posted 07-07-2006 10:04 PM            

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Martha Fales

KENNEBUNK — Martha (Gandy) Fales passed away peacefully Feb. 24, 2006.

Born in Clarksburg, W. Va., Oct. 31, 1930, she was the daughter of Preston and Martha Gandy. She received her B.A. from Wilson College in Pennsylvania, in 1952; her M.A. from the University of Delaware 1954, in the first class of graduates in The Winterthur Program in Early American Culture and an Honorary Doctorate of Literature from Wilson College in 1987.

She started her career first as Assistant Curator and later Keeper of the Silver at the Henry Francis du Pont Winterthur Museum in Delaware.

In 1956, she married Dean A. Fales Jr., a leading and recognized authority of American antique furniture. Together they led a life that gave them international recognition in their respective fields.

In 1960, she was appointed Honorary Curator of Silver and Jewelry of the Essex Museum in Salem, Mass.

She is the author of Early American Silver, first published in 1970, with three subsequent printings, Jos. Richardson and Family. Philadelphia Silversmiths, Pub. 1974, American Silver In The Henry Du Pont Winterthur Museum, and With Henry Flint, The Heritage Foundation, With Biographical Sketches Of New England Silversmiths 1625 to 1825. She has contributed numerous articles on the American Decorative Arts to Antiques magazines, Connoisseur and other periodicals.

She has served as overseer of Strawberry Banks, Portsmouth, N.H., board of trustees and president of the Brick Store Museum, Kennebunk.

After returning to Maine, she, along with her husband co-founded New England Antiquarian Research. She provided research to the Boston Museum of Science, Colonial Williamsburg, Bowdoin College and many others. She has served as an advisor for numerous historic homes in Pennsylvania, Virginia and New England.

In 1995, after 15 years of research, she published Jewelry In America 1600 to 1900. She considered this research to be “a veritable treasure hunt, no less exciting than an archaeological expedition.” In 1996, The Antiques Collectors Club awarded her the prestigious Charles F. Montgomery Prize for “The most distinguished contribution to the study of American decorative arts,” for Jewelry In America. Jewelry In America is used as a reference for art and social historians, curators, students, and collectors. Many of the jewelry pieces were collected by Mr. and Mrs. Fales during their 40 years of world-wide travel. Their personal collection was acquired by the Metropolitan Museum of Art. With the collection rich in style and techniques it becomes “one of the most important and comprehensive surveys anywhere of jewelry made and owned in America.”

She was predeceased by her husband, Dean A. Fales, and her brother, Preston.

She is survived by one nephew, John Fales Edwards and his wife Cynthia of Trevett, Maine; one sister-in-law, Katie; two nephews, Dean and Forrest; and one niece, Heather Gandy.

A true lady of inordinate dignity and stature, affectionately known as M’Lou, will be missed by all who knew and loved her and those with whom she worked in her extraordinary life.

A memorial service by the family will be held on Saturday, June 24, at 11 a.m., in the chapel at Newton Cemetery, Newton Center, Mass.

Arrangements by Bibber Memorial Chapel, 67 Summer St., Kennebunk, ME 04043.

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