Auction House v. Dealer Pricing

from Bob Weinberg of Huntington, NY

Perhaps it should be noted that certain very highly reputed auction houses (too few in number I suppose) get very nearly the same retail price as dealers (often more), despite the buyer taking the additional risk of not being able to return the “defective” items weeks, months or years later, as they can with any reputable dealer.

Tiffany Reading Suggestion

from Michael Krumme of LA

Hi Alan,

Regarding the “Tiffany Resources” topic in GG #2200, I would like to suggest a couple more titles of interest. I just happened upon these books, and couldn’t resist purchasing them.

Louis Comfort Tiffany by Jacob Baal-Teshuva (Taschen, 2004; 350 pages) — This is a typical, if smaller-format, Taschen book featuring their sumptuous color photography. Provides a history of L.C.T.’s work in three languages (English, German and French, including in the captions.) The introduction discusses his history and depicts some of his paintings. The rest of the book covers three subjects: leaded glass windows; lamps; vases. It ends with a timeline and bibliography. This is the kind of book I’ve heard called “glass pornography,” as the objects are so beautiful. Though more than a “coffee table book,” I’m not sure it ranks as a “scholarly” work on its subject.

The Tiffany Touch by Joseph Purtell (Random House, 1971; 306 pages; b&w photos) — This book is not devoted exclusively to the work of Louis Comfort Tiffany; rather, it is a history of the luxury retailer established by his father from its beginnings in 1837 to the [then] present time. One chapter is devoted to L.C.T. and his artistic and commercial pursuits separate from his father’s company (though of course they were related to and essentially funded by family money.) This book is a fascinating portrait of Tiffany’s from its beginnings, through the Gilded Age, and into the 20th Century, and includes stories about its product and clientele, as well as a view of the business side of the operation, including the changes in ownership, control and management of the company. I highly recommend it. Though out of print, it can be found on the used book market, online or elsewhere.

An Innovative Approch to Protecting Artwork –Gorilla Glass

When considering plans for the new Contemporary Art + Design Wing, it seemed only … into the design of the artwork enclosures. It’s important that they adequately protect the collection, and equally … important that they not interfere with the visitors’ ability to see and experience the works of art …