Jonathan Clancy Art Advisory

Jonathan Clancy Art Advisory Jonathan Clancy Art Advisory is a consulting firm that offers institutions and private collectors research, appraisal, and curatorial services.

Provenance research is a bit like chasing a in that people have heard things, seen things, and swear by things, but ha...
01/24/2019

Provenance research is a bit like chasing a in that people have heard things, seen things, and swear by things, but hard proof is elusive. The family swore that these came from the Waldorf Astoria and that somehow their grandfather got them. I made a note of it and in the process of cleaning one (there are two), I found no marks nothing. I did notice something inside however, and was able to pull it free with some tweezers. Just an old domino sugar packet... with the logo of the on it! Not the iron clad evidence one needs perhaps, but it does go a long way to vindicating grandpa in their minds.

Moon (3 ways). @ Rocky Hill, New Jersey
01/21/2019

Moon (3 ways). @ Rocky Hill, New Jersey

It’s one of those weeks where I am reminded that everything “new” is really old. Agate Ware? New to the eighteenth cen...
01/20/2019

It’s one of those weeks where I am reminded that everything “new” is really old. Agate Ware? New to the eighteenth century but was created in China during the 8th century. The swirling dynamism of art nouveau? I see it in Jomon ware of the 3rd millennium BCE. The clean lines of modernism? I find them in a stupa of the 15th century. This is not to say that all art is reductive and worthless, but that the aesthetics we think of as new sometimes reflect impulses of organization that are embedded deep in humanity’s consciousness. Lovely things at the Met. Sometimes I wish they’d sit closer to one another so these conversations could develop organically and in the presence of these objects.

Incredible and rare flower holder with flowers in bronze at the base. It’s a beautiful form and the patina is lovely...
01/19/2019

Incredible and rare flower holder with flowers in bronze at the base. It’s a beautiful form and the patina is lovely. Very thankful to for showing me this. One of the sweetest things at the (or now the ) that I’ve seen.

If you get a chance to go in to the collectors lounge at the you’ll be rewarded with windows into the past splendor of...
01/19/2019

If you get a chance to go in to the collectors lounge at the you’ll be rewarded with windows into the past splendor of the interior. Underneath the modern pea green paint a richly colored, stenciled interior awaits a proper excavation. From the looks of it, enough remains to demonstrate the color scheme and thankfully later alterations simply covered up the walls rather than obliterating the designs completely. It’s tedious and expensive work to remove these layers of later paint, so for now they await the time that enough funding is secured or technology makes it affordable.

At the yesterday for a tour of the exhibit but arrived early to wander through the Asian galleries. Shiva Nataraja (I...
01/19/2019

At the yesterday for a tour of the exhibit but arrived early to wander through the Asian galleries. Shiva Nataraja (Indian, 11th century) was a highlight. Encircled by a flaming halo he dances the creation and destruction of the universe. In one hand he holds the drum that made the first sounds of creation, in the other the fire that will consume the universe. Although aware that life is finite he implores the viewer through gesture not to be afraid. Under foot he tramples illusion—more correctly delusion—those thoughts and beliefs that cause misery and lead us astray from the reality of our true nature. Beliefs that we can control things, belief that our thoughts are real, the mistaken assumption that our egos are our true identities, these things must be trampled and defeated to achieve a sustained and peaceful present.

Americana week is really about antiques of all sorts, about the objects made, used, and treasured enough by Americans (o...
01/17/2019

Americana week is really about antiques of all sorts, about the objects made, used, and treasured enough by Americans (or forgot about) to preserve. There are great things to see at the auctions, from beautifully carved sofas, to exquisite Chinese export porcelain, to European ceramics and glass. And great things at the shows and satellite fairs too. And, it’s cheaper than a museum visit plus: if you ask nicely you get to touch things. Try that next time you visit MoMA... (actually do not).

A William Hare canning jar from Wilmington (c. 1860-85), a late 19th century Denby Pottery ink bottle, and an jar ...
01/10/2019

A William Hare canning jar from Wilmington (c. 1860-85), a late 19th century Denby Pottery ink bottle, and an jar (?) with an amazingly durable painted surface. Normally, I strip the color off things but this finish is impervious to the modest efforts I’m willing to expend on the task. I’ve even grown to like the red, though the kitchen counter where this jar lives (and even the utensils stored in it) rarely show it in such a nice light. After more than a century and a half, these pots are still useful and beautiful.

Finally took some decent photographs of this copy of the Portland Vase made by the short-lived firm of Mountford & Tho...
01/10/2019

Finally took some decent photographs of this copy of the Portland Vase made by the short-lived firm of Mountford & Thomas in 1881. I have not located another signed piece by this firm, which made this vase for James Dynon a prominent exporter of to in the late nineteenth century. It’s a very faithful copy of the original, even down to the decorated base, although the shape and inclusion of a bearded face on the handles (as well as the high gloss) make it easy to distinguish from Wedgwood productions of the era.

Some first attempts at photographing objects. A vase on stand by Cliff Lee (1994), a small Van Briggle bowl (ca. 1906-10...
01/10/2019

Some first attempts at photographing objects. A vase on stand by Cliff Lee (1994), a small Van Briggle bowl (ca. 1906-10), and an eagle flask by Merkelbach and Wick (late 19th century).

My New Year’s resolution is to take some better of and Here’s today’s attempt at a still life, a kind of tribute t...
01/06/2019

My New Year’s resolution is to take some better of and Here’s today’s attempt at a still life, a kind of tribute to of the seventeenth century.

I normally don’t make impulse purchases, but it’s hard to resist a teapot, demitasse cups, and a sugar bowl from Russel ...
12/31/2018

I normally don’t make impulse purchases, but it’s hard to resist a teapot, demitasse cups, and a sugar bowl from Russel Wright’s American Modern line. And they were , which happens to be my favorite price.

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