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
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