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In today's times, it is hard to recall a time before our instant access to information. Our ability to jump on Google today is definitely not what it was like in 1991/1992 when this story occurred. Being in South Florida, Mary wasn't aware of any fire at an art storage warehouse. She couldn't look anything up about this mystery man. He arrived in her life and insisted she be the one to buy his artwork. She figured it wasn't like she was investing a lot, not that she could always afford to buy the artwork that she really didn't know anything about. She sold bric-a-brac, pretty collectibles, and the occasional pretty painting she might find.
Even if what this man was telling her and what he was selling her was nothing, she felt this man needed her visits. He was a polite man and she did enjoy his visits, telling her stories of a life she could never have imagined. Things she had never heard of - like an art storage warehouse.
In this issue, we will discuss the handwritten notes that have both Mr. Koch and Mary's handwriting. He is trying to tell her where he got some of the artwork. Even one note has the word provenance. But the methods of selling artwork would be different for a billionaire like Mr. Koch than it would be for a flea market person.
So let's run down what we think the notes tell us.
Sorting the notes together by the artwork:
Vincent van Gogh
One painting - Sultan of Morocco - View Here
This is the last piece he sold to her. Before his grand exit - read about that here.
Handwritten notes state:
The Moroccan
Gallery van Nuys, 13 Rue de Missionaire, Paris France. Madam Corne - Proprietor. Paris Period.
Pablo Picasso
One painting - View of Martigues - View Here
One ink drawing of a beast - no photographs available
One ink drawing in Femme Assise - View Here
One pencil drawing of a man - View Here
Handwritten notes state:
Formerly from the collection of H. Leed. Femme Assise. Purchased from Marlborough House Gallery in London, 1953 catalog #22, #28, 33, 41.
Éduardo Manet
One painting - View of Beach - View Here
Handwritten notes state:
He was from Spain and was an impressionist artist.
Alexander Calder
5 Pencil & pen drawings - Circus scenes - View Here
Handwritten notes state:
Alexander Calder drawings came from the Hokin Gallery in Palm Beach and belonged to Mr. Calder's housekeeper Mrs. Clifford.
Jane Peterson
Three paintings - Snowy Egret (view here), Pelican (view here), 3 Parakeets (view here).
Handwritten notes state:
Washington Gallery Washington Ave, Miami, Ned Mathew and his brother.
Kees van Dongen
One drawing - Lady in a Hat - View Here
Handwritten notes state:
Purchased from Marlborough House Gallery in London, 1953 catalog #22, #28, 33, 41.
Camille Bombois
One small painting river scene View Here
Handwritten notes state:
Naivete period.
There are some artwork mentioned that Suzanne has never seen or photographed.
Maurice de Vlaminak - he was suppose to bring her this piece next.
Fernand Léger - Mary sold this before Suzanne could photograph it.
Joan Miró - Mary sold this before Suzanne could photograph it.
In the notes, Mr. Koch also tells Mary to contact different Museums that deal in the specific artwork he is selling her. He tells her their addresses from memory.
Colorado State Museum
200 14th Ave.
Denver, Colorado
Metropolitan Museum of Art
Fifth Ave. and 82nd St.
Manhattan, New York
van Gogh
Museum of Modern Art
11 W. 53rd St.
New York City, NY
Picasso
Mr. Koch tells her to write to the Picasso Museum in Paris. States there is also a book in the Frick Library in New York. NOTE: Frederick R. Koch was on the board of directors at the Frick Library.
The blue note that states "Photo & dimension & providance Guy Wildenstein, Wildenstein Institute, 57 Rue de la Boetie, 75008, Paris, France" again another address Mr. Koch gave Mary from memory.
Mr. Koch also states that a the Denver Museum, Department of Indian Artifacts has his name in Bronze on the door. NOTE: We called the Denver Museum, they stated that department was under construction and the door was gone.
For the notes on the artwork that came from the Marlborough House Gallery in London. Unfortunately, we have been unable to locate any Marlborough House Gallery auction catalogs. Mr. Koch explained to Mary that he would receive a Marlborough House Gallery catalog in the mail and would purchase from that catalog.
BELOW ARE SCANS OF THE NOTES AND YOU CAN SEE THAT TWO DIFFERENT PEOPLE ARE WRITING THE NOTES.
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