at Skinner/Bolton (978-779-6241 ext. 261). Prices realized at the auction will be available at www.skinnerinc.com following the sale. For more information, call 978-779-6241, or fax 978-779-5144.

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