Who is Deserving?

The history of the Antique Dealers’ Association of America (ADA) may be found on is website.  

“The Antiques Dealers’ Association of America, Inc. (ADA) was established in May 1984 as a non-profit trade association. Its major objective is to make more professional the business of buying and selling antiques.

Membership is composed of professional antiques dealers who are dedicated to integrity, honesty and ethical conduct in the antiques trade. To be accepted, dealers must have a minimum of four years’ experience in the trade, be recommended by a committee of peers and must sign a certification agreeing to abide by the bylaws of ADA. 

All members are required to guarantee their merchandise in writing on a sales receipt which must state approximate age, origin, condition and restoration, if any, of all pieces that are sold.

To ensure that the standards outlined in the bylaws are kept by members, the Association has a standing ethics committee. Membership is renewable on an annual basis, subject to review by the Board of Directors. Only those who demonstrate dedication to the ethical standards of the Association are invited to continue their membership. 

To assist both members and the public alike, ADA functions in an educational capacity, providing information, lectures, and seminars on various topics concerning antiques.”

Since 2002 it has presented an Award of Merit, and I have listed past recipients below. I am not familiar with several and know little about others.

2002 – Albert Sack

2003 – Elinor Gordon

2004 – Wendell Garrett

2005 – Betty Ring

2006 – R. Scudder Smith

2007 – Satenig St. Marie

2007 – Dean F. Failey

2008 – Joe Kindig

2009 – Philip Zea

2010 – Jane & Richard Nylander

2011 – Morrison H. Heckscher

2012 – The American Folk Art Society

2013 – Peter Tillou

2014 – Brock Jobe

2015 – David McCullough

2016 – Victor & Joan Johnson

2017 – Patricia E. Kane

2018 – Peter M. Kenny

2019 – Laura Beach

2020/2021 – Karen and Ralph DiSaia

2022 – The Magazine ANTIQUES

2023 – The Chipstone Foundation

2024 – Arthur Liverant

2025 – Skip Chalfant

My question is: Who would be add to the list of individuals to be so recognized? I have pondered the question and have three individuals whose hats I would put in the ring.

• Lita Solis-Cohen whose writing, knowledge and career has contributed as much as anyone I can think of to the American Antiques world.
• David Schorsch, dealer nonpareil in his knowledge of American antiques and the history of the American antique world going back decades and more. Moreover, as a collector I have found David to be collegial, warm, and graceful.
• Peter Eaton. Peter is the doyen of high-country furniture. In my experience his knowledge is amazingly vast and deep. Not all collectors can afford big city formal furniture nor desire it. I have found Peter to be generous with his knowledge, quiet in demeanor, and a linchpin of the high-country world.

So, who or what organization would you add to the list? Let me know.