Skinner Auctioneers' recent Luxe Living: The Bostonians & European Décor & Design Auctions. Drawing competitive bidding from enthusiastic participants worldwide, these two April 2022 European auctions generated high prices across multiple categories, pushing their gross well above their high estimates. All together, the two auctions exceeded $1.1 Million.

“Buyers’ excitement over fresh property on the market was especially evident by the very well attended previews,” says department director, Stuart Slavid. “With both a live and an online auction, Skinner attracted over a thousand bidders for the combined auctions.”

Luxe Living: The Bostonians

Spirited bidding occurred over the phone, online and through absentee bidders, pushing the gross well above the high estimate to $534,875 with an impressive 95% sell-through rate. The top lot was a pair of carved giltwood mirrors (Lot 231), which soared past their presale estimate of $2,000-4,000 to sell for $68,750.´

The most successful categories were furniture and Chinese porcelain. Interest in several Famille Jeune pieces, with their soft yellows and florals, was particularly strong with a pair or Jarinderes on stands (Lot 159) selling for $22,500. A Dutch painted leather screen (Lot 43) featuring charming birds and florals sold for $12,500, in further celebration of spring.

European Décor & Design Auction

The online auction hammered comfortably within its estimate, taking in a gross $583,818. Two large flatware sets performed well, with a Whiting Lily pattern sterling silver service with many serving pieces (Lot 1068) selling for $11,875. An extensive collection of 365 pieces of Towle Georgian pattern sterling flatware (Lot 1074) also performed well, selling for $13,750. Beyond American silver, the European silver selection was highlighted by several Georg Jensen pieces, particularly two large compotes (Lot 1090 and Lot 1091) that each sold for $7,500.

There was also a strong showing in ceramics, ranging from Wedgwood, early Staffordshire, Royal Copenhagen Flora Danica and Meissen. “Both the pineapple and melon teapots in the European Decor & Design sale were especially fine examples of 18th century English pottery,” noted Stuart—both teapots (Lots 1209 and 1226) sold for $11,875.