Every two weeks, I would switch between the Fine Arts and the American Furniture, Decorative, and Folk Arts Departments. My summer-long project focused on database taxonomy, where I categorized +25,000 files according to historical classification (ex. Old Masters, Couture, 19th-Century Continental Furniture) after Freeman’s database merged with Hindman. From writing condition reports to cataloging objects for an upcoming auction, the Decorative Arts department offered something new every day. Additionally, I participated in live auctions through online and phone bidding. Research proved to be a vital skill, as I was frequently assigned pricing catalogues to study. I was able to use my notetaking and visual analysis skills to recognize patterns in quilts, carved horses, and Chippendale furniture. I could also create historic connections despite not directly knowing the context of the object, such as the rising popularity of mahogany furniture being directly attributed to growing transatlantic slavery.
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