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.
![Knights' jug](/media/105317/knights-jug-2654ie-22-07-2024.jpg?rxy=0.59098786828422878,0.24941176470588236&mode=crop&width=125&height=125&rnd=133658631940000000)
Remarkable British medieval jug flies to eight times estimate
22 July 2024An outstanding example of British medieval pottery sold as part of the Stanley F Goldfein collection of ceramics drew fervent bidding at a recent US auction.
![img_17-3.jpg](/media/102062/img_17-3.jpg?rxy=0.54166666666666663,0.22123893805309736&mode=crop&width=125&height=125&rnd=133576495530000000)
Photographic viewing device can operate all day and night
15 April 2024The invention of the megalethoscope by the Swiss-Italian optician and photographer Carlo Ponti greatly enhanced the experience of viewing photographs.
![img_43-5.jpg](/media/101922/img_43-5.jpg?anchor=center&mode=crop&width=125&height=125&rnd=133570501560000000)
Chair made for the Vanderbilts brings bidding battle at Bonhams Skinner
08 April 2024This Herter Bros inlaid rosewood and upholstered slipper chair was part of a suite made for the Vanderbilt family c.1881-82.
![img_25-3.jpg](/media/100750/img_25-3.jpg?anchor=center&mode=crop&width=125&height=125&rnd=133540148670000000)
De Medici letter reveals Pope appointment plot
04 March 2024This single-sheet letter was written by Catherine de Medici (1519-89) to the ambassador to Spain.
![img_32-2.jpg](/media/99458/img_32-2.jpg?rxy=0.38958707360861761,0.52886405959031657&mode=crop&width=125&height=125&rnd=133503974130000000)
US president mesmerised by Lillie Langtry
22 January 2024Though largely forgotten today, Lillie Langtry (1853-1929) was probably England’s first superstar, moving effortlessly from the stage to high society.
![img_15-1.jpg](/media/98371/img_15-1.jpg?rxy=0.39503816793893132,0.34980237154150196&mode=crop&width=125&height=125&rnd=133467646710000000)
Malczewski: Polish painter with a strong sense of self
11 December 2023Trained at the Krakow School of Fine Arts as well as the Paris École des Beaux Arts, Jacek Malczewski (1854-1929) is credited for the rise in popularity of symbolism in late 19th and early 20th-century Poland.
![img_18-5.jpg](/media/98384/img_18-5.jpg?anchor=center&mode=crop&width=125&height=125&rnd=133467649520000000)
Eye-witness account of Captain Cook’s death
11 December 2023Held by the same private New England family since 1792, a copy of 'A Journal of Captain Cook’s Last Voyage to the Pacific Ocean' complete with its map came for sale at Bonhams Skinner (28/26/20% buyer’s premium).
![img_57-2.jpg](/media/97571/img_57-2.jpg?rxy=0.37842778793418647,0.73220338983050848&mode=crop&width=125&height=125&rnd=133443522530000000)
Rare set of Keika chrysanthemums kept intact
13 November 2023The late 19th century Japanese artist Keika Hasegawa remains something of an enigma.
![img_47-2.jpg](/media/95952/img_47-2.jpg?rxy=0.50087873462214416,0.6804835924006909&mode=crop&width=125&height=125&rnd=133407182230000000)
Chrysanthemums in full bloom at Bonhams Skinner
02 October 2023The late 19th century Japanese artist Keika Hasegawa remains something of an enigma.
![2575NEDI Staffordshire Jug](/media/87878/2575nedi-staffordshire-jug.jpg?rxy=0.44543828264758495,0.33978494623655914&mode=crop&width=125&height=125&rnd=133176701920000000)
Pick of the week: Huge jug from 1835 bigs up London china dealer
09 January 2023This 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.
![img_32-8.jpg](/media/87830/img_32-8.jpg?rxy=0.45333333333333331,0.42406876790830944&mode=crop&width=125&height=125&rnd=133176762590000000)
Cabinet plates designed by Dresser make over five times estimate at Bonhams Skinner
09 January 2023A 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.
![img_25-2.jpg](/media/86675/img_25-2.jpg?rxy=0.49371633752244165,0.65506329113924056&mode=crop&width=125&height=125&rnd=133141102380000000)
Abijah’s powder horn shows Ranger value
28 November 2022A ‘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.
![img_32-3.jpg](/media/83900/img_32-3.jpg?anchor=center&mode=crop&width=125&height=125&rnd=133074676280000000)
Reginald was not bewitched by magic claims
12 September 2022Sold 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….'
![img_38-1.jpg](/media/83706/img_38-1.jpg?anchor=center&mode=crop&width=125&height=125&rnd=133068534290000000)
English embroideries impress at US auction
05 September 2022Massachusetts sale includes elaborate examples of early needlework from across the Atlantic
![img_37-3.jpg](/media/83235/img_37-3.jpg?rxy=0.45907473309608543,0.420863309352518&mode=crop&width=125&height=125&rnd=133056386560000000)
Rare Tornek-Rayville dive watch emerges at Bonhams Skinner
22 August 2022The 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.
![img_36-1.jpg](/media/83227/img_36-1.jpg?rxy=0.48576512455516013,0.39775910364145656&mode=crop&width=125&height=125&rnd=133056378730000000)
Old World works of art come fresh to Massachusetts saleroom
22 August 2022English and Continental ‘country house’ offerings are rare in the US but not gone forever
![img_37-2.jpg](/media/83234/img_37-2.jpg?rxy=0.48220640569395018,0.40709459459459457&mode=crop&width=125&height=125&rnd=133056384570000000)
Duplicate set: Plate from ‘Rutherford White House’ dinner service takes $1500
22 August 2022During 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.
![img_36-1.jpg](/media/82501/img_36-1.jpg?rxy=0.53546099290780147,0.37699115044247788&mode=crop&width=125&height=125&rnd=133031357840000000)
Liverpool jug winds its way to auction
25 July 2022Bonhams Skinner’s August 13 Americana auction in Massachusetts will feature a wide selection of American, English and Chinese Export works of art and paintings.
![img_27-5.jpg](/media/82041/img_27-5.jpg?anchor=center&mode=crop&width=125&height=125&rnd=133019214610000000)
Gujarat casket holds lots of appeal for buyer
11 July 2022The third sale from the eclectic collection of Jim Dixon was held online by Bonhams Skinner (25/20/12% buyer’s premium).
![img_30-5.jpg](/media/82053/img_30-5.jpg?rxy=0.54203539823008851,0.13473423980222496&mode=crop&width=125&height=125&rnd=133019231510000000)
Classical Flora statue from Cologne’s botanical garden emerges in Massachusetts auction
11 July 2022Featured 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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