Skinner, Inc. today announced that its upcoming bi-annual auction of 20th Century Furniture and Decorative Arts takes place in the Boston gallery on Saturday, June 25th at 10:00 a.m. 810 lots of material are grouped primarily by designer, or maker, for easy bidding by phone, via the Internet or in person at the gallery. This sale offers truly fresh material and great design options for everyone, from heads of new households to expert collectors.

Pottery and Art Glass
The auction features assembled collections of Dedham Pottery famous for its crackle glaze with blue decorative borders of bunnies, elephants, fish, fowl and flowers. The offerings are highlighted by a special plate, lot 110, made in the period from 1896-1929. This work depicts the moon over the Golden Gate in San Francisco and predates the Golden Gate Bridge, which was built in 1937. The plate is estimated at $1,500 to $1,800. Another fine example includes a pineapple plate from Chelsea, MA, circa 1891-95. Lot 58, this plate is estimated to sell between $400 to $500.

Art Deco pottery from the pre-war period is represented by a collection of Clarice Cliff designs of hand-painted Bizarre Ware. Breaking from tradition, Clarice Cliff (1899-1972) created landscapes and geographical designs in bold colors on pitchers, plates and other tableware and made use of the conical form on sugar shakers rather than the traditional cylinder. The Clarice Cliff collection, lots 121 to 163, ranges in estimate from $100 on the low end to $1,000 at the upper limit.

A collection of Bigelow & Kennard mosaic glass is also offered and will feature bronze table lamps and a fire screen of a yellow iris, lot 317, estimated between $4,000 and $6,000. The Bigelow & Kennard Studio was located in Boston, Massachusetts around the turn of the 20th century. Bigelow & Kennard works are rarely seen on the market and the cover lot, number 296, a table lamp, is an excellent example of early Arts and Crafts pottery and glass. A Bigelow & Kennard mosaic glass shade fitted into a large, green glazed, Grueby pottery vase with broad leaf decoration from Boston, Massachusetts, circa 1905 is valued between $25,000 and $35,000.

Mid-century Furniture
The Mid-century furniture collections make a strong link between Boston and Scandinavia. Architect Ben Thompson founded Design Research in Harvard Square, Cambridge, MA, building a retail store in 1969. Design Research introduced the furniture of famous designers such as Peter Hvidt and Orla Molgaard-Nielsen whose works are represented with cabinets, a secretary and chest of drawers. Lots 423 to 426A range from estimates of $600 on the low end to $1,500 on the high. Also available are pieces from Borge Mogensen, including lot 433: two secretaries in rosewood veneer, valued at $1,500 to $2,500, as well as two tall chests, lots 438 and 439, each estimated between $700 and $900. A Ben Thompson “Griggs” custom sofa and chair is also up for bid. This piece, lot 485 is estimated between $1,000 to $1,500. An extensive selection of Hans Wegner dining and lounge chairs, and day and evening beds comes to Skinner from the estates of New England families who found these designs to be a fresh source of inspiration as they started their households in the traditional environment of mid-20th century New England.

One of the greatest post-war studio furniture designers and makers George Nakashima (1905-1990), from New Hope, PA, is represented by his Conoid dining table executed in American black walnut and rosewood. This lot, 401, is estimated at $30,000 to $35,000. Philip and Kelvin Laverne coffee tables in decorated bronze are perennial favorites and highlighted bylots 367 and 368, estimated at $6,000 to $8,000 and $4,000 to $4,500, respectively.

Decorative Arts
Surrounding the primary collections other offerings include a sterling silver tea service by Peer Smed, lot 181, valued at $8,000 to $12,000; studio pottery by Peter Voulkos and Scheier; art glass by Daum, Galle, and Lalique; lamps, glass and metalwork by Tiffany and over 100 lots of wall art including pieces by Gambino, Syd Solomon, Miro and Peter Max.

Catalog and Preview Information
Previews for the auction will be Thursday, June 23rd, 12 p.m.-5 p.m. and Friday, June 24th, 12 p.m.-7 p.m and Saturday, June 25th, 8 to 9 a.m. Illustrated catalog #2552B is available by mail for $35 ($42 for foreign requests) from the subscription department at 508-970-3000 x3240. It is also available at the gallery for $32. Prices realized will be available at Skinnerinc.com during and after the sale. Skinner's site also allows users to view all lots in the auctions, leave bids, order catalogs, and bid live in real-time through SkinnerLive!