Possessions

POSSESSIONS | OCTOBER 2010

POSSESSIONS Chelsea Tucker Auction Gallery, October 30, 2010 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. EST

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INTRODUCTION possessions

Instinctively, we hold on to objects and artifacts, things that represent us in some way, things we love, things we don’t want to lose. We keep these objects on our bureau, in the kitchen catchall drawer, on the bedside table. They are tangible expressions of memory and history and happiness.

If you put them all together — this evidence of daily life — a small world, a tiny island of sanity, is constructed.

As Daniel Mendelsohn wrote in How Beautiful It Is And How Easily It Can Be Broken, “you always end up writing your own intellectual autobiography.”

I keep returning to the same memories: being lost in the pages of a bizarre book, sending and receiving handwritten letters, appreciating the beauty of contemplation and mystery, searching for the perfect moment of sunlight and gratitude.

Jurgen Bey claimed that “everything has value, provided it appears at the right place at the right time. It’s a matter of recognizing that value, that quality, and then transforming it into something that can be used.” We are all inspired by something: a person, a place. For me, inspiration manifests in dinner plates and dusty books, in love letters and foxed photographs.

Each object represents a point of departure. Each has an aura of time and of place.

Like re-reading a favorite book, I am obsessed with reproducing these objects, experiencing them again and again in an attempt to replicate the effect that each object has evoked in me.

This translation is a documentation — evidence of a life lived, an emotion felt, an object possessed.

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BIZARRE BOOKS 1950 –1995 $20-30 Provenance Acquired from various bookstores and bookshelves.

Exhibited Dispersed between six stacks of paperback and hardback books in the fake bedroom of Apartment 10C. See appendix for floorplan

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ASSORTED PLATES 1971 – 2010 $15-20 Provenance Acquired from various people and places.

Exhibited In the sink, diswasher, and various kitchen cabinents.

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LOVE LETTERS

2009 – 2010 $20-30 Provenance Acquired from Michael Drapkin.

Exhibited Shuffled between bills, leaning between an ipod dock and a small lamp, on the bureau in the fake bedroom.

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Reflective Photographs 1971 – 1982 $20-30 PROVENANCE Three generations of contemplation.

EXHIBITED In various locations: 1) Laid in the paperback edition of The Joy of Cooking. 2), 3), and 5) taped to the wall above owner’s bedside table.

4) Under a magnet on the refrigerator in the kitchen. 6) Travels with owner in a Crane tiffany blue dayplanner.

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ODDS & ENDS

unknown – 1970 $30-50 Provenance Acquired from various family members and Last Wills and Testaments.

Exhibited In the fake bedroom in various locations: 1) On the window sill. 2) In the top right hand bureau drawer. 3) On the arm of a small pink chair. 4) On top of a stack of books on the window sill.

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END NOTES 1. Bizarre Books (p. 4) 1.) Write Your Own Horoscope, Joseph F. Goodavage (1968), paperback edition. Some yellowing, some dog-eared pages including Venus in Gemini, Chapter 8 and Saturn in Aquarius, Chapter 11. 4.5 x 7 in.

2) The Psychology of Handwriting, Secrets of Handwriting Analysis, Nadya Olyanova (1969), paperback edition. Used, much foxing to cover, dogeared pages including p.119, Initials and Terminals and 197, The handwriting of James Hilton.

8 x 5 in.

3) Stalking the Wild Asparagus, Euell Gibbons with illustrations

by Margaret F. Schroeder (1962), hardback edition. Used with edge wear, missing sleeve.

Underlining on p. 2, 6, 194, 195. Written in ball point pen is a recipe in Michael Drapkin’s hand for limey sauteed mushrooms. Reads in part: pair with an earthy tasting wine...try with a spicy Cotes du Rhone from southern France or mineral laden Riesling from Germany. 8.5 x 5.5 in.

4) Hypnotism, G.H. Estabrooks (1943), paperback edition. Some staining, pages crisp with age.

Dog-ears on p. 37, 69. Laid in is a typewritten poem titled Uniform of Cool. Poem reads: is black. toujours or always in english. toes. pants. or shirt. toujours nour the uniform of cool.

5) The Art of Reading Aloud, John Dolman, Jr (1956), hardback edition. Initials O.P. written in pencil in upper right hand corner. Yellowing Super 8 Motel notepaper laid in p. 73, folded and reading on the outside fold, in pencil: 56 - Parody, Anthology et al. 9.5 x 6 in.

6)The Official Sex Manual, Gerald Sussman, F.R.S.C. (1965), paperback edition. Yellowed, stained on lower spine.

Illustration on page 30 and 32.

7 x 4 in.

7) Yoga, the Key to Life, James McCartney (1969), paperback edition. Used, much foxing to cover, stained and penned, pencil marks throughout, notes read in part: 867-3000, Sordito in Venice? Underlining on p. 218223. 7 x 4.5 in.

8) Word Origins and Their Romantic Stories, Wilfred Funk, Litt. D. (1950), hardcover edition.

Missing sleeve. Santo J. Berenato written in pen in upper right hand corner of front page.

Checkmarks in blue ink beside words Anthology, Bathos, Billinggate, Bowdlerize and Clue.

8 x 5.5 in.

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9) The All-New Dieter’s Guider to Weight Loss During Sex, Richard Smith (1995) paperback edition.

Good condition. Inscription reads: T$ Here is the weirdest book we could find in the dollar bin!!!

- Chrissy and Nora

2. Assorted Plates (p. 6) 1, 15) Aztec hunter green and cream/English red and black shield patterned dinner plate, two of a miscellaneous set of four dinner plates purchased October 2008 at Fishs Eddys, accompanied by Michael Drapkin.

2, 3, 4) Three Four Seasons dishes, Attempted robbery charges notwithstanding, these dishes were eventually bought by Sam Berenato in the Four Seasons gift shop. “Summer” is missing from the set.

5) Small bowl depicting The Masters Golf Tournament, held annually in Augusta, Georgia. Part of a set of small flea market items given to owner from Michael Drapkin.

6, 10, 12) Set of three medium sized hand-painted dishes from Venice, Italy, gift to previous owner from Russell Oberlin. Used daily

by Sam Berenato between 1967-2009, 7) Hand-painted Mexican serving bowl, bought by owner in Cancun, Mexico. Upon her mother’s disapproving look, “A souveneir for yourself ?” the owner bought this dish as a “wedding gift” for Naomi Kennedy and Patrick Barrett.

8, 9) Set of two small sized handpainted dishes from Venice, Italy, used primarily for appetizers including bruschetta, or radishes with salt.

11) Blue and White Chinese porcelain dinner plate, from Luigi’s Italian Restaurant in Atlantic City, NJ — the “cover” for a secret back room gambling scene.

13, 14, 16) Small hand-painted dishes, used primarily for sea salt, olive oil or soy sauce.

3. Love Letters (p.8) 1.) Eight flat stationary cards encolsed in lined envelopes.

Coorespondence to owner from Michael Drapkin. Letter 8 shows a return address to Garp Fields, a pseudonym frequently used by Mr. Drapkin.

Dated envelopes include 1) April 5, 2010. 2) May 29, 2010.

6) September 28, 2010. Card engaraving reads: Michael Ethan Drapkin accompanied by a flur-de-lis. 4.5 x 6.38 in.

4. Reflective Photographs (p.10) 1.) Bernadette McGlade, Gloucester, NJ, 1974. Waiting for her date. 3.25 x 4.25 in.

2) Jack Berenato, Vermont, MN, 1977. Written in ball point pen on back of photograph: Jackie B in the Gia. 3.25 x 4.25 in.

3) Agnus Berenato, Trenton, NJ, 1981. All of Agnus’ children inherited the habit of working in bed. 3.25 x 4.25 in.

4) Agnus Berenato, Gloucester, NJ, 1982. A very pregnant Agnus one month before giving birth to Theresa Berenato. 3.25 x 4.25 in.

5) Theresa McGlade, Panama City, FL, 1975. The tradition of placing a single rose by the bedsite table is practiced by three generations of McGlade women. 3.25 x 4.25 in.

6) Agnus McGlade, Trenton, NJ 1971. Toulouse, France.

At seventeen, Agnus lived in Tolouse where she played basketball, learned french, traveled, and befriended local bohemians. 3.25 x 4.25 in.

5.Odds and Ends (p.12) 1.) Antique Lock and Key, date unknown. Left to owner in the Last Will and Testament of Sam Berenato. 2 lbs.

2) SL 35 M Rollieflex, 1970.

Working condition. Shutter Speeds: 1/2 - 1/1000s, B. Gift to owner from John Schmidt.

3.5 lbs.

3) Binoculars, 1928.

Housewarming gift to owner from paternal grandfather Andy Berenato. Accompanying card reads: A tenth floor New York City view is useless without these. 2.5 lbs.

4) Tibetan Singing Bowl, brass, 1970. Left to owner in the Last Will and Testament of Sam Berenato. 2.5 x 4 in.

Polaroids (p.2) 1.) Part of owner’s Bizarre Book Collection. See Bizarre Books 2) Three photographs of subjects in various states of reflection. See Reflective Photographs 2, 3 and 5 3) Part of owner’s collection of love letters. See Love Letters 4) Part of owner’s plate collection. See Assorted Plates 5) Binoculars in their natural habitat. See Odds and Ends 6) Sea shells in a small dish, three e.e. cummings books of poetry, Stalking the Wild Asparagus, and a Tibetan Singing Bowl.

7) Owner’s bedside table including a stainless steel clock, seashells, small bowl depicting The Masters Golf Tournament, a small glass lamp and four stacks of various paper- and hardback books.

8) See Odds and ends.

APPENDIX

IMPORTANT NOTICES

1. Apartment Floorplan

General (a) All images and other materials produced for the auction are the copyright of Theresa Berenato, for use at her discretion.

FAKE BEDROOM 14’ X 8’

(b) Notices to Chelsea Tucker Auction Gallery should be in writing and addressed to the department in charge of the sale, quoting the reference number specified on each page of the sale catalogue. Notices to Chelsea Tucker Auction Gallery clients shall be addressed to the last address formally notified by them to Chelsea Tucker Auction Gallery. (c) Should any provision of these Conditions of Business be held unenforceable for any reason, the remaining provisions shall remain in full force and effect.

Buying at the Auction

2. Process Documentation 2. Process Documentation

(a) Bids may be executed in person by paddle during the auction, in writing prior to the sale or by telephone. Auction speeds vary, but average between ten and twenty lots per hour. The bidding stepsare generally in increments of approximately 10% of the previous bid. (b) Notices to Chelsea Tucker Auction Gallery should be in writing and addressed to the department in charge of the sale, quoting the reference number specified at the beginning of the sale catalogue. Notices to Chelsea Tucker Auction Gallery clients shall be addressed to the last address formally notified by them to Chelsea Tucker Auction Gallery. (c) Should any provision of these Conditions of Business be held unenforceable for any reason, the remaining provisions shall remain in full force and effect.

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