Skinner Appoints New Director of Books & Mss.
MARLBOROUGH, Mass. - April 5, 2012 - Skinner, Inc., a leading full-service auctioneer and appraiser of antiques and fine art, announces Devon Gray as the Director of Fine Books & Manuscripts. Gray brings more than 20 years experience as an expert in early books to her new role at Skinner, and has established herself as a premiere appraiser and cataloguer in the genre.
Gray will be responsible for continuing the growth of the Skinner Fine Books & Manuscripts department. She is also charged with expanding the number of auctions presented by the department, and with developing a program to hold Fine Books & Manuscripts sales in Skinner’s Marlborough gallery.
Gray joins Skinner after more than 20 years as the co-owner and founder of James & Devon Gray Booksellers in Harvard Square. She is a renowned expert in books printed prior to 1700, including those from the Pre-medieval, Medieval, Renaissance, Reformation, Elizabethan, Jacobean, and Restoration periods. She has served as an advisor to both individual and institutional collectors including Harvard University, The Shepard Historical Society, Boston College, and the Cleveland Public Library’s Department of Special Collections.
Gray is also a bookbinder and owner of the Larksfoot Bindery in Princeton, Massachusetts, where in addition to restoring and conserving fine books, she occasionally receives commissions to create “old books” for use as movie props. She has also taught bookbinding to undergraduates at Clark University in Worcester, Massachusetts.
Gray holds a bachelor’s degree in liberal arts from the Harvard University Extension School, where she was enrolled in the Special Students Program. In addition, she has attended workshops in a variety of disciplines related to bookbinding, including Gilt Tooling with Gavin Dovey at the Center for Book Arts in New York, European Bookbinding from 1500 - 1800 with Nicholas Pickwood at the Rare Book School in Charlottesville, Virginia, and Restoration of Leather Bindings with Bernard Middleton at the Rochester Institute of Technology.
When asked about her role at Skinner, Gray said, “due to the area’s rich history of academia there are many beautiful old books in New England.” She continued, “in addition to retaining the interest of current consignors and buyers, I hope to generate even more excitement around the book department at Skinner and involve new collectors.” Gray also noted, “as someone with an affinity for early books, I certainly hope to revitalize the appeal of these works in my new role.”
About Skinner??
Skinner, Inc. is one of the world’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 Works of Art, 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, Oriental Rugs & Carpets, American Indian & Ethnographic Art, Fine Judaica, Antique Motor Vehicles, Toys, Dolls & Collectibles, Discovery and Science, Technology & Clocks. Skinner galleries are located in Boston and Marlborough, Mass. For more information on upcoming auctions and events, visit Skinner’s web site www.skinnerinc.com.
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Gray will be responsible for continuing the growth of the Skinner Fine Books & Manuscripts department. She is also charged with expanding the number of auctions presented by the department, and with developing a program to hold Fine Books & Manuscripts sales in Skinner’s Marlborough gallery.
Gray joins Skinner after more than 20 years as the co-owner and founder of James & Devon Gray Booksellers in Harvard Square. She is a renowned expert in books printed prior to 1700, including those from the Pre-medieval, Medieval, Renaissance, Reformation, Elizabethan, Jacobean, and Restoration periods. She has served as an advisor to both individual and institutional collectors including Harvard University, The Shepard Historical Society, Boston College, and the Cleveland Public Library’s Department of Special Collections.
Gray is also a bookbinder and owner of the Larksfoot Bindery in Princeton, Massachusetts, where in addition to restoring and conserving fine books, she occasionally receives commissions to create “old books” for use as movie props. She has also taught bookbinding to undergraduates at Clark University in Worcester, Massachusetts.
Gray holds a bachelor’s degree in liberal arts from the Harvard University Extension School, where she was enrolled in the Special Students Program. In addition, she has attended workshops in a variety of disciplines related to bookbinding, including Gilt Tooling with Gavin Dovey at the Center for Book Arts in New York, European Bookbinding from 1500 - 1800 with Nicholas Pickwood at the Rare Book School in Charlottesville, Virginia, and Restoration of Leather Bindings with Bernard Middleton at the Rochester Institute of Technology.
When asked about her role at Skinner, Gray said, “due to the area’s rich history of academia there are many beautiful old books in New England.” She continued, “in addition to retaining the interest of current consignors and buyers, I hope to generate even more excitement around the book department at Skinner and involve new collectors.” Gray also noted, “as someone with an affinity for early books, I certainly hope to revitalize the appeal of these works in my new role.”
About Skinner??
Skinner, Inc. is one of the world’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 Works of Art, 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, Oriental Rugs & Carpets, American Indian & Ethnographic Art, Fine Judaica, Antique Motor Vehicles, Toys, Dolls & Collectibles, Discovery and Science, Technology & Clocks. Skinner galleries are located in Boston and Marlborough, Mass. For more information on upcoming auctions and events, visit Skinner’s web site www.skinnerinc.com.
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