Today we’d like to introduce you to Michael Corbett.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I was started on the road to the love of history by a grade school teacher, Mrs. McDonald. Her approach to teaching history was not from a list of dates, names of reigns, and battles but from the culture of the society. At that age, there was a lot of hands on creativity. Look at the picture of a column at the Temple of Karnak, measure out the dimensions, and, as a class, construct a portion of it and copy the hieroglyphics. All the time telling the story of the Old Kingdom, New Kingdom, the Egyptians’ view of the universe and the world around them. I was hooked. History class was story time, and who doesn’t like a good story.
It was looking at the objects of a period, figuring out how they were used, who used them and for what purpose and how they saw them and what value they had in their lives. By the time I finished my graduate degree in history I was further drawn into history as an interpretation of artifacts.
At the time of my graduation, two new graduate inter disciplinary programs were being offered. The Columbia University program was an architectural/ history inter-departmental hybrid in Restoration Architecture while the New York State University program was an administrative program for the of the interpretation of material culture. My interest was the latter.
The opening of the Federalist in 1974 came at the height of the Colonial Revival which dominated American taste from the turn of the century thru the 1990’s. In addition to the growth of the Antiques businesses, there was an expansion of Antique Shows to thousands of communities across the country. This interest was fueled by generations of manufacturers from the ceramics of Wedgewood, Spode, Coalport and others, glass wares in Georgian models, silver companies producing flatware to coffee/tea services, wallpaper, fabric house with their historic lines. Furniture manufacturers lead by Kettenger, Baker and a host of others, and architects designing “Colonial” style: banks, commercial buildings, schools, town halls and houses, added an important visual reminder used up by decorators and illustrated in popular design publications and in film.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
The struggle has come in the following generation when the job market has been less stable and moving multiple times has given rise for disposability and portability. Less entertaining at home and more eating out has reduced the home as a reflection of individual identity and long term relation to the community.
We’d love to hear more about your business.
Antiques represent continuity and permanence and the defined spaces of: living room, dining room, library, entry foyer, and study/library as opposed to the open floor plan with less personal space call for a different use of furniture. This environment presents a new set of challenges for the antique dealer. With less wall space and a larger focus on a television screen, there is less space for art and furniture to set against the wall. This new spatial configuration requires less furniture. For now knowledge, integrity in the identification of materials offered, and taste now compete with all in one installations that make disposal easier both emotionally and commercially. The challenge for the antique dealer is conveying the value of classic design and the quality of the pieces made from old growth timber, from when the world was young, and how these qualities make each piece of furniture created distinctively individual. The ability of these classic forms of furniture to mix with good contemporary designs to create a personal quality space is found in the presentation. Great design is both chic and classic.
What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
I would be tempted to say my proudest moment in the business was consulting for the national park service, for the restoration of the interior of a 19th century opera house, or even the sale of some significant pieces the art institute of Chicago or other museums, but in fact my proudest moment was exhibiting at the Winterthur museum Delaware antique show.
Where a distinguished board of curators passed on every object presented. This initial invitation some 20 plus years ago was fraught with some anxiety but ultimately confirmed my knowledge, taste and judgment in the area of my special interest, American furniture of the federal period, by a panel of my peers and experts in their field.
My area of special interest and expertise is the American federal period. Furniture, like architecture, is unique in its presence in space and time. Furniture reflects social organization and through style expresses taste and social identity. It has been a privilege to spend a career, examining, studying and sharing the American journey reflected in our material culture.
In the colonial period, English and Dutch protestants shaped a tolerance bread of the shared necessity of forging a life in a new uncharted land with people of diverse experiences. The arrival of significant numbers of French émigré royalists from the revolution were integrated into American values of tolerance and shared respect. And so we see the French taste entering the American esthetic demonstrated by furniture designs at every level of the society.
As other immigrant groups such as the Germans, Irish, Scandinavians, Italians and eastern Europeans entered America, each experienced push back until they came to identify themselves with these American values of tolerance and inclusion, “Where all men are created equal” as the rest of society incorporated the gift of their culture. This inclusion is reflected the eclecticism of America’s material culture of the later 19th and 20th centuries.
Contact Info:
- Address: 5151 Park Dr.,
Kenilworth Il, 60043
Wednesday through Saturday from 10:00 till 5:00
Or by appointment - Phone: 847-256-1791
- Email: federalistantiques@sbcglobal.net
Getting in touch: VoyageChicago is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
