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Appraiser Biographies
KAREN M. KEANE
Partner, Chief Executive Officer
As CEO of Skinner, Inc., Karen Keane oversees the operation of one of the leading premier auction houses in the nation. Under her skillful direction, Skinner has grown from a New England specialty auction house to a viable player in the international art and antiques marketplace. Karen was instrumental in Skinner establishing a world-class auction gallery in downtown Boston , and the company's expansion into specialty areas including Fine Musical Instruments, Science & Technology, Rare Books & Manuscripts, and Judaica.
Although most recognized for her business acumen, Karen is also a highly versatile art and antiques specialist with a broad knowledge in a number of areas of fine and decorative arts. Surrounded by fine art and antiques at an early age, she brings a lifetime of experience and passion to her appreciation of American and European furniture and decorative arts, Asian arts, American & European paintings, sculpture, antique jewelry, and more. Her specialty areas include American furniture and decorative arts, Americana , and folk art.
Karen holds a Master's degree from Boston University, is a regular contributor to art and antiques publications, symposiums, and web sites, including the Boston Globe, Boston Magazine, Art & Auction, Yankee Magazine, NY Times, Wall Street Journal, and Antiques Magazine. Karen also lectures and conducts benefit auctions and appraisal events for major fine art and non-profit institutions nationwide. A strong supporter of the arts and a vocal advocate for the preservation of antiquities, Karen is a benefit auctioneer for the AIDS Action Committee, Massachusetts College of Art, and the Institute of Contemporary Art in Boston . Karen is a patron of the Museum of Fine Arts Boston and a major supporter of the American Folk Art Museum . She also serves on the Board of Overseers for the DeCordova Museum in Lincoln, Massachusetts.
STEPHEN L. FLETCHER
Partner/Executive Vice President and Chief Auctioneer
Director of American Furniture & Decorative Arts
Stephen Fletcher, Executive Vice President of Skinner, Inc. and Director of
the Americana department, is widely regarded as one of the nation's foremost
experts on Early American Furniture, American Decorative Arts and Folk Art. His expertise in American formal and country furniture and his work over the
past thirty years as Chief Auctioneer and generalist appraiser for Skinner have
earned him a deserved reputation as a highly versatile art and antique generalist. Under his skillful eye, the department has grown considerably, making Skinner
one of the most formidable auction houses in the world for fine American furniture
and decorative arts.
As, Chief Auctioneer for Skinner, Steve can been seen regularly at the Skinner
auction podium and he carries a full schedule of institutional and estate appraisals.
He is often sought out as a source of knowledge on Early American life, and
eagerly lends his expertise to the media, museums, historical societies, and
non-profit institutions.
Steve is a corporate member of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston and on the board
of trustees for the Provincetown Art Association and Museum in Provincetown,
Massachusetts. He frequently lectures and was a contributing presenter and
writer of "Art and Antiques in Estates," a forum conducted by Massachusetts
Continuing Legal Education, and the Smithsonian Lecture Series.
DAVID A. BONSEY
Director of Fine Musical Instruments
As Director of Skinner's Fine Musical Instruments department, David Bonsey
is responsible for overseeing the growing demand for Skinner's auction and appraisal
services within the professional musician community. Skinner is one of the
few major auction houses in the nation, and one of only a handful in the world,
to specialize in fine musical instruments. Skinner's auctions of rare stringed
and fretted instruments and bows draw serious collectors, dealers and professional
musicians from around the globe. Under David's direction, Skinner has brought
to auction some of the rarest examples of fine stringed instruments ever sold.
David came to Skinner in 1999 bringing a varied background of experience and
two decades in the musical instrument market with him. As a violinmaker and
musician, he is well versed in every aspect of this market and is widely known
among professional musicians. He began his professional career in 1980, working as a violinmaker and restorer at W.J. Fleischer, Violin Makers in Boston. In
1987, he joined Johnson String Instrument in Newton, MA, where he specialized
in new and antique instruments, founding and managing The Violin Workshop, which
buys, sells and appraises professional quality stringed instruments and bows.
His education includes a bachelor's degree in guitar from the Berklee College
of Music, and private study in violin making in Cremona, Italy. He is a member
of the Violin Society of America, an associate member of the American Federation
of Violin and Bow Makers and a committed participant in the annual Professional
Violin Maker's Workshop at Oberlin College. David is a frequent contributor
to articles on the care, handling and restoration of fine musical instruments.
JAMES CALLAHAN
Director of Asian Works of Art
James Callahan joined Skinner in the fall of 1997 as Director of the Asian
Works of Art, after nearly three decades as a private dealer. He specializes
in all aspects of Asian art, including Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Vietnamese,
Khmer, Thai, Burmese, Ottoman Turkish, Armenian, Arabic, Persian and Indian
objects.
Jim, as he is known by his friends and colleagues, oversees all aspects of
Skinner's specialty auctions of Asian Art, which feature fine furniture and
decorative arts from Asia and 19th-century America, as well as fine silver from
the 18th to the 20th century. He also appraises all Asian works of art regularly
featured in Skinner's auctions of English & Continental Furniture and Decorations.
Jim is a foremost expert on Asian art, culture, and customs, and his auctions
and gallery walks are fraught with the stories, legends, and folklore of thousands
of years of Asian history. He is a frequently sought after resource of Asian
art expertise and he often works closely with museums, historical societies,
and independent art groups nationwide. Jim recently teamed with the Brooklyn
Museum of Art to bring to auction over 200 important pieces of Southeast Asian
art from the collection of Samuel Eilenberg.
Jim began his fascination with the arts of Asia when he participated in his
first antique show in Quincy, Massachusetts, at age 11, assisting Hazel Sjobers
of Hatherly Shop. Jim conducts appraisal days for non-profit and arts institutions
year-round.
ROBERT C. CHENEY
Clock Specialist
Robert Cheney is Skinner’s resident clock expert and in this role, oversees the appraisal and auction of clocks and timepieces sold in a variety of Skinner specialty auctions including American Furniture & Decorative Arts, European Furniture & Decorative Arts, Science & Technology, and Discovery. He joined the company in 2006 and since then has overseen the sale of several clocks that achieved world record prices.
A third generation clockmaker, restorer, dealer and consultant in antique clocks, Robert has provided services to over thirty-five museums, including the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, The American Antiquarian Society, Historic Deerfield, Peabody-Essex Museum, The Concord Museum and Old Sturbridge Village where he served as consulting Conservator of Clocks since 1977.
Since 2007, Robert has been a familiar face appraising clocks on the PBS-TV series Antiques Roadshow. He has lectured on the history of American clocks at forums throughout the United States, Canada and the UK. Robert has sponsored forums on New England clock connoisseurship, conservation and co-chaired the Longitude Symposium at Harvard University in 1993 that celebrated the life of John Harrison and his marine chronometers. Probably the most important clocks in the world, Harrison’s chronometers enabled sea captains to determine longitude and navigate the world’s oceans. Over 500 people from thirty-four states and seventeen countries attended the symposium.
The author of numerous articles and book reviews, Robert co-authored with Philip Zea Clock Making in New England, 1725-1825. As Scholar in Residence at the Concord Museum, Robert presented a dramatic re-interpretation of Willard clocks and published his findings in The Magazine Antiques, April 2000.
He has served multiple terms as a member of the Board of Directors at the American Clock and Watch Museum, Bristol, Connecticut and as Secretary and member of the Board of Trustees at the National Watch and Clock Museum, Columbia, Pennsylvania. For his many contributions to the field of horology, Robert was appointed a Fellow in the National Association of Watch and Clock Collectors.
DOUGLAS DEIHL
Director of American & Ethnographic Art
As Director Of Skinner's American Indian & Ethnographic Art department,
Douglas Deihl is a leading authority on the Native American art market and a
scholarly contributor to the understanding and preservation of American Indian
cultural artifacts. Doug joined Skinner in 1996 as a specialist and consultant,
bringing with him a vast knowledge and 25 years experience in Native American
and Ethnographic art. In his key role, Doug oversees the consignment, appraisal,
preparation and auction of all manner of Native American Art including paintings,
artifacts, pottery, rugs, textiles, dolls, jewelry, and American West photography. Doug also brings a wide array of Eskimo, Spanish Colonial, African, and Tribal
art to auction each year.
Established at Skinner over 20 years ago, the department has grown significantly
under Doug's direction, establishing Skinner as a growing force in the Native
American art market, and a catalyst in the creation of a viable Tribal Arts
market in the East. Doug is a regular consultant to museums, non-profit organizations,
and Native American interest groups nationwide.
Doug graduated from Wayne State University in Detroit, with a degree in cultural
anthropology. His interest in the subject led him to collect over 150 ethnic
wind instruments over several years, which are now housed in the Museum of Fine
Arts, Boston. Over time, his collecting passion turned toward Native American
art and more recently cowboy artifacts. Doug is a member of The Bit, Spur and
Saddle Collectors of America, and belongs to ATADA (Antique Tribal Art Dealers
of America).
COLLEENE FESKO
Vice President
Director of American & European Paintings & Prints
As Director of Skinner's American & European Paintings & Prints department, Colleene Fesko is responsible for four major auctions per year, overseeing sales that include American and European paintings, prints, works on paper and sculpture from the 16 th through 21 st centuries. Her particular area of specialization is American art of the late 19 th and early 20 th centuries.
Since joining the auction house in 1987, Colleene has been instrumental in shaping significant events at the company, thereby establishing Skinner as a major player in the American and European paintings markets. Under her auspices, Skinner once again made auction history in November 2004 by establishing a new world record price of $5.5 million for a previously undiscovered Fitz Hugh Lane painting, entitled Manchester Harbor . This new record surpassed the previous one by over $1.5 million, and the sale of this work marked the third time that Skinner has achieved this important milestone.
A graduate of Bucknell University , Colleene has been involved in many facets of commercial and academic art. She was a member of the appraisal staff at Childs Gallery in Boston for four years, and then went on to Vesti Corporation, a fine arts consulting firm. She is a former art history instructor at Mount Ida College and a frequent writer and contributor to arts and antiques publications, articles, web sites, and symposiums.
Colleene lectures extensively for groups including the Smithsonian Institution, Archives of American Art, the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston and The American Society of Appraisers, the Fogg Art Museum at Harvard University and the Peabody Essex Museum of Salem, Massachusetts. She has served on discussion panels and conducted workshops for The American Society of Appraisers, and the Rockport Art Association and Harvard University among others. A familiar face on the PBS series the Antiques Roadshow, Colleene is also a member of Art Table, a professional organization of women in the arts, and has been a featured guest on NPR's Talk of the Nation.
MARTHA HAMILTON
Specialist, American Furniture, Decorative Arts & Naive Paintings
Martha Hamilton is a renowned expert in American furniture, naïve paintings, and folk art and is well known as an educator and a curator in the field of American furniture and decorative arts. Martha brings more than 30 years of experience and knowledge to bear for Skinner's consignors and buyers. As a widely respected expert in her field, she regularly consults with the media, museums, and historical societies, helping to further the knowledge of fine American furniture and early American life. Martha is also Skinner's Director of Museum Services, working closely with curators and directors at museums, historical societies, and other non-profit institutions.
Prior to joining Skinner in 1987, she was director and curator of the North Andover Historical Society (NAHS), a position she had held since 1983. While there, Hamilton organized and cared for the collection and mounted regular exhibits. In addition, she taught courses on American furniture, paintings and decorative arts to lay adult audiences and brought the antiques world to children through adapted programs. In 1987, the American Association of Museums presented her with its annual Museum Publications Award of Merit for the NAHS brochure entitled North Andover Historical Society and Its Collections.
Currently, Hamilton is a member of the Board of Trustees and the Executive Committee, and the Chair of the Collections Committee for Historic New England (formerly SPNEA), Boston 's largest decorative arts museum. Additionally, Martha is on the Board of Overseers at Boston 's Museum of Fine Arts , and a member of its Visiting Committee for the Conservation Department. Martha is also a member of the House of Burgesses at Colonial Williamsburg.
Prior to her directorship at the NAHS, Hamilton worked for four years as a museum curator. Earlier, she served as director on a variety of historic preservation projects including that of the Nathan Hosmer House in Concord , for which she was awarded the Massachusetts Historical Commission Award for outstanding accomplishment in historic preservation in 1983.
She has co-authored two publications, Earliest Recollections: Furnishings from the Family of Edwin B. Sears (SPNEA, exhibition catalogue, 1984), and Laura Coombs Hills: A Retrospective (Historical Society of Old Newbury, exhibition catalogue, 1996). In addition, Hamilton has lectured extensively throughout New England for institutions including the Concord Museum , Boston University , Concord-Carlisle Community Adult Education, the Worcester Art Museum, the Peabody-Essex Museum, National Park Service, Boston , and the Museum of American Textile History.
A graduate of Wellesley College with a B.A. in American History and Government, Martha completed her M.A. in Fine Arts with a concentration in American Painting and Decorative Arts at Boston University . In addition, she holds an M.A. in Museum Studies from Boston University , and a diploma in English Decorative Arts from the Attingham Program in England.
MARIE KEEP
Director, Fine Wines
Managing Director, Skinner Galleries
Marie Keep is the founder and Director of the Fine Wines department at Skinner. In spearheading this strategic business effort, Marie was instrumental in establishing Skinner as the only major auction house in New England to offer fines wines at auction. Her personal knowledge and passionate appreciation for the finest producers and vintages has quickly made Skinner a viable venue for the consignment and purchase of fine wines.
Actively involved in Boston’s growing food and wine community, and a long time wine connoisseur, Marie launched Skinner’s Fine Wines Department at the close of 2006. She also established Skinner’s collaboration with its retail partner, Lower Falls Wine Company, a third generation wine seller based just west of Boston.
Marie also plays a key role operationally at Skinner as Managing Director of its two galleries. In this capacity she manages day to day operations at Skinner, oversees 60 auctions and events annually, and manages over a dozen staff members. Marie joined Skinner in 1998 as the Boston Gallery Director, a position she held until 2007.
Prior to joining Skinner, Marie worked in New York at Christies auction house. She has also worked as a teacher for children at risk. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from Vassar College.
GLORIA LIEBERMAN
Vice President
Director of Fine Jewelry
Gloria Lieberman is Director of Skinner's Fine Jewelry Department and one of
the nation's renowned experts on antique jewelry. Her skillful marketing and
management of Skinner's Fine Jewelry department has resulted in the achievement
of international world record prices for estate and heirloom jewelry, gaining
valuable recognition for Skinner. Gloria is also a leading auctioneer and appraiser
at Skinner and responsible for a wide range of marketing activities throughout
the country.
A frequent lecturer, Gloria has participated in many educational seminars including
the University of Maine's Antique Jewelry Seminar and New York University's
Jewelry Appraisers Conference in Tucson, Arizona, and has been invited to speak
on behalf of the Society of Jewelry Historians at the Fashion Institute of Technology
in New York City. In addition, she has discussed artist-designed jewelry before
the New York University Jewelry Studies Program and the New York State Appraisers
Association. Locally, Gloria has lectured for the Boston Center for Adult Education,
the Cambridge Center for Adult Education, Harvard University's Extension Program,
Brandeis University and the Society for the Preservation of New England Antiquities. Gloria is also a teacher and lecturer at Rhode Island School of Design's (RISD)
Decorative Arts program.
Her television appearances include the BBC's The Great Antiques Hunt, the PBS
series The Antiques Roadshow, and the Boston-based series "Chronicle". Gloria
has interviewed with The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Boston
Globe, Yankee Magazine, Maine Antique Digest, and other art and antique publications.
JANE PRENTISS
Director of 20th Century Furniture & Decorative Arts
Director, Antique Motor Vehicles
Jane Prentiss is Director of Skinners 20th Century Furniture and Decorative Arts department and Director of Antique Motor Vehicles. She began her association with Skinner in 1973, as a collector with a particular focus on objects from the Arts and Crafts Movement and other material from the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
Jane joined Skinner professionally in 1986, as director of Arts and Crafts and the Modern Movement, a position she held until 1991, when she left for a hiatus at Massachusetts Institute of Technology. She returned to Skinner in 1997 in her present capacity, and is now oversees the appraisal and auction of 20th century material including art glass, lamps, art pottery, metalwork, and other decorative arts, as well as furniture and fine arts from the Art Nouveau, Arts & Crafts, Art Deco and Modern movements.
As Skinners Director of Antique Motor Vehicles, Jane brings more 30 years of experience to appraise and auction these 20th century marvels of form and function. Her personal passion and appreciation for these machines, and her ability to garner high prices, has quickly made Skinner a viable player in the antique car marketplace.
From 1999-2005, Jane traveled across the country with the popular PBS television series the Antiques Roadshow. She has been a popular guest lecturer with RISDs continuing education program, and frequently lectures and conducts benefit appraisal events for non-profit organizations nationwide. Jane is also an active appraiser for insurance and estate purposes.
KERRY SHRIVES
Vice President
Director of Discovery Auctions
Director of Judaica
Director of Ecommerce and Online Auctions
Since joining Skinner in 1989, Kerry Shrives has played an increasingly important role in the company. Kerry is the Director of Skinners Discovery and Judaica departments, and is a lead auctioneer and generalist appraiser. In her role as director of Discovery, Kerry oversees monthly auctions totaling nearly 20,000 lots annually of estate furnishings and decorative arts from the 18th, 19th, and 20th centuries. Kerry also conducts benefit appraisal days and auctions, and lectures and contributes to publications on antiques.
Her keen business acumen and visionary nature has helped to grow Skinners international presence and worldwide reach. Since 1999 Kerry has spearheaded the companys online initiatives, overseeing Skinners highly successful website and the introduction of real-time internet bidding in all of its live auctions.
Since 1996, Kerry has been a regular face on the highly popular PBS-TV series, Antiques Roadshow, which airs on public television stations nationwide. Kerry is a member of several professional organizations, including the Furniture History Society, the Decorative Arts Society, Victorian Society (UK and USA) and the Friedman Society.
She graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in history from Smith College, and earned her master's degree in the History of Art at the University of London with a concentration in Victorian art and architecture. Kerry also attended the Attingham Study Week for the study of Historic Houses and Collections in Great Britain.
STUART SLAVID
Vice President
Director of Fine Ceramics
Director of European Furniture & Decorative Arts
Director of Silver
Stuart Slavid joined Skinner in 1989 as Director of the Fine Ceramics department,
specializing in English and Continental ceramics of the 18th through 20th centuries. Stuart is internationally recognized as one of the foremost authorities on Wedgwood
pottery, and his life-long passion for English pottery and ceramics characterizes the strength of Skinner's fine ceramics
department.
In 1993, Stuart was also appointed Director of Skinner's European Furniture
& Decorative Arts department which offers fine European, Asian, and 19th-century
American Furniture and decorative arts. Stuart's vast knowledge and experience
in this field has helped position Skinner as a major U.S. force in the sale
of fine European pieces to both national and international clients. Stuart
also oversees Skinner's Silver department.
As a leading auctioneer and general appraiser at Skinner, Stuart often lectures,
conducts benefit auctions, and can be seen regularly on the PBS series The
Antiques Roadshow. He belongs to a number of professional organizations,
including the China Students' Club of Boston, the Wedgwood Societies of New
York and Boston, and the American Ceramics Circle.
STUART WHITEHURST
Vice President
Director of Rare Books & Manuscripts
Stuart Whitehurst came to Skinner in January of 1995 with over eleven years
of experience in the field of fine and decorative arts. Stuart was instrumental
in establishing Skinner as a leading source for all manner of historical documents,
including books, manuscripts, letters, and autographs. This market is one of
the fastest growing and strongest at auction.
Beyond his knowledge of rare books and manuscripts, Stuart is a renowned senior
generalist appraiser with extensive knowledge of Latin American Paintings; prints
and manuscripts; and English, Continental and Chinese decorative works of art
and furniture from the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries. He is a favorite on the
PBS series The Antiques Roadshow and regularly conducts appraisal days
and benefit auctions for non-profit and charitable organizations. He is also
a leading auctioneer at Skinner and has lectured before numerous audiences,
including the Appraisers Association of America.
Stuart is a graduate of the University of Virginia, and is currently an Associate
Member of the International Society of Appraisers.
SARA C. WISHART
Specialist, Fine Silver and European Furniture & Decorative Arts
Sara Wishart is Skinner's leading expert in appraising objects of fine silver and silver plate. She is also a specialist in English and European furniture and decorative arts. Sara joined Skinner in 1998, and in her role, performs a wide variety of tasks, including researching, evaluating and cataloguing material for Skinner's four auctions of European Furniture & Decorative Arts annually. Her responsibilities also include selecting and evaluating pieces for other Skinner auctions throughout the year. Sara is also a popular appraiser on the PBS-TV series Antiques Roadshow.
As a generalist appraiser, Sara appraises a broad spectrum of objects for institutions and private owners, both on site and in the gallery. She also participates in numerous benefit appraisal days for non-profit and arts institutions.
Her education includes an M.A./M.Phil in Decorative Arts granted by the History of Art Department at the University of Glasgow, Scotland in 1997, and a B.A. from Middlebury College in Middlebury, Vermont in 1991.
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