A Week in the Life of an Antiques Appraiser: My Top 5 Finds

K'ang-hsi Period Cloisonne Bottle-Form Vase, China, 1662-1722, Estimate $10,000-15,000

Have you ever watched Antiques Roadshow on PBS? As a senior art and antiques appraiser at Skinner, many of my days are a lot like the reality TV show.

I spend considerable time meeting with prospective consignors at our Marlborough and Boston auction galleries and viewing the antiques, collectibles & fine art brought in for an auction evaluation.

I’m always surprised by what I see. Items run the gamut, spanning centuries, continents and values. The stories behind these antiques are often fascinating.

Over the past few weeks, many interesting items have come through our doors. Here are five of my favorites that I’ve taken in on consignment.

Keep an eye out for these antiques in future Skinner auctions:

1. K’ang-hsi Period Cloisonné Bottle-Form Vase, China, 1662-1722

The fluidity of the floral pattern and elegant form made this piece stand out from the Bohemian glass, Limoges china and other items on the viewing table. Purchased at auction in New York in 1911, this vase will be featured in our April Asian Works of Art auction after 100 years off the market. Auction estimate: $10,000-15,000.

2. Norse-revival Silver Covered Presentation Cup & Cover, by the Norwegian silversmith Henrik Moller

Combining the Arts & Crafts styling of the period with scenes from the Viking Sagas, mythical beasts and dense interlaced stylized foliage, this cup has a fantastical look that would fit any décor from Arts & Crafts to Goth. Auction estimate: $4,000-6,000.

3. Miniature Portrait on Ivory of a Gentleman

The profile is dashing in a Darcy-like way, and a curious note accompanying the piece mentions a Margaret Churchill, duchess of Marlborough, and H. Francis Blagge whose initials are engraved on the reverse of the token. Auction estimate: $400-600.

4. Pair of Minton Pate-sur-Pate and parcel-gilt decorated cabinet plates

Signed by the artist Albion Birks, and painted in the slip technique imported from France in the late 19^th century, the plates are elegant with scenes of Cupid and gilded foliage. Minton saw great success with this line of wares at the turn of the 20^th century. Auction estimate: $1,000-1,500.

5. Art Deco Fada Radio

From the model line L-56 first introduced in 1939 and made of Catalin, a brand-name resin similar to, but not identical to Bakelite, the radio’s yellow color isn’t as rare as those incorporating multi-color combinations but it should appeal to both art deco collectors and radio enthusiasts alike. Auction estimate: $300-500.

Favorite Auction Highlights of 2011, Part II: From Dwarf Clocks to Diamonds

2011 was a great year for fine art & antiques. Here is the second round of picks, and the reasons why we feel these items are important and worthy of recognition.

Read Part I to learn about a record-breaking folk art portrait, a stunning Art Deco bracelet, and a bottle of 1961 Petrus wine.

Antique Dwarf Clock

This remarkable family heirloom had been kept running for 80 years - Stephen Fletcher, Executive Vice President and Director of American Furniture & Decorative Arts

It’s always exciting to discover a beautiful object that is unknown to the collecting world. When I saw this perfectly proportioned dwarf clock on a house call in Beverly, Massachusetts, it was still running, and had been passed down in the same family for 80 years. At the moment we discussed the possibility of selling it, the clock struck twelve.

The clock was made by Joshua Wilder in Hingham, Massachusetts between 1821 and 1824, and is a true miniature of a tall case clock constructed in the same manner, and with a full striking movement. This places it in a category of being the most sought-after and desirable type of dwarf clock.

Mahogany and Mahogany Veneer Dwarf Clock, Joshua Wilder, Hingham, Massachusetts, Auctioned for $189,600 in the American Furniture & Decorative Arts auction on March 6, 2011

Rock Crystal Cup

Truly a royal item, this cup was probably made for the ruling court in the Mughal Empire in India – Kerry Shrives, Vice President, Director of Information & Technology

I love the exquisite carving on this Mughal rock crystal cup. It was most likely made in the 17th/18th century for the ruling court of the Mughal Empire in India, and then embellished in 1867 when the London jeweler Robert Phillips added a delicate gold, enamel and stone mounted foot-rim. The bowl reflects a mid-19^th century fascination with Greek and Roman antiquity. Phillips is known to have visited Rome in the 1850s on a study trip where he viewed period Roman works of glass, gold, and lapidary. Phillips exhibited at the 1867 Paris Exposition Universelle, and it is quite possible that this bowl was exhibited there. My favorite museum, the Victoria & Albert Museum has a number of similar cups in their collections.

Fine Yellow Gold, Cloisonne Enamel, and Stone-mounted Carved Rock Crystal Bowl, Auctioned for $201,450 in the European Furniture & Decorative Arts auction on October 14, 2011

Rare Ornamental Turning Lathe

This machine and collection of tools will provide a lifetime of discovery to a superb craftsman - Robert Cheney, Director of Science, Technology & Clocks

An ornamental turning lathe was primarily a “Gentleman’s” turning tool which could provide a lifetime education for the lucky owner. This remarkable early 19^th century machine and its many accessories allowed an educated owner to perform complex tasks on exotic woods and materials like ebony, teak, rosewood and ivory. This is my 2011 favorite because it is such a rarity to find an ornamental turning lathe with all the numbered accessories and fitted two-part mahogany tall chest. More importantly however, this is my favorite because it was sold to a superb craftsman who will spend a lifetime rediscovering all the attributes that make this machine so special.

Holtzapffel & Deyerlein Ornamental Turning Lathe and Accessories, Auctioned for $65,175 on July 16, 2011

Antique Diamond Necklace

Who kept this in her jewelry box at the turn of the century? - Melissa Riebe, Specialist, Discovery auctions

It’s hard to pick just one, but thinking back on things that really struck me this past year, one is this antique silver and rose-cut diamond necklace. The piece was beautiful in the catalogue, but seeing the necklace in person, I was, in a word, dazzled.

The delicate construction and brilliant stones started me thinking about what sort of a high-society woman around the turn of the century would have had this piece in her jewelry box. Was it a gift from her husband? A fellow member of the elite? A self-indulgent purchase? We’ll never know, but it’s fun to wonder!

Antique Silver and Rose-cut Diamond Necklace, Auctioned for $30,810 on December 6, 2011

Discovery Auctions in Massachusetts: Infographics, Word Clouds, and Maps

What does a Skinner Discovery Auction look like?

If you told me to visualize a Skinner Discovery auction, I’d think about our preview room full of antique furniture, ceramics, paintings, rugs, collectibles, and more. Then I’d see myself up at the podium at the monthly antiques auction, selling this variety of objects to bidders in the room, on the phone, and online. I definitely wouldn’t usually think of words, or maps, as a way to visualize the antiques auction process.

However, it takes a lot more than a room full of interesting antique finds to make an auction. Lots of work goes into each sale, and each auction generates a great deal of data, including the consignor and bidder information, auction estimates, prices realized, keywords, tags, and other metadata used to create our virtual thumbprint on the web, as well as advertisements and press releases. It’s a lot of information and a lot of work to make sense out of it.

Art & Infographics

One way of understanding data is through visual representations of information, or infographics. While the concept of rendering information in graphical form is as old as cave paintings, the development of science and statistics hastened the development of this means of communication. In the 19^th century, Minard created his now famous graphic depicting Napolean’s disastrous march on Moscow. It was quite a breakthrough in its time.

For a more modern infographic relating to the art world, see this striking representation from 2010 of the 10 most expensive pieces of art ever sold, scaled by the physical size of each piece of art. Alberto Giacometti’s six foot tall sculpture Walking Man I comes in at #1 with a price of $104.3 million.

Infographics can make a pile of raw data easier to understand. Edward Tufte’s modern classic The Visual Display of Quantitative Information provides an outstanding treatment of the topic.

A World of Data

These days, there are many Web based tools to facilitate graphical data analysis. Here at Skinner, I’m particularly struck by this map view of the June 2011 Discovery auction showing the distribution of a portion of online bidders globally:

The ease and accessibility of of internet bidding has made it possible for auctions in Massachusetts to draw bidders worldwide (even in Moscow!). This view of just some of our participants shows how globalized the antiques auction world has become.

Find out more about online bidding with SkinnerLive!

5 Reasons to Try Absentee Bidding Online

“Selling at $1,500 with me, from the book, is there any advance?” says the auctioneer.

A bid from the “book” or “desk” refers to a competitive bid left in advance of the auction to be executed by the auctioneer. Also called absentee bids, proxy bids or left bids, these types of bids have long been an important part of live auctions.

While nothing beats the exciting and fast-paced atmosphere of an auction, attending isn’t always possible or practical. Live 3,000 miles away? Flying in to bid at an auction in Massachusetts might not be feasible. Depressed about the recent catastrophic collapse of the Red Sox? We understand. Or maybe you’re just plain old busy with family responsibilities. Life happens! Not surprisingly, many buyers also appreciate the anonymity that absentee bidding brings.

Whatever your reason for not attending in person, know that just because you’re not sitting in the saleroom doesn’t mean you can’t participate. And now, it’s easier than ever to leave your absentee bids online.

I am still working to convince some long-time and frequent bidders that they should try the do-it-yourself approach to absentee bids. Calling in to relay a long list of lots and bid prices while eating dinner or watching TV is not necessarily the best idea. When you enter your bids online through the auction house website, you’re in control and can see your bids right in front of you. Here are some other reasons to try absentee bidding online.

To get started with absentee bidding online with Skinner, you will be asked to log-in or register on our website.

1. No more worrying about business hours

The Skinner website is open 24/7. As soon as the auction catalogue goes live, and at any time of day or night that is convenient to you, you can leave absentee bids. Keep in mind that bidding shuts off one hour before the start of each auction session. (If it’s a multi-day sale, then bidding will still be available on day 1 for future sessions).

2. Have your questions answered while you browse

As you view individual lots, you can easily email department specialists for additional information, track lots or place bids.

3. Leave multiple bids with ease

The bid sheet lets you see the whole catalogue. You can browse through, check off multiple bids, and enter prices all from one form. If you prefer, you can also bid one lot at a time. You will receive a confirmation email when your absentee bids are received in our system and another when they’ve been processed for the auction.

4. Follow the auction as if you were there

When you’re logged in to the Skinner website, you can click “Search Catalogues” at the top of the page to browse upcoming auction catalogues, search catalogue listings, or view a list of your current bids and tracked lots. All lots that you have either bid on or marked to track will show up in this list, and will be updated with prices realized after the auction.

5. When you win, you’ll be the first to know!

As a registered member of the Skinner website, you will receive email notification of your successful bids after the auction has concluded. From there you can start enjoying your treasures!

For more information on absentee bidding, visit www.skinnerinc.com.

The Market for Victoriana: A Variety of Affordable Antiques

Discovery auctions at Skinner are eclectic. Among the antique furniture, estate jewelry, silver, and collectibles, you’ll always find a wide a variety of Victoriana: materials produced during the Victorian period (1837-1901) that reflect the design ethos of the time.

Aesthetic Movement Cherry Étagère, attributed to Merklen Bros., auctioned for $1,103

This time period in America was one of great technological advancement and social change. The economy shifted away from land ownership and farms toward trade and manufacturing. Workers flocked to cities, where factories utilized techniques such as steam bending, lathe-turning, electroplating, and band sawing to churn out a seemingly endless variety of goods. Molded chair frames, barley-twist spindles, elaborate silver plated wares and intricate fret-carved woodwork all became available to the rising middle class at an affordable cost.

One of the styles of Victoriana that I enjoy the most is the Aesthetic movement, which began in the late 1860s as an intellectual rally against the industrial revolution. Designers looked to exotic and historical sources for inspiration, and Japanese art especially had a strong influence. The movement gained popularity at the Philadelphia Centennial Exposition of 1876, which displayed art objects from a variety of countries and periods.

By the 1880s in America, the Aesthetic movement had become an opportunity for manufacturers to employ naturalistic and often Japanese-inspired motifs economically through manufacturing techniques. Designs were stylized, cast, molded or often chip-carved, providing lots of detail to admire without much labor cost. The result was a variety of items, from étagères to pickle casters.

These examples of Victoriana were popular in the September 2011 Discovery auction in Massachusetts.

Auction Punk!

Beats the odds and get the deal!

Category Archives: Kerry Shrives