A Bit of History
In 1953, Gregor Norman-Wilcox, curator of decorative arts at the Los Angeles County Museum Of Art, brought together some of his decorative arts students and some of his antique-collecting friends. He proposed that they meet about once a month to share dinner and to hear a speaker tell about some special interest in collecting antiques. The dinner/lectures were met with great enthusiasm. It was thus that the Antiquarian Society of California came to be organized. Now, more than 50 years later, its members still gather once a month for dinner and a lecture about some aspect of the decorative arts.
Over the years, the members themselves, or specially invited speakers, have presented mostly slide-illustrated lectures on topics as varied as large collectibles, such as American or European highboys or other furniture, Asian or Native American rugs and other textiles, the works of California, American, European, Chinese or Japanese artists, Los Angeles architecture by Frank Lloyd Wright, Schindler and others. We have also had lectures on smaller collectibles such as antique silver, porcelain, art glass, Chinese snuff bottles, tea service accoutrements, clocks, tiles by California potters and antique toys.
A Bit About Us
Our members think of themselves as enthusiastic students and collectors of various decorative arts. Some are antique dealers in particular specialties. Some are, or have been, appraisers. Some are professors. Some are doctors, and some are artists. One member became the director of the Winterthur Museum. Another former member succeeded him as director of Winterthur.
Our desire to learn more about various decorative arts is what has brought our members together to meet once a month for so many years. Usually we meet the second Thursday of the month at Les Frères Taix restaurant in Echo Park (click here to map it). Dinners are about $25 per person, with a choice of entrée. In recent years, our group has gathered for a special summer evening dinner and lecture meeting at the Andres Pico Adobe in the San Fernando Valley (click here to map it). We also hold a holiday season party at the home of a member. Since our interests in various decorative arts cause us to want to share with others our enthusiasm for learning and our pleasure in collecting, we invite others of similar interests to attend one of our monthly meetings. If you would like to sample a meeting, and perhaps consider joining the Antiquarian Society, please contact us.
Click here to view our 2008 Program Schedule.