Dr. Herbert Hall started the Marblehead Pottery in 1904, as therapy for patients at his Devereux Sanitarium. His therapeutic workshop evolved into a business, and in 1915, Arthur Baggs took over the production operation and continued to produce the pottery until 1936. 

In 1909, this vase was designed by Annie E. Aldrich, thrown by John Swallow, and decorated by Sarah Tutt in the Marblehead Pottery workshop. It is one of four known examples, two of the others are in the collections of the Art Institute of Chicago and the Two Red Roses Foundation, Palm Harbor, Florida.… Read More

Throughout the past year, the team that runs The Gentleman’s Auction here at Skinner has invited collaboration with local Gentlemen of note. This time around, in a sale timed to coincide with the holidays, we are pleased to welcome Jared Bowen into the fold. Jared is Executive Arts Editor at WGBH and is the Emmy award-winning host of Open Studio with Jared Bowen, a weekly program covering all aspects of the arts. He is also a regular contributor to many platforms at WGBH, on the radio and the TV side.… Read More

Skinner welcomes Phillip Thomas, founder and principal of Phillip Thomas Inc. for a collaboration on the catalog for the October 13th European Furniture & Decorative Arts auction.

Watch as Phillip works with Skinner department staff and photographers to create vignettes full of color, texture, and shape.

Vignette 1: Lips on White – view the lots that make up this catalog image

Vignette 2: Acanthus Stripe – view the lots that make up this catalog image

Vignette 3: Greek Key – view the lots that make up this catalog image

Read more about our design collaboration with Phillip Thomas.… Read More

I’ve been an appraiser on the PBS television series Antiques Roadshow for 18 years, and during each event, I meet hundreds of people who wait in line for hours hoping for a chance to be on the show. Our day starts early, with appraisals beginning at 7:30 AM and running through the early evening. As an expert in European Decorative Arts, I typically stand at the Pottery and Porcelain, Silver, or Decorative Arts table where I greet people and give evaluations of their prized possessions.… Read More

Kinetic sculptures add a dash of fun to Skinner fine art and design auctions. In June, an outdoor sculpture by artist George Sherwood, titled “Flock of Birds” brought $21,600 — well over the pre-sale estimate.

In our December 7, 2013 20th Century Design auction in Boston, we’re pleased to be offering a piece by David Roy (Lot 536, Estimate $500-$700). The indoor sculpture is on a smaller scale than the Sherwood piece, but with no less charm.… Read More

In the history of race cars, Ferrari is one maker that stands above the rest for consummately stylish designs built for pure speed. Enzo Ferrari, the company’s founder, groomed his son Alfredo, nicknamed “Dino,” to be his successor. Dino attended the best schools in Europe, became a mechanical engineer, and was instrumental in the development of the overhead camshaft V-6 engine.

Sadly, Dino passed away in 1956 at the young age of 24.… Read More

“My earliest collecting was in the area of cow creamers,” explains Harry A. Root Jr. “This was because I had a dairy farm in Vermont.” See those cow creamers and many more examples of early English pottery in these two videos. Harry Root takes family friend David Grober on a tour of the collection and tells the stories behind the rare and exquisite works.

The Harry A. Root Jr. Collection of 18th Century English Pottery will be offered at auction on July 13, 2013 at the Skinner Boston gallery.… Read More

In December 2012, a collection of garden sculpture attracted interested bidders from across the country. “Placed into the right natural environment, a garden sculpture can become something more than just an interesting form. It becomes an extension of nature and may even take on a personality that changes with the seasons,” wrote department director Jane Prentiss.

That personality is even more apparent when the sculpture moves!… Read More

Welcome to the new Skinner website! Take a tour of the website with this introductory video. Learn about search, auction pages, the grid view for browsing catalogs, and more.