Skinner

“Tea began as a medicine and grew into a beverage. In China, in the eighth century, it entered the realm of poetry as one of the polite amusements. The fifteenth century saw Japan ennoble it into a religion of aestheticism—Teaism…a cult founded on the adoration of the beautiful among the sordid facts of everyday existence.  It inculcates purity and harmony, the mystery of mutual charity, the romanticism of the social order.  It is essentially a worship of the Imperfect, as it is a tender attempt to accomplish something possible in this impossible thing we know as life.” Okakura Kazuko, The Book of Tea When the centuries old Japanese tea ceremony crosses national and international boundaries not only does it deposit forms and aesthetics in these new cultural territories, but  it also borrows from them, enriching the aesthetic vocabulary of utensils intended for, or adapted for, use in the tea ceremony. Since […]

A Lecture by Rudolf Spoor Wednesday, June 6, 5PM Come and hear Rudolf Spoor’s story of passionate collecting, which began with a disastrous backyard model rocket detonation and lead to a lifelong career in the Dutch media. Spoor was a fortunate front-line witness to the American space race at its start in the 1960’s. He was there to see the fulfillment of John F. Kennedy’s moon challenge in 1969 and was a dedicated witness to each subsequent landmark of science, technology, and space exploration accomplished by ensuing NASA programs. With a prescient instinct regarding the future importance of each mission, Spoor accumulated a trove of photographs, models, transparencies, flown samples, spacesuit and spacecraft materials, signed documents and pictures, and more. Spoor will speak on his close connection to the American space program as a journalist, his collection, and his enthusiasm for the spirit that moved the immense team of rocket […]

Featuring more than 700 lots of printed books, historic manuscripts, maps, and prints, including Audubon’s. MARLBOROUGH, MA – May 31, 2016 – Skinner, Inc. is hosting an online auction of Fine Books & Manuscripts from May 31 through June 8. Interested bidders are invited to preview items and meet with specialists in person on June 5, June 6, and June 7, or anytime online. A featured section of NASA photographs and memorabilia from the collection of Dutch television director Rudolf Spoor takes center stage (300 lots), with an item unprecedented in space collecting: a NASA safety helmet signed by 26 American astronauts and six rocket scientists and missions control specialists. Spoor’s collection demonstrates his access to the program as a journalist in lot after lot. As an example, Grumman provided him with a scale model of the Lunar Module (LM) for use in live television broadcasts. No film cameras were mounted on the […]

    Join us for First Tuesday in Marlborough  Tuesday, June 5  | 1:30PM – 4PM Specialists Adam Tober, Robin S.R. Starr, Kaitlin Shinnick, Judith Dowling & LaGina Austin will be on hand to evaluate items and accept consignments for upcoming auctions.  Experts Available in June: Adam Tober – Director of the Fine Musical Instruments Department will be looking at bowed stringed instruments such as violins, violas, and cellos – as well as fretted instruments such as Martin and Gibson guitars and mandolins.  Robin S.R. Starr – Director of American & European Works of Art will be on-hand to evaluate paintings, prints, sculpture, and photography for upcoming live auctions. She is looking forward to seeing examples by listed, sought-after artists, as well as iconic works of fine art photography from the 19th through 21st centuries, with market interest over $1000. In the current market, Post-War and Contemporary Art is particularly strong. Kaitlin Shinnick – Senior Specialist of Fine Jewelry will be appraising […]

Fine Art & Fine Jewelry Consignment Events   Friday, June 1 | Portland, ME American & European Works of Art – By Appointment Only Fine Art experts from Skinner will be on hand to accept consignments of American & European Paintings, Sculpture, Works on Paper, Prints & Photographs for upcoming 2018 auctions. From single works to entire collections, find out the auction market value for your art. Call us at 508.970.3206 for more information. REQUEST APPOINTMENT   Friday, June 8 | Providence, RI American & European Works of Art and Fine Jewelry – By Appointment Only Fine Art and Fine Jewelry experts from Skinner will be on hand to accept consignments of American & European Paintings, Sculpture, Works on Paper, Prints & Photographs and Fine Jewelry for upcoming 2018 auctions. From single works to entire collections, find out the auction market value for your art and jewelry. Call us at 508.970.3206 for more information. REQUEST APPOINTMENT […]

Classical Salon Featuring The Yaeko Miranda Elmaleh Group Friday May 18, Boston Gallery Please join us for a Musical Reception at the Skinner Boston gallery on Friday, May 18 featuring the Yaeko Miranda Elmaleh Group. This reception is held in conjunction with a preview of the May 18 auction of  Fine Musical Instruments online. Yaeko grew up in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and began violin lessons at the age of 3. Yaeko received a BA in music from the New England Conservatory of Music in contemporary improvisation in 2002 where she studied under Ran Blake and Hankus Netsky, and was classically trained under Fudeko Takahashi. She has received many awards and soloed with many ensembles and orchestras in Massachusetts. Since graduating she has been a member of the world-renowned Klezmer Conservatory Band (KCB) and has performed throughout the country. As a part of the KCB, Yaeko has had the honor of working with […]

“Tea began as a medicine and grew into a beverage. In China, in the eighth century, it entered the realm of poetry as one of the polite amusements. The fifteenth century saw Japan ennoble it into a religion of aestheticism—Teaism…a cult founded on the adoration of the beautiful among the sordid facts of everyday existence.  It inculcates purity and harmony, the mystery of mutual charity, the romanticism of the social order.  It is essentially a worship of the Imperfect, as it is a tender attempt to accomplish something possible in this impossible thing we know as life.” Okakura Kazuko, The Book of Tea When the centuries old Japanese tea ceremony crosses national and international boundaries not only does it deposit forms and aesthetics in these new cultural territories, but  it also borrows from them, enriching the aesthetic vocabulary of utensils intended for, or adapted for, use in the tea ceremony. Since […]

A Lecture by Rudolf Spoor Wednesday, June 6, 5PM Come and hear Rudolf Spoor’s story of passionate collecting, which began with a disastrous backyard model rocket detonation and lead to a lifelong career in the Dutch media. Spoor was a fortunate front-line witness to the American space race at its start in the 1960’s. He was there to see the fulfillment of John F. Kennedy’s moon challenge in 1969 and was a dedicated witness to each subsequent landmark of science, technology, and space exploration accomplished by ensuing NASA programs. With a prescient instinct regarding the future importance of each mission, Spoor accumulated a trove of photographs, models, transparencies, flown samples, spacesuit and spacecraft materials, signed documents and pictures, and more. Spoor will speak on his close connection to the American space program as a journalist, his collection, and his enthusiasm for the spirit that moved the immense team of rocket […]

Skinner is delighted to have Jonathan Soroff, The Improper Bostonian‘s lead columnist and noted gentleman-about-town, curate this edition of The Gentleman’s Auction online, open for bidding through June 8. His vision takes us on a broad aesthetic adventure, through elegance and refinement all the way to whimsy and curiosity. We are pleased to present Jonathan’s inspired take on all things “Gentleman.”  Jonathan Soroff writes: When Chris Barber explained to me that he was organizing a series of “gentleman’s auctions” and asked if I’d like to curate one, there was absolutely no hesitation in saying “yes.” I love auctions. Not only are they the closest you can come to obtaining true market value, but their inherent drama and the interactive competitiveness lend them drama and excitement. Chris and I met for lunch to discuss the types of objects I envisioned for “my” auction, and I explained that anything to do with travel, games, drinking, […]

Featuring more than 700 lots of printed books, historic manuscripts, maps, and prints, including Audubon’s. MARLBOROUGH, MA – May 31, 2016 – Skinner, Inc. is hosting an online auction of Fine Books & Manuscripts from May 31 through June 8. Interested bidders are invited to preview items and meet with specialists in person on June 5, June 6, and June 7, or anytime online. A featured section of NASA photographs and memorabilia from the collection of Dutch television director Rudolf Spoor takes center stage (300 lots), with an item unprecedented in space collecting: a NASA safety helmet signed by 26 American astronauts and six rocket scientists and missions control specialists. Spoor’s collection demonstrates his access to the program as a journalist in lot after lot. As an example, Grumman provided him with a scale model of the Lunar Module (LM) for use in live television broadcasts. No film cameras were mounted on the […]

    Join us for First Tuesday in Marlborough  Tuesday, June 5  | 1:30PM – 4PM Specialists Adam Tober, Robin S.R. Starr, Kaitlin Shinnick, Judith Dowling & LaGina Austin will be on hand to evaluate items and accept consignments for upcoming auctions.  Experts Available in June: Adam Tober – Director of the Fine Musical Instruments Department will be looking at bowed stringed instruments such as violins, violas, and cellos – as well as fretted instruments such as Martin and Gibson guitars and mandolins.  Robin S.R. Starr – Director of American & European Works of Art will be on-hand to evaluate paintings, prints, sculpture, and photography for upcoming live auctions. She is looking forward to seeing examples by listed, sought-after artists, as well as iconic works of fine art photography from the 19th through 21st centuries, with market interest over $1000. In the current market, Post-War and Contemporary Art is particularly strong. Kaitlin Shinnick – Senior Specialist of Fine Jewelry will be appraising […]

Fine Art & Fine Jewelry Consignment Events   Friday, June 1 | Portland, ME American & European Works of Art – By Appointment Only Fine Art experts from Skinner will be on hand to accept consignments of American & European Paintings, Sculpture, Works on Paper, Prints & Photographs for upcoming 2018 auctions. From single works to entire collections, find out the auction market value for your art. Call us at 508.970.3206 for more information. REQUEST APPOINTMENT   Friday, June 8 | Providence, RI American & European Works of Art and Fine Jewelry – By Appointment Only Fine Art and Fine Jewelry experts from Skinner will be on hand to accept consignments of American & European Paintings, Sculpture, Works on Paper, Prints & Photographs and Fine Jewelry for upcoming 2018 auctions. From single works to entire collections, find out the auction market value for your art and jewelry. Call us at 508.970.3206 for more information. REQUEST APPOINTMENT […]