BOSTON, Mass. – www.skinnerinc.com – Skinner, one of the nation’s leading auction houses, has announced that its semi-annual Fine Musical Instruments auction will be held on May 4th at noon in its Boston gallery. As always, several good vintage guitars from Martin and Gibson will be featured, including Pre-war Martins, Wartime Gibson flat tops, rare mandolins and Les Paul model electrics.
Kicking off the sale, lot no. 1 is a Gibson Advanced Jumbo guitar (est. $8/12,000) from 1940, revered for its huge volume and a sound that recoding studios are built around. Its top has darkened over the years, but the rosewood back and sides are clean. Lot 16 will interest fans of the British rock band Ten Years After, a Gibson ES-335 TD played by Alvin Lee at the 1970 Isle of Wight Festival, as well as at many other venues (est. $3,4/4,000).
Prewar Martin guitars include a 1939 D-18 favored by flatpicking guitarists for its booming sound and clear recording quality (lot 17, est. $18/24,000), and a 1935 000-45 with extensive pearl inlay to the top and edges (lot 25, $35/50,000). Also featured are two very clean Gibson Les Paul Model “Goldtop” electrics from 1956: lot 18 est. $45/60,000) has a dark stained mahogany back and neck, and lot 22 est.$40/60,000) a natural back and neck with original hang tags, shoulder strap and bill of sale. Both feature original cases, and lot 22 is sold with its original accompanying Gibson GA-40 amplifier.
Several good modern violins from noted American, Italian, Austrian, and French makers are featured: a 1946 violin by Carl Becker of Chicago (lot 32) is estimated at $16,000-20,000, while Boston makers are represented by O.H. Bryant (lot 33; est. $2/2,800) and his disciple William Ganshirt (lot 74, est. $2,5/3,500). Instruments by influential makers of the New York school include an 1877 violin by George Gemunder of New York (lot 39, est. $2/3,000), H.R. Hansen (lot 370, est. $3/5,000), and D.B. Rockwell (lot 379, est. $1/1,400). Modern Italian instruments by Claudio Gamberini (lot 35), Giusepe Castagnino (lot 37), Valentino De Zorzi (lot 40), Enrico Marchetti (lot 43) and Rodolfo Tramanti (lot 34) are all being offered at estimates $20,000 or less. Finally, an original violin by Camillo Camilli (lot 42, est. $50/70,000) of Mantua, circa 1750, in restorable condition will be offered.
Two excellent Viennese violins are also featured: lot 36 is an example from 1846 by Nicolaus Sawicki – recognized by violinist Nicolo Paganini as “an extraordinary genius” and regarded as of the best Viennese makers of his time. This Strad model violin is in original condition and estimated at $12,000-18,000. An earlier instrument from the early 19th century from the school of Geisenhoff (lot 38, est. $12/18,000) has a ruby varnish and a highly flamed back with an unusual figure.
Outstanding among the French bows is a very fine early work of Etienne Pajeot, c. 1810, (lot 194, est. $20/25,000) made for Charles Tourte of Paris. It bears the stamp TOURTE T and includes original screw, adjuster, ebony slide and an ivory frog in excellent condition. Other fine French bows include examples by J.A and Andre Vigneron, Eugene Sartory, F.N. Voirin, Nicolas Maline, Paul Simon, Victor Fetique, Francois Peccatte, and Claude Thomassin.
Previews and Catalog Information
Previews for the auction will be held on May 2nd from 12 to 5 p.m, May 3rd from 10:30 to 5 p.m. and on May 4th from 9 to 10:30 a.m. Illustrated catalog #2407 is available by mail for $32 ($39 for foreign requests) from the subscription department at 978-779-6241 x240. It is also available at the gallery for $29. Prices realized will be available at www.skinnerinc.com during and after the sale. For more information, call 978-779-6241, or visit www.skinnerinc.com. Skinner’s site also allows users to view all lots in the auctions, leave bids, and order catalogs online.
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About Skinner
Skinner, Inc. is one of the nation’s leading auction houses for antiques and fine art. 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, 20th Century Design, Fine Ceramics, Fine Silver, Fine Jewelry, Couture, Fine Musical Instruments, Asian Works of Art, Fine Wines, Rare Books & Manuscripts, Science & Technology, Oriental Rugs & Carpets, American Indian & Ethnographic Art, Fine Judaica, Antique Motor Vehicles, Toys, Dolls & Collectibles, and Discovery. Skinner galleries are located in Boston and Bolton, Mass. For more information on upcoming auctions and events, visit Skinner’s web site www.skinnerinc.com
