Skinner Auctioneers

Skinner Auctioneers stands as one of the most respected auction institutions in the northeastern United States, combining a half-century legacy of New England expertise with the global reach of its parent company, Bonhams. Founded in 1971 by Robert W. Skinner Jr. in Bolton, Massachusetts, the firm was built on a conviction that New England—with its deep roots in the arts, antiques trade, and centuries of collecting history—deserved a world-class auction house of its own. Robert Skinner was a passionate dealer and auctioneer who began conducting sales in the 1960s before formally incorporating the business in 1971. He believed that the extraordinary concentration of early American furniture, decorative arts, folk art, and fine paintings held in New England estates represented a collecting heritage rivaled by few places on earth. Under his leadership, Skinner quickly grew from a small regional operation into one of the most active auction houses on the East Coast. By 1978, the company had opened a prominent Boston gallery, cementing its reputation as a major force in the American auction market. Following Robert Skinner's passing in 1984, the firm continued to flourish under successive leadership, expanding its roster of specialist departments and broadening its collector base well beyond New England. Today, Skinner holds over sixty auctions per year across more than twenty collecting categories, making it one of the most prolific auction houses in North America by volume. In March 2022, Skinner was acquired by Bonhams, the London-based international auction house, and now operates as Bonhams Skinner. The acquisition married Skinner's unparalleled regional expertise and consignor relationships with Bonhams' worldwide client network and marketing infrastructure, creating a formidable platform for both buyers and sellers. Skinner's specialist departments span a remarkably wide array of collecting areas. The firm is particularly celebrated for its American Furniture and Decorative Arts department, which regularly handles museum-quality pieces from the Colonial, Federal, and Victorian periods. New England painted furniture, silver by Paul Revere and other early American silversmiths, and important examples of folk art have all crossed the Skinner block to strong results. The Fine Jewelry department is another cornerstone of the business, offering sales that range from signed pieces by Cartier, Tiffany & Co., and Van Cleef & Arpels to important gemstones and estate collections. Skinner's jewelry auctions attract an international bidding audience and consistently achieve results that rival those of far larger houses. The Fine Art department covers American and European paintings, prints, and sculpture, with particular depth in Boston School painters, American Impressionists, and marine art. Skinner also maintains highly regarded departments in Asian Art—where a landmark 2014 sale of an Imperial Qing dynasty fencai vase realized $24.7 million, at the time the highest price ever achieved for a Chinese artwork at auction in the United States—as well as Oriental Rugs and Carpets, European Furniture and Decorative Arts, Clocks, Watches, and Scientific Instruments, Toys and Dolls, and Fine Musical Instruments including rare violins. For consignors, Skinner offers a straightforward process. Prospective sellers can submit items for evaluation through the website, by visiting one of the company's galleries, or by scheduling an in-home appointment for larger collections and estates. Skinner's specialists provide complimentary auction estimates and advise on appropriate sale placement. The firm works with individual collectors, estate attorneys, trust officers, and institutions alike. Seller commissions are negotiated on a case-by-case basis depending on the value and nature of the consignment; interested parties should contact the relevant department directly for current rates. Buyers at Skinner pay a tiered buyer's premium on top of the hammer price, which is standard practice in the auction industry. The current premium structure, consistent with Bonhams' global schedule, typically starts at 27.5 percent on the first portion of the hammer price and steps down on higher amounts. All lots are available for preview before the sale, both in person at the gallery and through detailed online cataloguing with high-resolution photography and condition reports. Online bidding is fully integrated into every Skinner sale. Bidders can participate in real time through the Bonhams online platform, as well as through third-party services such as Invaluable and Bidsquare. Absentee and telephone bidding are also available for all catalogued sales. This multi-channel approach ensures that collectors worldwide can compete for lots regardless of their location. Skinner's gallery and saleroom are located in the Back Bay neighborhood of Boston, at 236 Clarendon Street, providing a prestigious and accessible setting for previews and live auctions. The firm also maintains facilities in Marlborough, Massachusetts, for storage, shipping coordination, and additional sale events. What sets Skinner apart from many regional auction houses is the depth of its scholarship and cataloguing. The firm employs a team of specialists with advanced degrees and decades of hands-on market experience. Catalogue entries are detailed, provenance research is thorough, and condition reporting is transparent—qualities that inspire confidence among both seasoned collectors and first-time buyers. Skinner's combination of rigorous expertise, New England heritage, and the global Bonhams network makes it a compelling destination for anyone buying or selling fine art, antiques, jewelry, and collectibles. Frequently asked questions about Skinner include what categories they handle (over twenty, from jewelry and fine art to scientific instruments and wine), how fees work (tiered buyer's premium for buyers; negotiated commissions for sellers), how to consign (online submission, gallery visit, or in-home appointment), whether online bidding is available (yes, through Bonhams' platform and third-party partners), and what distinguishes Skinner from competitors (a unique blend of deep New England provenance expertise and global Bonhams reach).