The Intimidation Factor: Working With Collecting Professionals
10.18.07 By Deanna DahlsadIn no small part my delightful experience with Trash or Treasure was due to the great people involved, both the Plains Art Museum staff and the appraisers from Ivey-Selkirk. Certainly their respect for the objects and collectors themselves was communicated to all. They genuinely appreciated hearing the stories behind the objects — often saying things like, “That’s a great story,” and making other statements about the intrinsic and personal value the objects held. And I overheard them complimenting folks on how pretty pieces were too. But what really convinced me that these events are wonderful is the opportunity to learn more about what you have.
What I’m really getting to is the intimidation factor we collectors feel. We tend to belittle our collectibles, often making self-deprecating remarks about our collections, our collecting habits, and ourselves as collectors — striking first before someone else can. We tuck ourselves safely into groups by collecting theme and club not only for the fun of trading and networking with other collectors of the same objects, but for the relief that comes with feeling understood. Less often we mingle with collectors of other items because we believe (fear) they’ll judge ours. So it’s understandable when presented with the option of having professionals who deal in such high end items look at and evaluate our considerably lower-end items we assume that they will look down upon them.
But really most collectors of objects — any objects — and those professionals who make a living off of collectors get it. They get us. Sure, the fine arts guy may not personally love my woolie, but he can appreciate my love of the woolie and the fact that there are others like me. (And let’s face it, that’s where their money comes from!) The passion is understandable because while the object changes, the love of objects doesn’t.
When we attended the MPMA conference I was told by Monta Lee Dakin, the museum professional organization’s Executive Director, that museum staff values collectors. Not just because they want us to donate our stuff for free, but because they know collectors are working towards the same goals. We all want to preserve stuff — and the stories of stuff.
Dakin said that the museum world has worked very hard to not appear as ivory tower types. They want to work with collectors; they welcome our involvement. They are not bothered by phone calls & requests for identifying items. In fact, as Steve Friesen of the Buffalo Bill Memorial Museum said, they often count on collectors for the information they possess. “We can’t know everything; we’re often generalists who rely on collectors who specialize,” he said. He told many stories of times he has worked with private collectors. Sometimes the museum is helped; other times, the collector benefits from the information and experience of the museum staff. In either case, it’s a win-win.
All of this surprised me because, like the Trash or Treasure event, I felt that unless you had purchased something at Christie’s no museum would want it — or want to help you. But collectors shouldn’t hold this opinion. We should keep in mind what we have and contact the right professional, be it a museum or an appraiser, but we shouldn’t be intimidated by the museum or the high-end auction house. While contacting either museum or auction house isn’t a guarantee that your object will fit either of their goals, not contacting them certainly brings you no closer to yours.
So don’t be intimidated by professionals. Don’t limit your collection, your collecting, out of the unnecessary anxiety that the object won’t be loved or appreciated. Like parents with children, we have to accept that not everyone will love our objects as much as we do. But information from, and contact with, the world outside our doors isn’t a bad thing.
---
Article Tags: appraisal, preservation, Trash or Treasure================
Gotta Collect? Then You Gotta Connect - Join our Collectors’ Community!
October 21st, 2007 at 8:38 pm
[...] Link [...]
October 25th, 2007 at 5:58 pm
[...] Susan Kime, Paintings & Prints Specialist at Ivey-Selkirk, had the pleasure of appraising the print. I was praised for keeping the label on the back of the print (if they only knew that we save everything at our house, they would know this only encourages the hoarding insanity), and from this label we learned the following: [...]
January 7th, 2008 at 8:13 am
[...] I did my best not bite my tongue and not let them see my twisted facial expressions — partly ‘cuz Momma taught me to be polite, and also because appraisers can be intimidating — but fundamentally, I disagree. [...]
January 31st, 2008 at 8:22 am
[...] who respect the reputation of auction professionals to the degree that the buyers will bid higher. Don’t be intimidated by auctioneers, especially if research indicated your item is worth $100 or more. (Some houses may have even [...]
October 12th, 2008 at 2:08 am
[...] I know I shouldn’t be intimidated. But it’s Wes Cowan! The kids and I have huge crushes on him. (The kids think I’m cool [...]