Here are some top lots in the categories of fine art, jewelry, watches, Asian art, and Americana from 2020 that gave a jolt of excitement and wildly exceeded expectations in a year that saw major auctions go virtual.

Chinese Blue and White Lotus-mouth Bottle Vase, sold for: $1,272,500

Elegantly formed, with an elongated pear-shaped body, allover lotus scroll design executed in “heap and pile” style, animal masks applied to the shoulder and six-character Yongzheng mark in underglaze blue in a double ring to the base, the ht.… Read More

Like many of you right now, I’ve spent the last few months retreating into comforts—comfort food, comfort clothes, and comfort TV. And nothing is more comforting than re-watching your favorites, the shows and movies you’ve seen hundreds of times and can recite line by line. After watching the much anticipated season 4 of The Crown (whether you liked this season or not, Gillian Anderson was INCREDIBLE), I found myself going back to seasons 1 and 2 again.  

The Queen’s jewelry reproductions were amazingly accurate, something I found lacking in seasons 3 and 4.… Read More

AUCTION EVALUATION DAY | TUESDAY, JANUARY 5

See what hidden treasures our experts may be able to reveal

We invite you to join us online for our Virtual First Tuesday on January 5. Submit your items anytime before the 5th and Skinner specialists from all departments will be on hand on Tuesday to evaluate items and respond by email.

Let’s get started: 

Step 1: Gather information and images for up to three items of fine & decorative arts, furniture, jewelry, silver, watches, coins and much more.… Read More

We invite you to join us online for regional consignment days in Maine and Westchester, New York. Skinner specialists look forward to evaluating items via email, and beginning the conversation about the advantages of selling at auction.

Gather information and images for up to three items of fine & decorative arts, furniture, jewelry, silver, watches & coins and much more. Send an email with the information and images at newyork@skinnerinc.com, maine@skinnerinc.com or at the buttons below.… Read More

More than ever, books, films, and spoken word are sources of inspiration and enlightenment; they serve as connectors to humanity, bellwethers of our time, and glorious refuge. We asked Skinner appraisers and staff to share what they have been reading, watching, and listening to in 2020, choices that resonated, provided a new experience, escape, or reflection. What is more welcome as we look back on 2020, and ahead to a bright and hopeful 2021.… Read More

While each lot in An Important Bordeaux Collection is remarkable in their own right, here are a few selections that should not be missed.

Chateau Latour 1966 (5 bottles)

For a vintage largely overlooked, “[T]he 1966 Latour remains an exemplar of the vintage, certainly one of the best, if not the best Left Bank wine of the vintage,” (N. Martin for TWA, 96 pts. 10/16). In fact, 1966 was rated four stars in Michael Broadbent’s Vintage Wine who wrote “[O]ne of my favourite vintages which I have always described as a lean, long distance runner,” with the Latour as “the slowest maturing of all the ‘66s” and “a flavoury, beautifully textured wine, with time in hand.” (10/00)

Lot 1019, Estimate: $1,800-3,000.… Read More

Strong interest nationally and internationally for selections of nearly 75 lots of Antiquities and over 700 lots of Wedgwood, most consigned from a New York City estate that had been in storage for more than two decades, contributed to a $1.79M auction that was 94% sold by lot. Competitive and robust internet and telephone bidding drove consistently strong results for the examples of Apulian and Attic red and black figure wares. An Attic black-figure squat amphora sold for $20,000, and an Apulian red-figured volute-krater sold for and $22,500.… Read More

The classic serape was the culmination of a century and a half of progress and growth in Navaho textile tradition. The Navajo learned to weave during the latter part of the 17th century from the Pueblos, who had been weaving cotton and other fabrics for hundreds of years. When the Spanish settled in the Southwest (from 1598) they introduced European treadle looms, Churro sheep to supply wool, and blue indigo dye. Churro wool and indigo blue soon became a part of the Pueblo weaving tradition.… Read More