The Art Newspaper

MARCY KATZ, HONOLULU

Maybe Mr. Gray knew back then he was sick and that he would die soon. So of course his collection might be sold. Poor guy, he died at the early age of 77 at the end of October.

JOEL L ROSENBAUM, NEW HAVEN, CT.

I went to the Gustav Stickley exhibition at the Hartford Atheneum and thought it was a marvelous display of arts and crafts work from the Stephen Grey Collection. If Mr Grey has decided, for whatever reasons, to sell some of his work, a year after the show, then that's up to him. Jason Kaufman may not like the timing, but that's too bad.

STEPHEN GRAY,

I would like to clarify the statements attributed to me in Mr Kaufman’s article, “Wadsworth exhibits private furniture collection destined for the market”. Contrary to what the article reports, I have no intention of selling my collection. As I stated in the article, I am not trying actively to sell anything in my collection and have no intention of selling objects on display at the Atheneum. I would also like to stress that I have in fact made a promised gift to the museum of 30 pieces from my collection, including 16 by Stickley, which will be the first important works of Arts & Crafts furniture in their collection. The gift is legally bound and each promised gift is clearly labelled within the exhibition. I thought that I had made these important points clear in my interview with Mr Kaufman. After seeing the published article, however, it appears I did not, which is why I feel it’s crucial to set the record straight at this time.

FORD W. BELL, HARTFORD

I thought it appropriate to clarify the comments attributed to me in Jason Kaufman’s article, “Wadsworth exhibits private furniture collection destined for the market”, focusing on the exhibition, “At Home with Gustav Stickley: Arts and Crafts from the Stephen Gray Collection” at the Wadsworth Atheneum (November 2008, p18). My quotations regarding the issue of dealer or collector loans to museums of objects that are for sale were focused on the general principles embodied in the American Association of Museums (AAM) standards, and were in no way applicable to the current exhibition at the Wadsworth Atheneum. Further, we learned that Mr Gray has no intention of selling his entire collection, thus the issue addressed in the story has no bearing in this instance. The AAM standards on dealer and collector loans to museums emphasise transparency above all. The museum has met and exceeded those standards. Ford W. Bell President, American Association of Museums

JASON EDWARD KAUFMAN, NEW YORK

Jason Edward Kaufman replies: The article did not state that Mr Gray was actively seeking to sell anything in the Wadsworth exhibition, but that he intends eventually to sell the bulk of his collection. Mr Gray made clear that, aside from any promised gifts to the museum, the collection eventually would be sold “to take care of my family”. Mr Gray also made clear that the promised gift remained at his discretion. Evidently his commitment has since been enhanced, for he and the museum now characterise a promised gift of 30 objects as legally binding. I asked Mr Bell about AAM’s standards for museums borrowing objects from private collectors or dealers that may in the future be sold. “Any time you’re borrowing from someone who might have financial interest in the piece and in realising a gain you have to be very careful,” he replied. As he has explained, AAM standards call for museums to avoid potential conflicts of interest, such as a “future sale contemplated”. Mr Bell writes that the Wadsworth has met the AAM standards because “Mr Gray has no intention of selling his entire collection”. Mr Gray’s statements indicate otherwise.