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Publisher’s Corner

Stories of Recovery journalofantiques.com

hether you are an antiquer, collector, curator, mately sold back to The Mount in Publisher
or just someone who enjoys bringing old 2005, the collection to be returned Maxine Carter-Lome
Wthings back to life, the word “recovery” as it almost in its entirety to the book- journalofantiques@gmail.com
relates to items you restore, unearth, or repatriate is shelves in her library. While the Maxine Carter-Lome Business Manager
central to your interests, vocabulary, and hobby. return of these books to their Jeffrey Lome
When we talk about antiquities, recovery is often used original home was a coup for The Mount in its mission
synonymously with repatriation, the returning of an to restore Wharton’s home to its Gilded Age glory, they jeffreylome@gmail.com
artifact or work of art to its country of origin. In the last came at great expense and a financial burden that almost Managing Editor
decade, repatriation has become a hot topic in the arts shuttered the Museum’s doors. Today, Wharton scholars Judy Gonyeau
and antiquities world as well as in diplomatic and legal and fans can not only tour the restored home and editorial.journalofantiques@gmail.com
circles as items that were possibly looted, stolen, or taken grounds that Wharton personally designed but learn Art Director
as spoils of war are now actively being sought out and more about her from the books she read and cherished, Lynn Cotterman
their ownership challenged in a court of law. Here, the now back home where they belong.
goal is to return these objects to their rightful owner, Coming from a different angle of recovery, we Production
whether that be an individual, museum, or country. In also explore “White House Relics and the Stories They Lynn Cotterman
just the past few months of 2023, hundreds of looted Tell” with author Wayne Smith. Here is a fascinating look
Neolithic to Byzantine artifacts, including a second-cen- at the collecting of recovered items from the Judy Gonyeau
tury bronze statue of Alexander the Great, have been building of the White House and its expansions and Jill Montague-Kaitbenski
returned to Greece after a 17-year legal battle with a renovations over the centuries. Many of the souvenirs and
notorious British antiquities dealer; New York City’s Met relics of the building of the White House come from the 508-347-1960
Museum repatriated 15 sculptures to India that were ille- three major renovations of the last century. Theodore
gally removed from the country before being acquired by Roosevelt’s 1902 renovation was the first major structural Toll free:
The Met; and India is looking to secure the return of work done since the British burning in 1814. Calvin 888-698-0734
potentially thousands of artifacts taken to England during Coolidge replaced the roof and expanded the third floor in Fax: 508-347-0911
the days of British Rule, in particular the Koh-I-Noor 1927. Harry Truman dismantled and replaced the Mailing:
diamond, which is one of the Crown Jewels held in the complete interior of the White House between 1948 and P. O. Box 950
trust of the King. Repatriation is an ongoing story of 1952. Learn more about the “takeaways” from these major Sturbridge, MA 01566
recovery taking place around the world and you can learn renovation projects and the stories they tell on page 20.
more about this timely topic on page 27. In the context of this issue, recovery is also a word
journalofantiques@gmail.com
The word recovery can also be used synonymously that infers the archeological unearthing or discovery
with the word restoration as it relates to returning of something lost or taken away. Beneath the asphalt park- UPS and FedEx
something to its earlier and usually better condition such ing lot of America’s largest living history museum, Shipping Address:
as a building, piece of furniture, or in the case of Colonial Williamsburg, gravesites linked to one of the 113 Main Street, Unit 2
Baumgartner Fine Art Restoration, your fine art. Julian nation’s oldest Black churches remained hidden for Sturbridge, MA 01566
Baumgartner is a second-generation master craftsman of decades until last year when archaeologists excavated three
fine art conservation and restoration who employs only burials at the original location of the historic 18th century Journal of
the finest archival and reversible materials and techniques First Baptist Church, launching a months-long process to Antiques and Collectibles
to conserve and restore the paintings he works on. unearth information about who was buried there and what is published monthly in digital
Traditionally a solo trade that usually takes place in the kind of lives they led. For the Black descendants of resi- and quarterly in print by
back rooms of museums and art galleries, Baumgartner dents in Williamsburg, this effort is long overdue. Weathervane Enterprises, Inc.
shares the painstaking process of art conservation Throughout the 18th and 19th centuries, Black residents 113 Main Street, Unit 2
and restoration—complete with before and after compar- made up more than half the town’s population and Sturbridge MA 01566
isons—with over 1.75M subscribers to his YouTube members of the church included abolitionists, teachers,
channel. You can learn more about Julian Baumgartner and farmers. You can read more about the recovery of the Periodicals postage paid at
on page 17 and watch him in action on YouTube: First Baptist Church at Colonial Williamsburg on page 32. Sturbridge MA
www.youtube.com/BaumgartnerRestoration As collectors, we are continually looking to recover
When it comes to adding new life to an old piece of historical objects of interest. We are drawn to their POSTMASTER:
furniture or an antique, furniture dealers, antiquers, and history, tangible connection to people, places, cultures,
DIYers turn to Howard Products for their recovery and makers, and the stories to be told. Our recovery of Send address changes to
projects. With a little vision, elbow grease, and the right and context surrounding these objects breathes new life The Journal of Antiques
products and materials, almost anything old can be made and significance into these everyday objects from the and Collectibles
to look new again. But is everything old worth restoring past and carries them forward for the education and ISSN: (1539-5618)
or upcycling? And how do you know what products are enjoyment of future generations. P.O. Box 950
the best to use for your project? Brett Howard shares his Sturbridge, MA 01566
expertise and a few examples of ‘before and after’ projects
from his customers with us on page 29. The Journal of Antiques and Collectibles
reserves the right to reject any advertising that
Another interesting turn on the phrase “recovery” is does not comply with our standards. The
explored in our story on page 24 of the recovery and Maxine Carter-Lome, Publisher Journal will not be liable for any errors or
omissions but will print a correction in the
return of Edith Wharton’s complete personal library to following issue if notification of such error is
02/23
her summer cottage, The Mount, in the Berkshires of Cover Image: sent by the appropriate deadline. Original
Massachusetts after a century overseas. Wharton packed manuscripts are welcomed by qualified
writers. We assume no responsibility for loss
up her beloved books in 1911 when she fled the Edith Wharton’s of unsolicited material.
Berkshires for France as her marriage crumbled. Upon Library at The Mount. Copyright 2023
her death, these books were scattered and bequeathed to All rights reserved
intimates and family members before being reassembled Photo by Eric Limon
and cataloged by a British book dealer in 1984 and ulti- Photography
4 Journal of Antiques and Collectibles