posted 12-05-2012 04:19 PM            

A couple of things to keep in mind as you go forward - the first of which you are already running into - is that for a museum to accept something they have to commit to curate and safely store/display/protect the objects from the time they accept them and into the indefinite future which can be very expensive since most of them are stuffed to the rafters with objects they do not have room to display or store. At the same time most of them are struggling to stay afloat from year to year and so they wind up declining most of what is offered to them unless it is on their list of 'must haves' to fill in their collection. It is simply much too expensive for them to have to build more storage buildings or enlarge their display galleries and then care for things indefinitely. I think you are taking the right approach by talking to museums that may see your collection as something that could be in their primary area of interest.

The second point to consider is that with very few exceptions museums engage in something called 'deaccessioning'. This is where the museum either trades your gifts for objects that they would rather have to fill in their specific collection, or they simply sell your things when they do not consider them to be central and essential to their collection. They do this to raise funds to pay for their operating costs and to purchase things they really want. Once a person gives something to a museum they no longer have any say in what the museum does with it and most museums don't think twice about deaccesioning objects. The majority of museums are very ethical and will tell a person if they do not wish to accept something, such as the ones you have already spoken with, and that gets you back to my first point.

As I say, I very much hope it works out for you to keep this collection together and that it finds a willing museum so that it can be appreciated by all who are interested but please do keep this background in mind.

posted 12-05-2012 09:51 PM            

I also hope our resident curator chimes in with some thoughts. In the meantime, I would add these comments to Kimo's post.

Most museums, and those that are members of the AAM, subscribe to a code of ethics that includes procedures related to deaccessioning materials. My understanding (and this is a variation on Kimo's point) is that they only apply funds raised by the sale of a deaccessioned object to the acquisition of other objects -- NOT to operations. This has been the point of several controversies over the past few years.

posted 12-06-2012 09:05 AM            

After attending a holiday party 2-3 years ago at someone's Victorian townhouse absolutely stuffed with 35 years worth of Brimfield finds with another decade of ebay accretions I left shaking my head and thinking this guy better have a game plan. No collection would likely take all his things, and selling that much at auction at one time would likely yield very little. I've heard nothing but horror stories about people leaving collections to museums without prior agreements so began the process of dealing with the silver and other items.

I've placed myself in an objective position and am weighing factors of specialized storage, cataloging and digitization expenses, and possible conservation at some point for whatever museum(s) may accept the collection. Sadly, a museum devoted to New England silver remains but just a dream. The obverse of that is that general art museums have little silver on view, with most in storage, and not available to scholars without sometimes a lengthy access process.

So the questions then become: Does mass-produced 19th century holloware have any place in a museum? Would examples of this collection (along with those of the 1895 Barbour grape hollowware which I've also collected and for which I'm seeking a home)logically form part of a potential exhibition on the grape motif in 19th Century American silver? Does the theme and variations of the Reed & Barton create an especial interest for silver researchers (along with the multiplicity of of the Barbour items in the grape motif, separate post to follow)?

Quick close: Photos of both sets are on my facebook profile [snip], and can be uploaded to my Flickr account for review by potential recipients. It wouldn't bother me at all to see the collection(s) split although I doubt if this silver as plated ware has any resale value but may serve some useful purpose to trade amongst other museum/collections.

posted 12-06-2012 03:30 PM            

I have absolutely no connection with them and no idea as to whether they are the kind of organization to which you would want to entrust your collection, but I do think you might want to look into them to see if this might be a solution since Reed and Barton manufactured in Taunton since 1824. Many times smaller places like this can be much more enthusiastic about accepting donations of such objects than larger museums might be.

Just a thought.

posted 12-07-2012 07:32 AM            

quote:

---

Originally posted by Kimo:
I took a quick look on the web and found there is one in Taunton, Massachusetts called the Old Colony Historical Society. They seem to be a non-profit organization and have their own historical building erected in 1852) where they have a research library and exhibit objects that show the history of Taunton and that is open to the public.

---

posted 12-08-2012 09:55 AM            

Please see How to Post Photos.

Please post properly sized photos into this thread. Please don't link to albums or refer to another site.

posted 12-29-2012 11:06 AM            

I do have comprehensive photos of all these Reed & Barton pieces as well as a complete inventory including all marks. Since these photos were taken with disposable cameras, I'm thinking of re-shooting now that I've had my Nikon put back in order, but am wondering if B&W would be better than color. I would probably then mount them on a Flickr account but most certainly respect the guidelines here not to link to it.