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

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.