Speakers
and Lectures
Curator, American Paintings and Sculpture, The Henry R. Luce Center for the Study of
American Art, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, New York
Peeling
the Peales: A Look at the Peale Family in the
The Maryland Historical Society holds the preeminent collection of works
by members of the Peale Family, including masterpieces by pater familias
Charles Willson Peale, his brother James, and the next generation Rembrandt,
Raphaelle, Anna Claypoole, Margaretta Angelica, Sarah Miriam and others. Among
them, the Peale's covered many media- oils, watercolors, portrait miniatures-
and many subject areas- portraits, figural scenes, still lifes, and landscapes. This lecture will take a new look at some old chestnuts, scrutinize the fine points of recognizing this
prolific family's oeuvre, and offer fresh appreciation for
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Jessica Bent
Antique and
Period Jewellery Specialist, Lecturer and Author, Canadian Roadshow Appraiser,
Parade
of Riches: The Role of Jewellery in Portraiture
For millennia,
jewellery has been a means of conveying status and wealth. From Egyptian
hieroglyphs to 20th century society portraiture, artists have
displayed jewellery in their paintings to embellish their subjects as well as
relay specific messages to viewers of the portrait. Examining specifically the
display in jewellery in portraiture, from the 16th century through
to the turn of the 20th century, we continue to learn much of the
history and symbolism of jewellery in Western cultures.
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Ann
Boulton
Associate
Objects Conservator, The
The
Making of Matisse’s Bronzes
Henri
Matisse, best known for his painting, also exhibited his sculpture early and
often and cast his first bronzes in 1906 only seven years after the creation of
his first sculpture. He continued to
make sculpture throughout his life, modeling the last one three years before
his
death. In total about 80 different
sculptures were created, most cast in limited bronze editions of ten. Matisse
cast editions sporadically over decades as the market or exhibition schedule
demanded with the result that early casts within one edition were sometimes
separated by as many as forty or more years from later casts in the same edition. Some were completed after his death by his
family who destroyed most of the original plaster models at the completion of
each edition.
This
talk will describe the results of a technical study done in preparation for the
exhibition, Matisse Painter as Sculptor, that included examinations of
more than 120 casts some of which were subjected to x-radiography, 3-D computer
modeling and alloy composition analysis. His choice of foundries that produced
bronzes by sand casting prior to 1925 and later by lost-wax casting will be
discussed and compared. Surmoulages and
unauthorized copies will be considered.
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Judith
Bresler, Esq.
A
prominent lecturer specializing in the law and business of art and Counsel to
Withers Bergman LLP, and co-author of the award-winning treatise, ART LAW: The Guide for Collectors,
Investors, Dealers and Artists (First, Second and Third Edition), acclaimed
as the “industry bible” by Forbes magazine. She has taught art law as a member
of the adjunct faculties of both
Expert Opinions
and Liabilities: The Treacherous Power of Words
With fakes, forgeries and art works of doubtful provenance
proliferating throughout the world, expert opinions are more than
ever a crucial instrument in serving to rid the art market of unwanted
material. But the art expert should have a care: words can be treacherous
and an invitation to litigation. This talk will address some of the more
common tort liabilities that can be incurred by an expert in the rendering
of opinions about art as well as, in a number of instances, how the expert can
limit legal exposure.
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Sam
Cannan
School
Director and Watch Instructor, The National Watch and
Pocket
Watches
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eRiC Durham, Ph.D.
As
a current professor at
Hip-Hop as
Socio-Political Pundit
If the listener/participant is tuned in adequately, Hip-Hop is easily understood as a social critic and social commentator. Through lenses of race, power, and politics, Hip-Hop culture creates a particular rhetorical venue where substantive communication is exchanged. This rhetorical space pulls from historical constraints and contemporary social structure in order to communicate current perspectives and opinions. Through a discussion of Hip-Hop’s socio-political origins [and through viewing/listening to media], we will examine how Hip-Hop culture functions as an active rhetorical space for contemporary socio-political punditry. As rhetoric is properly understood as an invisible social adhesive, we will come to understand Hip-Hop culture as a phenomenon that occupies a space outside its manifestations on television, radio, and magazines.
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Cecilia
L. Gardner, Esq.
President
& CEO Jewelers Vigilance Committee,
Protecting
Your Business from Risk: Legal Compliance in the Jewelry Industry
Jewelers from every
segment of the industry are faced with challenges to remain on the right side
of their legal compliance obligations. This lecture will cover all current
legal compliance issues that today’s jeweler must confront. Topics include
regulatory compliance, appraisal liability, and industry standards for business
practices.
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Wendell
Garrett
Consultant of
“By the
dawn’s early light”: The Rise of American Nationalism
Antiquity haunted the imagination of the founding fathers who saw
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Jennifer
F. Goldsborough
Independent scholar currently
teaching in the history of decorative arts masters degree programs at the
Smithsonian/Corcoran College of Art + Design in Washington, DC and at Sotheby’s
Institute New York (through Manchester University); she is formerly Chief
Curator of Maryland Historical Society and the author of a number of books and
many articles on antiques.
Plus or Minus?
Dilemmas in looking at Local Antiques as Seen Through
Maryland Silver and Ceramics
Using illustrations
from the rich trove of silver and ceramics made in
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Charles
B. Goldstein, ISA CAPP
Independent Forensic Art Appraiser,
Expert Witness and Trial Consultant specializing in the detailed study of Art Fraud, Misrepresentation and
Gobbledygook.
His work involves investigation, valuation, research, definitions, signature
and other analyses involving paintings, prints and sculptures for such clients
as the US and Canadian Governments.
The
Web of Entanglement
The Internet is one of
many resources used for researching art works, comparables and values. It can
be characterized as the Web of
Entanglement containing excellent to poor and fraudulent resources. Proper
navigation, art skills and knowledge of the Internet, combined
with the use of other important appraisal
tools, help ensure the capture of appropriate information. Data collection is
further compounded in the different levels of knowledge and experience of
appraisers. In addition, care and due diligence need to be exercised
so as not to enable a perpetuation of an art fraud. Examples will be
illustrated.
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Patricia
T. Herr
Independent Scholar, Author and Dealer specializing in
Amish
Quilts
What is an Amish quilt?
Using the outstanding collection of Esprit Collection of Lancaster Amish Quilts
on exhibit at the Heritage Center Museum of Lancaster’s Quilt and
Using
examples of these quilts that will be available for close inspection, the
discussion will turn to what distinguishes an Amish quilt and an analysis of
good, better, best with time for a hands-on question and answer session.
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Alexandra
Alevizatos Kirtley
Associate Curator of American Decorative Arts,
“From 1770 it took a Spring”:
Cabinetmaking in the late 18th and early 19th century
Barely a town in the
pre-Revolutionary period, the city of Baltimore experienced an incredible and
exponential growth from 1770 onwards, quickly emerging as the region’s most
important social , cultural, and economic (but never governmental!) capital.
This lecture will consider furniture making in
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Robert
May
Executive
Director, The Natural Colored Diamond Association,
Previously
the Brand Manager for Pluczenik, one of the largest Sightholders in the industry, Mr. May has over 20 years of
experience in the jewelry industry. Prior to Pluczenik,
May worked in many positions including retail management and senior partner for
thr Diamond Promotion Service/JWT.
Natural
Colored Diamonds
Presentation and questions answered
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Mary
Cheek Mills
Manager of Education Programs at The
Glass
in 19th Century
American,
English or Bohemian? 1825 or 1875? Because
glass objects are rarely marked and glassworking techniques have changed little
over hundreds of years, even decorative arts specialists may find basic
questions about glass challenging. This lecture will include a survey of
objects used in 19th century
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Graham
Ospreay
A
court qualified forensic document examiner and forgery analyst with more than
20 years experience working in the fields of Corporate Security &
Investigation. Within his areas of expertise, Graham specializes in: the comparison
and identification of handwriting, hand printing and signatures; the assessment
and identification of anonymous writing; the evaluation and identification of
threatening communications; the decipherment of encrypted writings including
graffiti related tags and markings; examination of altered documents and
obscure, obliterated or erased entries; identification of stamps, seals and
mechanical impressions; investigation and identification of trademark
infringements; forgery detection and counterfeit product identification;
document security analysis; identity theft investigation; authentication and
forgery detection of art and antiques, including art theft investigations.
Forensic
Examination and Forgery Analysis
“Far more crimes
are committed with paper than with guns, and many more times the amount of
money and power changes hands illegally through the stroke of a pen than
through physical violence.”
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Sumpter
T. Priddy, III
Independent student of
American culture, is actively engaged in researching
early artisans and their products, with a particular interest in the South. He
has assembled an extensive library and photographic archive widely recognized
in the field. He works closely with private collectors and institutions from
his gallery in
American
Fancy: Exuberance in the Arts, 1790-1840
Style during the Federal era was shaped by many factors, but few had
greater influence on American taste than the rising awareness of imagination or
"fancy." Widely viewed as an alternative to reason and to the
restraint of classical design, the Fancy style was born of progressive new
outlooks toward the virtues of creativity. It provided makers and users alike
the opportunity to stimulate the eye with vivid colors and lively ornamental
patterns and, thereby, to nourish the emotions and elevate the mind. Starting
in the 1790s and reaching a feverish pitch after the invention of the kaleidoscope
in 1816, the Fancy style reached unprecedented heights during the 1820s and
1830s. Homes were furnished with Fancy furniture,
possessed woodwork covered with Fancy painting and were filled to capacity with
stunning Fancy textiles, Fancy ceramics, Fancy window shades, and Fancy glass.
This exciting new style was reinforced by literature, bolstered by efficient
new methods of production and actively promoted within the commercial sphere.
Many Americans were quick to admit their preference for the liveliness of Fancy
over the polite reserve classical restraint and design.
Understanding this 19th-century Fancy phenomenon,
which tradition scholars have mistakenly categorized as “folk art,” is
essential to comprehending the American experience emotionally, intellectually
and socially. The Fancy style offers a tantalizing new view of early American culture, opens a window of understanding to that era's
dominant mode of perception and prompts a stunning re-evaluation of rational,
20th-century interpretations of a broad range of historical
material.
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Suzanne
Smeaton
Gallery
Director, Eli Wilner & Company,
Setting
a Jewel: Considering Frames when Appraising Fine Art
Discussion of the
importance of considering picture frames when appraising fine art.
Ever-increasing prices for frames in today’s art market make this an essential
topic for exploration. Methods of fabrication and countries of origin as well
as other factors that contribute to frame values will also be discussed.
Valuable hand-outs regarding frame terminology and construction that will serve
appraisers as useful reference material will be provided.
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Lita
Solis-Cohen
Senior
Editor,
The
Best and the Rest
Using reports of auctions and
shows from Maine Antiques Digest we will look at
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Ken
Specht
Author, The Specht Sheet,
Native of
Watches
Learn from the educator of Sotheby's. This
is a hands-on learning experience on
watches in general. Bring any watches you have a question on to
the lecture.
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Catherine
Sproule
Chief
Operating Officer, Director, North American Operations, Council of Responsible Jewellery Practices, Toronto, Ontario
Reinforcing
Confidence in Jewelry Store Products
The only constant is life is change. What
should the jewelry industry be doing at the source to ensure transparent
business practices are in place regarding such issues as - responsibility in
mining and environmental practices, child labor and the legitimate flow of
diamonds and gemstones downstream? Today’s consumer will demand a transparent supply
chain from the mine to the retail counter, to reinforce and maintain their
confidence in the jewelry industry. What
tools are available to jewelers so they can ensure consumer confidence in the
products they sell? Catherine Sproule, Chief Operating Officer for the Council for Responsible Jewellery Practices (CRJP)
will outline a multi-sector industry initiative that promotes responsible
ethical, social and environmental practices in the diamond and gold supply
chain.
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Kenneth
Walton
Author,
FAKE:
Forgery, Lies and eBay
“It was the golden age of eBay”. Optimistic bidders went
online to the world’s largest flea market in droves, ready to spend cash on
everything from garden gnomes to Mercedes convertibles. Among them were art
collectors willing to spend big money on unseen paintings, hoping to buy
valuable pieces of art at below-market prices. eBay
also attracted the occasional con artist unable to resist the temptation of
abusing a system that prided itself on being “based on trust.” Kenneth Walton –
once a lawyer bound by the ethics of his profession to uphold the law—was
seduced by just such a con artist and, eventually, became one himself.”
Walton’s innocent beginnings as an
online art-trading hobbyist ended in a downward spiral of greed. What started out as a
satisfying exercise in reselling thrift store paintings for a profit in order
to pay back student loans and mounting credit card debt soon became a fierce
addiction to the subtle deception of luring unsuspecting bidders into
overpaying for paintings of questionable origins.
Walton forged the signature of Richard
Diebenkorn onto a painting that resembled his work, and then auctioned it on
eBay for $135,858. The New York Times broke the story on its front page, the
FBI started investigating him, and ultimately, Walton was convicted of a
federal felony.
This international scandal forever
changed the way eBay does business.
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Janet
Zapata
Independent
Scholar and Museum Consultant, specializing in jewelry and silver,
Great
American Jewelers, 1930-1980
At the beginning of the
1930s, American jewelry design broke away from European influences to establish
its own identity. This lecture will trace the evolution of American jewelry
from 1930 to 1980 with emphasis on innovative jewelers such as Paul Flato,
Seaman Schepps and Fulco di Verdura as well as the firm of Trabert &
Hoeffer-Mauboussin. It will include the diamond confections of Harry Winston
and the animal jewelry of David Webb. Discussion will also cover the innovative
Tiffany designers of Jean Schlumberger, Donald Claflin and Angela Cummings.