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American Furniture & Decorative Arts

Bonhams American Furniture and Decorative Arts department features the finest in early American formal and country furniture from the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries, while our strong decorative arts offering encompasses folk art, paintings, clocks, ceramics, metalware and more.

Through the merge of Bonhams Skinner, we hold several important auction records for fine American furniture, including the sale of a 19th century Japanned high chest which achieved $1.9 million at Bonhams Skinner Boston in 2004 - the record for a piece of American furniture sold at auction in New England.

At its roots, American furniture visibly resembles its English, French, and Dutch predecessors. Adapted to suit the local materials, tastes and crafts of each major region, their innovations exhibited the skill and creativity of American craftsmen throughout the young nation.

Buying and selling American furniture at Bonhams

Today, American furniture from both urban and rural shops comes to auction regularly, with something for every level of collector. Whether your interest is in the finest Boston Neoclassical case furniture or a straightforward Windsor bowback chair, you will find objects to fit your home and your collection. Contact a specialist directly for more information or submit your item online for a free auction estimate.

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Thinking of selling? Get a free auction estimate by submitting your item online or contacting your local Bonhams. With specialists based in towns and cities worldwide, we are your local auction house.

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Photo of Kerry Shrives

Kerry Shrives

Senior Vice President|Senior Appraiser

Kerry Shrives is a Senior Vice President and Senior Appraiser at Bonhams Skinner. She has over three decades of experience in appraising, cataloging, and selling furniture, decorative art, and fine ar…

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Karen Keane

Chairman Emeritus

Karen Keane is Chairman Emerita of Bonhams Skinner, having formerly for 40 years overseen the operation of Skinner, one of the world's leading auction houses, the largest in New England. She was instr…

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Christopher Fox

Director

Christopher D. Fox is Bonhams Skinner's Vice President and Director of Historic Arms & Militaria and Associate Director of American Furniture and Decorative Arts. He specializes in military and civil …

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Paul O'Hara

Sale Coordinator & Cataloguer

Paul O'Hara is the Business Manager for American Furniture and Decorative Arts at Bonhams Skinner. Since joining the company in 2021, he has been responsible for ensuring the smooth functioning of the…

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Submit your item online for a free and confidential valuation. If it’s suitable for sale, a specialist will provide an auction estimate and advise on the next steps for selling.

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