Majolica International Society's Past Conventions

Renaissance Waverly Hotel,
Program features included:

Friday evening events opened with MajoliCake and Coffee.
Saturday morning's membership Barter 'n Buy event was very successful in the silent auction format. The program continued with MIS members presentations which illustrated the decorative results of their collections.
Saturday afternoon continues with guided bus tours of the antiques centers of Atlanta.
Saturday evening cocktail reception and dinner.
Annual Business Meeting
Majolica Heaven '2002! - Majolica Exhibition and Sale
Following are photos from the 2002 Annual Meeting:

Society President, Phil English- Kept us informed, and on schedule throughout the marvelous weekend that he and LeRoy Davis constructed. Phil was especially effective making sure we all got back on the bus during our tours of Atlanta's antique districts. Click Photo to Enlarge
Friday & Saturday were filled round-tables - Care, Cleaning, and Restoration of Majolica - Insuring and Tracking your Collection - Setting a "Direction" for your "Collection" - Using the Internet to Source majolica Click photo to enlarge
	MajoliCake and Coffee- Joan Stacke Graham opened our Friday night MajoliCake and Coffee with "A Retrospective" as only Joan could do! Her slide show was fantastic down to the last carousel. Click photo to enlarge
	MajoliCake and Coffee- Ed Flower presented his collecting passions, and literally defined what a collection is and how you know when your collection is complete! Click photo to enlarge
	Barter 'n Buy events- Everyone needs one more piece in his collection. Especially if they're moving into a new home! Click photo to enlarge
	Barter 'n Buy events- I can't wait for Majolica Heaven, I need this piece right now! Click photo to enlarge
	Barter 'n Buy events- Society members examine Jim Trout's donated sunflower pitcher. Jim allowed the Barter 'n Buy proceeds from this item to benefit Society activities. Click photo to enlarge
	Barter 'n Buy events- Paul Atterbury could even be found sharing his knowledge of ceramics with Chrissie, his bride to be, while they shopped for Barter 'n Buy bargains. Click photo to enlarge
	MajoliCollege Activities- Frances Rothschild's gorgeous slides presented "Decorating with Majolica". A tour of her wonderful home and her many collections. Click photo to enlarge
	Members from different parts of the world enjoyed the albums that member brought to share. My vote for favorite albums of the weekend were collector Roberta McDonnell of Massachusetts and dealer Laurence Vauclair, St. Ouen, France. Click photo to enlarge
	A break in the program was an opportunity to meet members and look though their photos. Click photo to enlarge
	Gala Majolica Society Banquet Ceramic historian Paul Atterbury as author of many books on majolica, and curator of a recent Victoria and Albert exhibition was our fantastic featured speaker for the Saturday banquet. He was a great choice and many judged him our best speaker ever! So, very entertaining and knowledgeable. Click photo to enlarge
	Photos: Courtesy of Jim Trout and Duane Matthes

13th Annual Meeting- May 4-6, 2001
Dallas, TX

Marriott Dallas Quorum,
Program features included:

Friday evening events opened with MajoliCake and Coffee. The evening's presentation, "Authors and Authorities," was organized by members of the society who have written books and articles on their special interests in Victorian majolica. They included Marilyn G. Karmason, together with Joan B. Stacke, Majolica: A Complete History and Illustrated Survey (Harry N. Abrams, 1989); Marshall P. Katz and Robert Lehr, Palissy Ware: Nineteenth-Century French Ceramists from Avisseau to Renoleau< (The Athlone Press, 1996); and Helen Cunningham, Majolica Figures (Schiffer Publishing, 1997). Marshall Katz also wrote Portuguese Palissy Ware (Hudson Hills, Press, 1999).
Saturday morning's membership Barter 'n Buy event was very successful in the silent auction format. The program continued with MIS members Jerry Leberfeld and Jim Trout presenting "Collecting and Collectors," with each speaker recounting the personal and complex adventures of collecting. Slides illustrated the decorative results of their collections. Jerry's presentation included the music "to dream the impossible dream" with his own "majolica" lyrics.
Saturday afternoon continues with guided bus tours of the antiques centers of Dallas, with a final breath-taking stop at the private home of one of Texas' finest collectors.
Following the Saturday evening cocktail reception and dinner, curator John Keefe presented "Grotesqueries: Form, Fantasy and Function in 19th Century European Ceramics." This title is inspired by the magnificent collection that was presented to the New Orleans Museum of Art in 1997 by Brooke Hayward Duchin. The Duchin collection includes superb examples of French and Portuguese Palissy wares as well as English and American majolica. An extensive slide presentation accompanied Keefe's lecture. We were pleased to that Mrs. Duchin contributed her ideas about collecting and the special relationship of a donor to a museum.
Annual Business Meeting - with new officer elections.
Majolica Heaven '2001! - Majolica Exhibition and Sale
Photos from the 2001 Annual Meeting:

	Authors Helen Cunningham and Marshall Katz along with Wallis Katz enjoy MajoliCake and Coffee discussions. Click photo to enlarge
	Pictured here is one of 6 tables of wonderful Barter 'n Buy majolica that members traded in a silent auction format. Click photo to enlarge
	Society members on the bus ride to Dallas antique markets and a final stop at the private home of one of Texas' finest collectors. Click photo to enlarge
	Aviva Leberfeld inspires Phil English to hurry or he'll miss out on the wonderful Dallas antique shopping. Phil replied back that he was saving some money for majolica heaven. Click photo to enlarge
	McKinney Avenue Antiques greeted members with refreshments, giant Texas magnolias, and Victorian majolica . Click photo to enlarge
	The way to a majolica lovers heart is with a majolica cake. Snider Plaza Antique Shops welcomed us with a Griffen, Smith, and Hill shell and seaweed cake stand displaying a shell and seaweed "majolica" cake. Click photo to enlarge
	Members pause from shopping to socialize. Note the wonderful smile and also note a piece of the cake is gone. Click photo to enlarge
	John Keefe presented "Grotesqueries: Form, Fantasy and Function in 19th Century European Ceramics." An extensive slide presentation accompanied Keefe's lecture. After the presentation of her collection Mrs. Brooke Hayward Duchin contributed her ideas about collecting and the special relationship of a donor to a museum. John and Brooke also were kind enough to sign copies of the 1997 catalogue from the Orleans Museum of Art exhibition "Grotesqueries: Form, Fantasy and Function in 19th Century European Ceramics." Click photo to enlarge
	After Mr. Keefe's presentation we found time to gather in groups to discuss majolica and convention events. Click photo to enlarge
	Teri and David Stone mixed with Carla and Bob Benhardt during Saturday evening cocktails. Click photo to enlarge
	LeRoy Davis appears to be wheeling and dealing with Linda Ketterling and John Webster. Click photo to enlarge
	Linda and Bill La Pointe stopped just long enough for Jim Trout to get this photo. Click photo to enlarge
	Marshall and Wallis Katz share a humorous story with Connie and Richard Aranosian. Click photo to enlarge
	Deborah and Phil English share antiquing stories with other members. Click photo to enlarge
	Duane Matthes was lucky enough to have the company for two majolica lovers from Texas, Suzanne Sugg and Wanda Matthes. Click photo to enlarge
	Phyllis Hays is caught looking for a party or-- at least the directions to Majolica Heaven! Click photo to enlarge
	Michael Strawser used the annual meeting as a way to get the family out of Indiana and into the Marriott swimming pool. Click photo to enlarge

12th Annual Meeting- April 28, 2000
Wilmington, DE

Program features included:

Behind the Scenes at Christie's East, with Melissa Bennie, Vice President - Christie's East
Collections and Collecting presentations from members.
Antiquing at Adamstown, PA and Renninger's Extravaganza at Kutztown, PA
Introduction to the Majolica Society Web Site.
Professor Peter Rose, the retired head of Expressive Art at the University of Brighton, England. A collector of almost every important Victorian ceramic, including majolica, and tremendously knowledgeable about the furniture of the period, Mr. Rose presented "The Nature Room: Fantasy and Naturalism in the 19th - Century Decorative Arts."
Membership Barter 'n Buy opportunity.
Special 2 hour guided tour of Winterthur Museum displaying the world's premier collection of American decorative arts of 1640 to 1860. The garden is a masterpiece of 20th century American naturalism.
Majolica Heaven - Majolica Exhibition and Sale
Photos from the 2000 Annual Meeting:

Rita Smythe, London dealer entertains us in the gardens.

Click photo to enlarge

The weekend was International with Robert Lehr of France.

Click photo to enlarge

11th Annual Meeting- April 30, 1999
Nashville, TN

Program features included:

Robert Cluett author of the book, George Jones Ceramics 1861-1951
Robert Goldberg, accredited senior appraiser
Dinner at the Westin Hermitage Hotel, built in 1910 in the Beaux Arts style
Authors Present:
Nicholas Dawes
Robert Cluett
Helen Cunningham
Joe Horowitz
Marilyn Karmason
Joan Stacke
Majolica Heaven - Majolica Exhibition and Sale
Photos from the 1999 Annual Meeting:

London dealers Martine & Nicolaus Boston.

Click photo to enlarge

Author Robert Cluett and wife Thelma.

Click photo to enlarge

Author Marilyn Karmason.

Click photo to enlarge

Author Nicholas Dawes (right) and Nicolaus Boston.

Click photo to enlarge

Members mingle while they wait for the
opening of Majolica Heaven!

Click photo to enlarge

10th Annual Meeting- May 1, 1998
Baltimore, MD

Program features included:

Marshall Katz author of the book, Portuguese Palissy Ware, 1853-1920
Susan Zises Green, New York Interior Decorator
Nicolas Boston, London Majolica Dealers,
on "Artists, Sculptors, and Designers: The Creators of Victorian Majolica"
Majolica Heaven - Majolica Exhibition and Sale

9th Annual Meeting- April 11, 1997
Atlanta, GA

Program features included:

David Battie director of Sotheby's London
Helen Cunningham, author of Majolica Figures
Nicholas Dawes on "To Buy or Not to Buy, That is the Question"
Scott's Antiques Fair
Lakewood Antiques Market
Majolica Heaven - Majolica Exhibition and Sale

8th Annual Meeting- April 26, 1996
King of Prussia, PA

Program features included:

Marshall Katz author of the book,
Palissy Ware: 19th Century French Ceramicists From Avisseau to Renoleau
Phoenixville, PA tour of "Majolica John" Boraten and his wife Beckie's majolica collection.
Eric Knowles, director of Ceramics and Work of Art at Bonham's of London
Majolica Heaven - Majolica Exhibition and Sale

7th Annual Meeting- 1995
Atlanta, GA

Program features included:

Table of Barter-and-Buy

6th Annual Meeting- 1994
Hartford, CT

Program features included:

Table of Barter-and-Buy

5th Annual Meeting- 1992
King of Prussia, PA

Program features included:

Table of Barter-and-Buy

4th Annual Meeting- 1992
Springfield, MA

Program features included:

Table of Barter-and-Buy

3rd Annual Meeting- May 4-5, 1991
Springfield, MA

Sheraton Springfield Monarch Place
Program features included:
Saturday
Cocktail Party
    Table of Barter-and-Buy
    Bulletin Board for majolica Sales-and-Swap Notices
Dinner Meeting
    Lecture by M. Robert Lehr on "Palissy Followers" and "French Majolica"
    Slide presentation and discussion of rare and unusual majolica by members of the Society
Sunday
    Continental Breakfast
    Business Meeting
    Lecture by Mrs. Margaret Howland "Sand Majolica"
    Majolica Heaven - Majolica Exhibition and Sale

2nd Annual Meeting- April 28-29, 1990
King of Prussia, PA

Holiday Inn, King of Prussia
Program features included:
Saturday
Cocktail Party
    Special Exhibition of the Griffen, Smith and Hill,
        Garniture Gold Medal Winner, 1884-1885
    Table for Majolica Show/Tell/Trade/Photographs.
Dinner Meeting
    Presentation of award to Mrs. Ellis Stern, First Lady of Majolica.
    Lecture by Dr. Ruth Weidner: "What I Learned from a Pennsylvania Pottery"
    Lecture by Marilyn Karmason and Joan Stacke:
        "A Springtime Celebration of and by Majolica"
Sunday
    Lecture by William Aberbach: "Wedgwood, Majolica Speaking"
    Majolica Heaven - Majolica Exhibition and Sale

1st Annual Meeting- 1989
Fort Wayne, IN

Program features included:

Special Exhibition

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