August Auctions at Bonhams Skinner

August Americana | Bonhams Skinner13 Aug 2023 Skinner Marlborough, Massachusetts Thomas Birch(1779-1851)c. 1845.China Bound. Sight, ht. 19 1/2, wd. 29 1/4 in.

Bonhams Skinner will present four sales in August from the Americana and Fine Wine and Rare Spirits departments. The August Americana sale will be highlighted by an exceptional and meticulously crafted live-steam locomotive from the Massachusetts workshop of Larry Vance and Summer Americana will feature an impressive array of American flags and political banners. Then Fine Wines will present a 6L bottle of Opus One 1987 and Rare Spirits will feature an incredibly rare and comprehensive set of whisky from the Springbank distillery.

August Americana
August 13

August Americana will offer a curated selection of 71 works on August 13 featuring a number of exceptional pieces of furniture as well as a strong grouping of maritime artwork and portraiture. Highlights of the furniture include two tall case clocks by well-known Boston makers – a clock with a tiger maple case by Gawen Brown (1719-1801), estimated at $8,000 – 12,000, and an Aaron Willard (1757-1844) clock in a classic Roxbury case, estimated at $15,000 – 25,000. A number of the maritime works hail from the collection of the late Henry S. Streeter, a lover of marine art, a long-time lawyer, and an avid sailor. Of particular note from the collection is an oil painting, China Bound, c. 1845, by Thomas Birch (1779-1851), estimated at $8,000 – 12,000.

Additionally, the sale will present the “Breckenridge”, an exceptional and meticulously crafted live-steam locomotive from the Massachusetts workshop of the late Larry Vance. A retired mechanical engineer, Vance built this fully operational, coal fired, 2 1/2“ scale, 7 1/4” gauge model with an astounding attention to detail. Only operated a few times and in virtually new condition, it is estimated at $50,000 – 100,000.

The Americana department will additionally present a wide variety of material in an online sale, Summer Americana, from August 4 – 14. The sale is highlighted by an impressive array of American flags and political banners from a Cape Cod collection.

Fine Wines
August 13 – 23

From August 13 – 23, Fine Wines will present over 600 lots from some of the world’s best wine producers including Domaine de la Romanée-Conti, Chateau Latour, Opus One, Domaine D’Auvenay, and Antinori. A highlight of the sale is a 6L bottle of Opus One 1987, estimated at $3,000 – 4,500. Based in Oakville, California, Opus One was originally founded in 1978 to create a single Bordeaux style blend and since then have only produced one other wine. An additional highlight is 11 bottles of Chateau Latour 2005, estimated at $6,500 – 9,000, which received four perfect 100-point ratings from some of the top wine authorities in the world. The sale will also feature a magnum of Tenuta dell’Ornellaia Masseto 2001, estimated at $1,800 – 3,000, and a 3 Liter bottle, estimated at $3,000 – 4,500, of Tenuta dell’Ornellaia Masseto 2002.

Rare Spirits
August 14 – 24

The Millennium Collection, an incredibly rare set of whisky from the Springbank distillery and estimated at $38,000 – 50,000, is a highlight of the Rare Spirits sale from August 14 – 24. With age statements ranging from 25 to 50 years old, this 12-bottle set, comprised of six 700ml bottles and their six 50ml counterparts, is