Skinner July Discovery Auction Features Studio Art, Country Americana and Wedgwood

If you’re looking to build your own art collection, get started at Skinner’s July Discovery auction.  Held Wednesday July 21st and Thursday July 22nd in Skinner’s Marlborough, Massachusetts gallery, the Skinner July Discovery auction will feature Studio Paintings — over 500 lots of 18th, 19th and 20th century paintings, prints and works on paper — plus offerings of Country Americana, Val-Kill furniture, and over 100 lots of Wedgwood.

Session I: Wednesday July 21st
Studio Paintings hit the auction block at 2 p.m. on Wednesday.  This session will feature works consigned from several local estates, including paintings and prints by New England artists.  A special highlight will be works from the personal collection of children’s book author and award-winning illustrator Blair Lent, a Cambridge, Massachusetts resident best known for his book Tikki Tikki Tembo.  The group includes works by him, as well as things in his collection by his contemporaries. 

Notes Robin Starr, Director of American & European Paintings & Prints, “The Lent offerings are just one example of the great affordable works of art up for auction.  We’re offering a wide selection of themes – pretty landscapes, stately portraits, even modern and contemporary works, with watercolors, oils, and prints in the mix.”  Starr continues, “New to the world of art auctions?  Don’t be intimidated!  Skinner Studio Paintings auctions are fun, non-intimidating, easy to participate in, and a great opportunity to learn about the vibrant local art market.  Stop by Skinner Marlborough on Wednesday and check it out, or preview and bid online at www.skinnerinc.com.”
 
Session II: Thursday July 22nd
Session II held on Thursday, will kick off at 10 a.m. with over 800 lots of Country Americana including painted furniture, children’s furniture, blanket chests, pottery, pewter, weathervanes, duck decoys, lighting, woodenware, mirrors, basketry, portraiture, paintings, lithograph prints, wallpaper boxes, hooked rugs, quilts and textiles.  One hundred lots of Wedgwood will also be auctioned.  An interesting feature on Thursday will be three lots of furniture by Val-Kill Industries, lots 1005-1007. The furniture workshops were established in 1927 by Eleanor Roosevelt with two other women to provide supplemental income for farming families in the Colonial Revival style. Learn more about Val-Kill at http://www.valkill.com/index.html .

Notes Kerry Shrives, Director of Skinner’s Discovery department, “Skinner has offered Val-Kill pieces before at auction, but it doesn’t come up very often, so it’s a great opportunity to bid on a wonderful slice of American history.  Val-Kill furniture is very well constructed, has great design and offers an interesting back-story.  What better to fill your home with?”

Auction Previews
Preview all lots in the auction online at Skinner’s website.  Live auction previews will be held on July 20th 12 to 5 p.m., July 21st, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., and July 22nd, 8 to 9:30 a.m. at Skinner, 274 Cedar Hill Street, Marlborough, Mass.  Auction catalogs are available for purchase at the gallery for $9.00.  For more information on items in the auction, contact Skinner’s Discovery department at 508-970-3202 or discovery@skinnerinc.com.
Skinner-Live! Online Bidding on Skinner’s Website
Skinner’s website features real-time online bidding via the SkinnerLive! bid applet.  Visit www.skinnerinc.com  and click on the blue SkinnerLive! Bidding button for full instructions prior to the auction.  Once pre-registered on our website, you can join in the live bidding as soon as the auction begins and listen along with the real-time live audio feed of the auction from the comfort of your home or workplace.  All lots in the auction are also available for viewing at www.skinnerinc.com . The website provides full-color thumbnail images and full lot descriptions.  It allows users to leave bids online, and view prices realized in real-time during and after the auction. Visit www.skinnerinc.com  to sign up for our free eZine of upcoming arts & antiques auctions and events.
Skinner Lot Alert
Looking for a particular item at Skinner?  Sign up to receive Skinner’s Lot Alert – it’s a personal shopper service that automatically notifies you via email when an item matching your interest is posted to the Skinner website.  From there, you can view the lot, get condition reports and bid online.  You’ll find registration for our Lot Alert under the Buy/Sell Tab on Skinner’s homepage at www.skinnerinc.com.

Skinner’s Discovery auctions are held every month in Skinner’s Marlborough, Massachusetts gallery.  They offer the general public the rare opportunity to learn about art, antiques, and collectibles at auction, in a relaxed and non-intimidating auction setting.  They are a great way to learn about the value of fine tangibles.  All Skinner auctions are free and open to the public, and they offer bidding in person, over the over the phone or online at Skinner’s website, www.skinnerinc.com.
About Skinner
Skinner, Inc. is one of the world’s leading auction houses for antiques and fine art and the only major auction house headquartered in New England.  With expertise in over 20 specialty collecting areas, Skinner draws the interest of buyers from all over the world and its auctions regularly achieve world record prices.  Skinner provides a broad range of auction and appraisal services, and it is widely regarded as one of the most trusted names in the auction business.   Skinner’s appraisal experts regularly appear on the PBS-TV series, Antiques Roadshow, and its specialty departments include American Furniture & Decorative Arts, American & European Paintings & Prints, European Furniture & Decorative Arts, Fine Ceramics, Fine Silver, Fine Jewelry, Couture, 20th Century Furniture & Decorative Arts, Fine Musical Instruments, Asian Works of Art, Fine Judaica, Toys, Dolls & Collectibles, Science & Technology, Fine Clocks, Oriental Rugs & Carpets, American Indian & Ethnographic Art, Fine Wines, and Discovery.  Skinner galleries are located in Boston and Marlborough, Massachusetts, USA.  For more information on upcoming auctions and events, visit Skinner’s web site www.skinnerinc.com.