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Stephen L. Fletcher

Details

Bonhams Skinner, Inc.
Partner, Executive Vice President & Chief Auctioneer Director of American Furniture and Decorative Arts
Boston, MA
Toured In
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 26, 27, 28

Stephen Fletcher, executive vice president of Skinner, Inc. and director of the Americana department, is widely regarded as one of the nation's foremost experts on Early American Furniture, American Decorative Arts and Folk Art. His expertise in American formal and country furniture and his work over the past 30 years as chief auctioneer and generalist appraiser for Skinner have earned him a deserved reputation as a highly versatile art and antique generalist. Under his skillful eye, the department has grown considerably, making Skinner one of the most formidable auction houses in the world for fine American furniture and decorative arts.

As chief auctioneer for Skinner, Steve can be seen regularly at the Skinner auction podium, and he carries a full schedule of institutional and estate appraisals. He is often sought out as a source of knowledge on early American life, and eagerly lends his expertise to the media, museums, historical societies and nonprofit institutions.

Steve is a corporate member of the Museum of Fine Arts Boston and on the board of trustees for the Provincetown Art Association and Museum in Provincetown, Massachusetts. He frequently lectures and was a contributing presenter and writer of "Art and Antiques in Estates," a forum conducted by Massachusetts Continuing Legal Education, and the Smithsonian Lecture Series.

ANTIQUES ROADSHOW is an antiques appraisal event and television production; we do not buy or sell objects, and conducting any business with an appraiser at the ANTIQUES ROADSHOW event is strictly forbidden.

If you decide to do business with an appraiser who has appeared on ANTIQUES ROADSHOW, please keep in mind these tips before consigning or selling an item:

  • Get more than one referral and check references
  • Get valuations of your item from more than once source
  • Compare options between different types of sellers, i.e., a dealer versus an auction house
  • If you are considering consigning an object for auction, be sure to inquire how the item will be priced, the size of the fee, and the expected amount of time the process may take. Find out what will happen if it doesn't sell.
  • Check the appraiser's professional associations (such as International Society of Appraisers, American Appraisers Association, National Auctioneers Association)
  • Consult an attorney before signing a contract
  • Whatever kind of transaction you decide to enter into, always get a detailed written receipt for your records

ANTIQUES ROADSHOW’s pool of experts are professionals with a wide range of experience in the antiques, fine art and collectibles community, and they are from a diverse background of auctioneers, dealers and appraisers.

All ROADSHOW appraisers are independent volunteers who donate their time and expertise to PBS and who pay their own expenses to be on the show. All business transactions are independent from ANTIQUES ROADSHOW.