ebay is certainly not in my opinion the first source for the value of a 
museum quality object.


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Heather-Marie Wells" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Thursday, November 10, 2005 9:17 AM
Subject: Re: [MUSEUM-L] Curator/Donor Ethics


> Dear Abel,
>
> We also do not give advice about the value of objects, but if a donor asks 
> we do tell them where they can go to get such information and direct them 
> to ebay, reputable auction places in the area, and/or appraisers 
> (depending on what the object is and what the donor wants to know about 
> it).
>
> On the flip side, I would think if you are solely discussing what 
> something went for at auction already, than wouldn't transaction be a 
> matter of public record and I think there are some auction houses that 
> list their results on their websites.  So it may be that you can direct 
> the donor to the website so they can see for themselves what items are 
> going for.  This might satisfy your director's request without you 
> actually having to give financial advice (i.e. hard numbers).
>
> It's always a fine line to walk because we do want the public to think of 
> us as a source of information and we do want to make potential donors 
> happy so they will remember us and donate, but we also don't want to open 
> ourselves up to potential ethical or financial problems (i.e. the donor 
> bought it at auction and wants the museum to buy it from them at that 
> price or more).
>
> HM
>
>
>>From: "Dr. Christian Müller-Straten"              <[log in to unmask]>
>>Reply-To: Museum discussion list <[log in to unmask]>
>>To: [log in to unmask]
>>Subject: Re: Curator/Donor Ethics
>>Date: Thu, 10 Nov 2005 08:29:00 GMT
>>
>>Dear Abel,
>>
>>it is indeed delicate because your director is pushing you to give
>>advice. I really doubt that "all curators do it"! "All" allover the
>>world???!!
>>Lots of them probabably are against such advice because you should not
>>base costly but given for free advice just on a HOPE. Just imagine the
>>case the the patron sells these purchased items to art market again or
>>another museum, maybe even mentionning or showing your (written?) advice
>>just to get a higher return of money.
>>
>>So, if you turn the HOPE into CERTAINTY (which may last decades being
>>realized) by signing a contract with the patrons that each object they
>>want to purchase at an auction with your museums help may NOT BE
>>TRANSFERRED TO OTHER PARTIES AND HAS DEFINITELY to be given at least at
>>the the time of the death of the patron to the museum, it would be
>>fine.
>>
>>By the way: All our public museums in Germany are not allowed to give
>>advice on the value of items. They may only judge what it is, who made
>>it, its age, rareness and originality.
>>
>>Best regards
>>
>>
>>Dr. Christian Müller-Straten
>>Editor MUSEUM AKTUELL
>>
>>Verlag Dr. Christian Müller-Straten / MUSEUMS AGENTUR
>>Kunzweg 23, 81243 München, T. 089-839 690 43, Fax -44
>>Mails werden mit täglich aktualisierter PANDA-Software geprüft.
>>[log in to unmask]
>>Have a Look at our European Museum Portal http://www.museum-aktuell.de
>>!
>>
>>
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