A woman came into Skinner with a collection of family silver that she no longer wanted. She’d already been to a smelter, who offered her $800 to melt the silver down for scrap. It was tempting to take the money, but she felt bad about the decision and decided to come to Skinner auction house first. Clearly, she was uncomfortable with the idea of scrapping something with family history and artistic value.

With its plain form and prominent monogram, this small Tiffany & Co.

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Known as “The City Beautiful,” Coral Gables “stands out as a rare pearl in South Florida.” Founded in 1899 by George Merrick, a Massachusetts native, Coral Gables exhibits the design aesthetics of enlightened urban planning from the turn of the last century.  Wide, palm-lined avenues, beautiful public green spaces, and monumental buildings combine with the Mediterranean Revival style inspired by cities like Seville and Cartagena. The result is a simply beautiful setting in the sun, urban and urbane, with a grand, yet human, sense of scale.… Read More

This autumn season is turning out to be about all things Russian. In September, Skinner auctioned The Robert Bunting Dance Collection, which included period artifacts from the golden age of the Ballet Russes. A costume design by Léon Bakst for the marchioness in The Sleeping Beauty sold for $66,000 and Pavel Tchelitchew’s Group of Dancers in a Scene from L’Errante brought $26,400.

As Russian culture was being celebrated at Skinner, I was honored when Kent dur Russell, director of the Museum of Russian Icons in Clinton, invited me to attend the Salomé Ball in Boston on November 16, 2013.… Read More

As a student of American furniture, I was taught early on about the distinct regional styles that developed during our country’s history. Objects made in Boston, Philadelphia, and New York each spoke from their own individual locales. Having lived in Massachusetts for my entire adult life and raised a family here, the unique material culture of this region appeals to me personally. The grace, femininity, and economy of movement in Massachusetts furniture evoke traditional Yankee thrift as well as the modern notion that less is more.… Read More

Guest post by John T. Kirk © 2013. The John T. Kirk Collection will be offered in the American Furniture & Decorative Arts auction on August 11, 2013 in Marlborough.

I grew up twenty miles west of Philadelphia in what was, in the 1930s and ’40s, a rural landscape. Kirks had been in the Philadelphia area since the 18th century and it was logical that my parents had some early furniture. As was natural at that time I happily refinished an array of pine pieces I purchased.… Read More

Downtown Boston is our home, and the events of the past week touched us deeply. The Skinner Boston gallery is just a block away from the Boston Marathon finish line, and the Skinner Marlborough gallery is ten miles away from Hopkinton, where the race begins. Much like the Marathon, Skinner is a place where we welcome both native Bostonians and visitors from virtually every corner of the world to participate in auctions in heart of downtown Boston.… Read More

When you look at modern and contemporary art, it’s clear that there is a thin line separating the questions, “what is Art?” and “what is Folk Art?” Many academically trained artists have looked to folk art for inspiration.

When I walk into the Winter Antiques Show each January, it’s hard to know where to begin. Booths buzz with conversation, and beautiful objects and designs compete for my attention.