Bonhams Skinner

American auction house Skinner was founded in 1962 by Robert W Skinner – an engineer with a passion for antiques. For 45 years it was run by partners Karen Keane and Stephen Fletcher (who was Skinner’s first employee), before the firm was sold to Bonhams in 2022. At that point the firm was rebranded as Bonhams Skinner.

In addition to its flagship Boston saleroom, Skinner also operates from Marlborough, Massachusetts; Coral Gables, Florida and New York City.

Bonhams Skinner holds regular sales across the year in more than 20 collecting areas, including categories such as fine art, American, Indian and ethnographic art, antique dolls, Judaica, textiles & couture and musical instruments.


2575NEDI Staffordshire Jug

Pick of the week: Huge jug from 1835 bigs up London china dealer

09 January 2023

This monumental and documentary Staffordshire blue and white transfer printed jug sold for $4800 (£4000) as part of Bonhams Skinner’s sale of British pottery and porcelain that ran online from Marlborough, Massachusetts, in the last days of 2022.

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Cabinet plates designed by Dresser make over five times estimate at Bonhams Skinner

09 January 2023

A set of eight Minton Aesthetic movement bone cabinet plates topped the Bonhams Skinner (27.5/25% buyer’s premium) sale of British pottery and porcelain that ran online from Marlborough, Massachusetts, in the last days of 2022.

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Abijah’s powder horn shows Ranger value

28 November 2022

A ‘Siege of Louisbourg’ powder horn belonging to one Ranger Abijah Smith sold for $17,500 (£15,200) at Bonhams Skinner in an auction on September 28 in Massachusetts.

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Reginald was not bewitched by magic claims

12 September 2022

Sold at Bonhams Skinner (27.5/26/20/14.5% buyer’s premium) was a 1584 first edition of Reginald Scot’s 'The Discoverie of Witchcraft….'

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English embroideries impress at US auction

05 September 2022

Massachusetts sale includes elaborate examples of early needlework from across the Atlantic

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Old World works of art come fresh to Massachusetts saleroom

22 August 2022

English and Continental ‘country house’ offerings are rare in the US but not gone forever

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Duplicate set: Plate from ‘Rutherford White House’ dinner service takes $1500

22 August 2022

During the administration of Rutherford Hayes, who served as the 19th President of the US from 1877-81, the White House commissioned a dinner service from the Haviland factory in Limoges.

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Rare Tornek-Rayville dive watch emerges at Bonhams Skinner

22 August 2022

The latest sale of Clocks, Watches, & Scientific Instruments held by Bonhams Skinner (25% buyer’s premium) included one of perhaps only 50 surviving Tornek-Rayville TR-900 stainless steel dive watches.

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Liverpool jug winds its way to auction

25 July 2022

Bonhams Skinner’s August 13 Americana auction in Massachusetts will feature a wide selection of American, English and Chinese Export works of art and paintings.

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Classical Flora statue from Cologne’s botanical garden emerges in Massachusetts auction

11 July 2022

Featured in the European Décor and Design auction at Bonhams Skinner in Massachusetts from July 24-August 3, this classical allegorical marble figure of Flora by the German sculptor Anton Werres (1830-1900) is estimated at $10,000-15,000.

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Gujarat casket holds lots of appeal for buyer

11 July 2022

The third sale from the eclectic collection of Jim Dixon was held online by Bonhams Skinner (25/20/12% buyer’s premium).

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Garden designer who collected carpets

23 May 2022

In Massachusetts, auction firm Skinner (25/20/12% buyer’s premium) held the first of a series of sales given over to the carpet collection of Jim Dixon with an online session from April 25-May 6 and a live sale on May 4.

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New appointments at Bonhams US branches

18 April 2022

Skinner of Boston – now part of Bonhams – has appointed Benjamin Mini as director of the rugs and carpets department. He will also serve as the regional director of the auction house for Maine and northern New England.

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New appointments at international auction houses including Bonhams new managing director in Asia

04 April 2022

A round up of the latest announcements of new roles and moves.

Bonhams London Bond Street 2535Ne 16 03 22

Bonhams buys Boston saleroom Skinner

16 March 2022

Bonhams has acquired US auction house Skinner in a purchase that comes only two months after it bought Swedish saleroom Bukowskis.

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Jun bowl from a family collection at Skinner

07 March 2022

Skinner is holding two sales of Asian works of art in Marlborough, Massachusetts, this month: online from March 14-24 and live on March 23.

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Abraham Lincoln bronze scaled down but makes a big price

14 February 2022

Very much the highest price in the sale of American Works of Art held by Skinner (25/20/12 % buyer’s premium) in Marlborough, Massachusetts, on January 28 was this bronze figure of Abraham Lincoln.

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New appointment at Skinner's design department

14 February 2022

US auction house Skinner has appointed Leah Kingman as director of the 20th century design department.

The Old Truman Brewery

New departments, premises and promotions – a round-up of the latest job news

10 February 2022

An update on appointments in the world of art and antiques.

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Classic Castellani jewellery creates Boston bidding demand

20 December 2021

This classic example of the archaeological revivalist techniques that were so fashionable in jewellery making in the second half of the 19th century was one of the top-selling lots at Skinner (25/20/12% buyer’s premium).

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