Skinner Hosts Auction of Fine Musical Instruments

Skinner, Inc. will host an auction of Fine Musical Instruments on May 1^st at noon in its Boston gallery. The sale will feature over 450 lots including a large and varied offering of fretted instruments, violins, bows, cellos, woodwinds, and brass. Also to be offered are instruments from the Thomas Binkley Collection of Historical Musical Instruments and custom guitars and amps from the Pinkburst Project of Jay Jay French. The Selmer soprano saxophone of late jazz legend Steve Lacy is also a highlight of the sale.

 
The first segment of the sale is dedicated to the Pinkburst Project, a unique set of custom-made guitars and amplifiers commissioned by Jay Jay French of Twisted Sister and inspired by his iconic “pink sunburst” Les Paul. The custom models were created specifically for the Pinkburst Project by Gibson, Fender, Gretsch, Epiphone, Paul Reed Smith, Roukangas and Martin. Guitar estimates range from $2,800 at the low end to $9,000 at the high. Amplifiers by Fender, Marshall, Vox, Mesa, Orange, Hartke and Diamond, along with a number of accessories, will be up for bid as well.

The Thomas Binkley Collection of Historical Musical Instruments includes fine wind and fretted instruments of the Renaissance and Baroque period, along with reproductions by some of the leading makers of early musical instruments. The excellent work of the Von Huene Workshop of Boston, Peter Harlett, John Hanchet and the late Gunter Korber is well represented among these instruments, which were played by Mr. Binkley on his important and innovative recordings of early music. Also featured are two antique citterns from the British Isles: Lot 185 is a cittern or English guitar from maker William Gibson of Dublin, dating from 1712 and estimated at $600-$800; and an anonymous cittern from c. 1750 is estimated at $1,200-$1,400. Lot 186 is an Italian Pandurina, or soprano lute from c. 1620, attributed to Marinus di Magistro, with a back veneered in ivory and an display of inlaid pearl, ivory and ebony around its delicately carved rosette. The piece is estimated at $2000-$3,000.

Included in the offerings of fine fretted instruments are three examples from C.F. Martin: Lot 34 is a Style 00-42 guitar from 1930 with all parts original, estimated at $4,000-$6000; Lot 35 is a 5K Ukulele from 1928 valued at $7,000-$9,000; and lot 35A is a D-18 Guitar from 1945, and is estimated at $10,000-$12,000. Featured from Gibson Inc. is Lot 38, an L-5 Guitar from 1934, whose sale will benefit the City Music program of Berklee College of Music, courtesy of award-winning actor/director/musician Christopher Guest. The guitar is estimated at $10,000-$12,000. Also from Gibson is an F-4 mandolin from 1927, Lot 39, valued at $4,000-$6,000; and a “Gold Top” Les Paul guitar from 1957, Lot 42, estimated at $60,000-$80,000. Vintage instruments from Rickenbacker, Gretsch, Fender, Guild, and Vega will also be sold.

Fine violins include an outstanding example of Mantua maker Stefano Scarampella from 1917, Lot 55, which is estimated at $30,000-$50,000; a fine violin from Lorenzo Ventapane of Naples, c. 1810, Lot 58, estimated at $50,000-$70,000; a Milanese violin of Paolo Testore from 1740, Lot 61, valued at $65,000; and an outstanding example from English maker Benjamin Banks from c. 1775, Lot 60, estimated at $8,000-$12,000.