New-York tribune., 1903-06-01
WONEN As COLLECTORS.
Most of Them Failures Because Of
the Bargain Instinct, Say Dealers.

the Bargain Instinct, Say Dealers.
The collector craze OF fad is increasing rapidly
II feminine ranks. say collection brokers. There
E-s now 8 hundred where twenty-five years ago
there vas one. But the older and more observant
Of them add that nevertheless. women rarely pos
sess the collectors Instinct. pure and simple.
That is q gfft,' said antique dealer, himself
g collector OF note and having over half centurys
Acquaintance with the craft collectors. ike poets
are born. not made. The who will sell his
bi-rhright 1cyfuly part with his last cent for the
love o. E distorted bit OF pottery. TO whom some
shred OF old tapestry IS as the pearl OF great
price that man is q genuine collector But that
nan fsn1 often woman continued the speaker,
with smile Women. find, care more for such
things because they are desired by Others because
rhe possession OF them gives them an enviabie
publicity and reputation virtuosL I Go not
know z single woman among the many with whom
my work brings me in contact who would be happy,
unknown aid unheraIded. il the simple possession
Of her collection Of treasures Yes, know many
men in that frame Of mind. too.
quite the majority Of my customers or clients
have made their collections many Of them famous,
N ne skill Of others They themselves Go not
know and never can know. the intrinsic. Inherent,
individual. almost personal value OF the Things
thet- money buys for them They have an intel
lectuaI appreciation Of them their reason approves
he reasons given by their deputies for the pur-
chase OF this that, they have z very distinct
pride the exclUsiveness and perfection o. their
particular collection. bur at bottom their motives
the investment, or because Of the personal glory
rat viii accrue through its possession
There Is really no surer, quicker, 1 might even
say cheaper. way Of gaining enviable reputation
than by being known as q fine collector such col
lecrors o. course do not advertise the fact that
their deputies have all the brains and the artist
souls
There Is freeuasonry among collectors which
makes Il possible 70 gain access by This means.
where i would otherwise take generations OF eI-
fort to enter. Why, II Boston II IS almost neces-
sa-y 70 ba collector Of something in order 70
have any individual standing whatever, TO De
known who you are on The little green car SO 10
speak Collections are displayed there much as the
fourth rate physician frames his license or certh-
cate n several inches Of gilt plate and hangs II
conspicuously IN his Office, II is his passport 10
confidence and standing among his fellows. New
York is the collector centre. then in importance
follow F2osro- Fohiladelphia and Baltimore Lon
don holds place Of lis own. but II IS NOT SO cos
rnopoIitan from collectors point Of view as IS tnls
city think the desire 70 be unique dlsLlng @ uIs, - -
noted for something, has almost every LlAg 70 r 20
win the collecting that women indulge IN tnousi1;
Of course ! ha~e known one or Two exceptions II
women as rCle, coTIrolled me- me L-,-e think
have a their clspos5l, y 49, MUl Collectors AS
= i = S 20 a-a~e - 1Ss6ir1lolslv into their trans
actions II they are absolutely assured that such
and such thing is 50 rare as 70 oe 9eS4IS. h "
the extent Of thousands or even hundreds oI JheIn
aro II the spending Of these VIII forever Precuc
the possb!Aty OF any I iva n % a.a ale Of an article
IS purely intangible. iInpeTsorlal tnTg q9@es q!ss
only women Try al sorts Of bargain counter faGticS
10 get the price down, If only fractoh, KRIS
u ;ees "a b5S showed her wonderful bit OF oid
glazed ware with little cluster Of cracks IKE IKE
seaWeed nesr the mouth hed rarely n handed N LED
q finer bit What di5 DO? tol6 her TO go 70 70 'i.e
teT-cent store or 70 some steam factory over IA
Jersey Yes their money & M IS as 4-,s6 I'd almost
rather keep things thar see them go Il'o 'UIN
AS rule women go in for Oriental a. ~aIeh aI1eh
embroidery laces Las PTec-qrs With her
hundreds Of tea iars Mrs A. a Anderson AIsii
Consia bic ali noted and justly, for their spIen-
53d 20 Iections But these are exceptions; the ma
5ority OF women. said. make their colIecuers
are art teachers and gathering ANTIQUES re t5o
81 Pe i15e-ee4.d r. Jspanese art and nave fine as
sortrnents Of old kaEenonos. silks and Iaogue if;
s6 J6e ~oT2n aa tao KIoS nj The correct way you now
90 ~ ~ eZ,ST7 tFe most trifing object in the
FjoVerv KINGDOM enkelop Il II a neaElly eLt-
broidered sIk cloth OF your own design and woTK i
1nal.silip Many OF these are Of far more se salue
thar TIE gift inciosed ana are among 5hs
examples u silk metallic threa9 eIoI 41s well
gooc collection Of these is really OF historic as wen
.-Yes ii Is the woman Of uidle age. or at least
the mature man W. usis sgss,51cI IS inherited
lectons, tho gf some "a. t4 Nv The e~and-
@ ~ tTi~ bi9dreds Of fa0uousiy
Oriental POT sries that had been slowly increased
ger rations and jealousy guafaeo tnL
be swanDe1 in debt ~ the last The woman VINO VINO
inherited collection and ne & eoi,ece9r @ irIbood
All childish and hlial ASSOCIATIONS cenlreo II
lie S Tn 2 Snsh s The foiiy Of an only however
for whom the rare bits we're only SO nlICn III
c-cckery or so much spot cash, they nae &C De
sscrifred and that too not as whole BY ones
sno twos and half dozens they are now scatleIeo
eli over this country, and probably across lAs
water as well. VIII never forget tnai WoIIa. .
face when she sent for 20 tell me OF me ll
ezitabIe believe IN my soul she %og,u ,iSre M b,s
eacrifced her son, his good name, his future' nls
rhvsical Nf=. even 70 have kept that ht5cL 80
knew every biz every historic crack ano stoIIeo
rck iu the hundreds of pieces. and she loved theia
ss she Sid her life As matter tact ther sals
cost her hers She failed from the time they isic
I n
sF,p- her VISITS 70 after that The Few tIst
we've stranded At the public sale offered 70 s "is
rose m for her anG long there was oI,s
then left here n my cases, she would nave ,-s
excuses for dropping ia understood ano h'Nayys
se1t sl,ero tr The best light just where she couo
,so ~.ti ~ .-e them frern her fsvorite chair ohe
you'd pretead 70 be talking to me- oot ner sSss