Carnegie Museum Deaccessions

I was interviewed for an article by Andrew Conte of the Pittsburgh Tribune Review, but unfortunately my comments failed to make the article. Mr Conte was investigating if the Carnegie Museum was following proper deaccessioning protocol, and given the process as he explained to me, the size of the endowment, it appeared all was correct and there was little I could add to the article as an appraiser. The article is good and it just shows how reporters and the public are now much more aware of museum deaccsessioning and are working in the interest of the public to report unusual or non conforming processes with items that are in the museum and public trust.

Conte states The Carnegie Museum of Art plans to auction more than 185 items from its expansive decorative arts collection this month -- because the items no longer fit its mission, officials said, and not to raise money for operating costs.

The sales could raise as much as an estimated $360,000, which would be spent on acquiring better items for the collection, Chief Curator Louise Lippincott said Friday.

"All of the funds will be used for new works of art for display in the museum, and there's absolutely no exception to that rule," Lippincott said. "This is a necessary activity that will make our collection much better."

Conte states Museum organizations and curators contacted by the Tribune-Review did not object to the auctions. (I was one who was contacted, and indeed, given the the explanation of the situation, I had to objections.)

Conte continues Curators considered each item to determine whether it is authentic, worthy of exhibition and unique within the museum's collection, Lippincott said. The Carnegie follows guidelines of the American Association of Museums, as well as multiple bylaws of the museum's collections committee, the art museum's board and the Carnegie Institute's board. The boards' members approved each item for sale.

The Carnegie has approached the culling of items the right way, said Ford Bell, president of American Association of Museums, a governing body.

"Deaccessioning is a very important tool for museums," Bell said. "They've done it by the textbook. ... What the Carnegie is doing is absolutely right. They're using it as a tool to enhance their collection."

To read the full Pittsburgh Tribune article, click HERE.