Skinner Shows How 'The Game' was Played; August 12th Americana Auction to Feature Antique and Vintage Game Boards

Business Wire, July 27, 2001

Business Editors

BOSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 27, 2001

Selby Shaver's Book, "The Art of the Game," Available for Viewing And

Purchase at Auction and Previews

Skinner, Inc., a leading full-service auctioneer and appraiser of antiques and fine art, is auctioning more than 50 antique and vintage game boards in its upcoming American Furniture and Decorative Arts auction, to be held Sunday, August 12, 2001, at 10 a.m. in Skinner's Bolton, Mass. gallery. The game boards come from the collection of Selby Shaver, of Dallas, Texas, an avid game board collector and collaborator on the book, "The Art of the Game" (Mercantile/ Image Press, Inc., West Boylston, Massachusetts, 2001). Shaver's extensive collection is featured in the pages of the book, which will be available for viewing and purchase at the Skinner auction and previews. Preview times and dates are as follows: August 8th and 9th, 2:00 - 5:00 p.m.; August 10th, 2:00 - 7:00 p.m.; August 11th, 12 noon - 5:00 p.m., and August 12th, 8:00 - 9:00 a.m.

Game boards for sale at the auction include a wonderful variety of Parcheesi game boards and checkerboards, many of which are colorfully and imaginatively decorated. Some were created by professional sign painters; others with a more naive quality, were created by people in their homes, using available materials and colors. One such interesting example is a combination Parcheesi/ Monopoly game board. Other fine examples include a colorful painted 19th century gaming wheel, a wheel of chance, a game board centered by a heart shape divided into sections with numbers, and an early 19th century light green game board. Some are inlaid, such as the checkerboard inlaid with symbols of card suits, beer mugs, and pistols.

Game boards have become increasingly popular among American folk art collectors and dealers. At a recent Skinner auction, a painted folding Parcheesi game board, circa 1870, sold for $46,000. Another top lot included a double-sided checkerboard/snake-motif game, which sold for $36,800.

For more information on the game boards or other items to be auctioned in Skinner's August 12th sale of American Furniture and Decorative Arts, call 978-779-6241 or visit Skinner's web site at www.skinnerinc.com. Prices realized at the auction will be available at www.skinnerinc.com within 48 hours following the sale.

Note to Editors: Images available upon request. Contact Cindy Tashjian at 978-779-6241, x281.

About Skinner:

With galleries in Boston and Bolton, Mass., Skinner is a leading full-service auctioneer and appraiser of antiques and fine art. Skinner conducts auctions year-round and has received world-record prices for many pieces sold at auction. Antique experts and appraisers from Skinner appear regularly on the PBS series, Chubbs Antiques Roadshow. Skinner specialty departments include American Furniture & Decorative Arts, Paintings & Prints, English & Continental Furniture & Decorations, Fine Ceramics, Jewelry, Couture, 20th Century Furniture & Decorative Arts, Fine Musical Instruments, Asian Art, Fine Judaica, Toys, Dolls & Collectibles, Science & Technology, Oriental Rugs & Carpets, American Indian & Ethnographica, and Discovery. For more information, log onto Skinner's web site www.skinnerinc.com.