Maine Antique Digest, December 2016

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Maine Antique Digest, December 2016 13-A
Suspended Worlds: Historic Theater Scenery in Northern New England Wins
Historic New England Book Prize
The 22nd annual Historic New England Book
Prize has been awarded to Suspended Worlds:
Historic Theater Scenery in Northern New
England by Christine Hadsel. Suspended Worlds is
a celebration of the many historic theater curtains
in northern New England and their part in commu-
nity activities and entertainment. The curtains were
painted between 1890 and 1940 and range from
opera house grand drapes depicting faraway lands,
country landscapes, and city streets to Grange hall
curtains full of local advertisements.
In addition, Historic New England selected two
Honor Books for recognition this year: Heroic:
Concrete Architecture and the New Boston by
Mark Pasnik, Chris Grimley, and Michael Kubo,
and Rich and Tasty: Vermont Furniture to 1850 by
Jean M. Burks and Philip Zea.
Heroic is an in-depth exploration of the con-
crete buildings that transformed Boston during the
1960s and 1970s. During this period of enormous
growth, Boston served as an urban laboratory, with
some of that era’s most influential designers and
architects studying concrete’s structural and sculp-
tural qualities.
Rich and Tasty presents new scholarship that
advances the understanding of Vermont high-style
furniture—from its features, craftsmanship, and
economics to its unexpected aesthetic innovations.
Furniture makers produced items that were similar
to furniture available in New York City and Bos-
ton but incorporated a variety of local material and
details.
The Historic New England Book Prize recog-
nizes works that advance the understanding of the
architecture, landscape, and material culture of
New England and the United States from the 17th
century to the present.
602 Higgins Ave. Suite 1, Brielle, NJ 08730 • (732) 899-2830 • Cell: (917) 566-9269
•
Pair Arrested for Selling Fake Gold Bars
On October 27
search warrants
were executed by the
Delaware State Police
Financial Crimes Unit
with the assistance of
the Ocean View Police Department, which resulted in the apprehen-
sion of two suspects and the seizure of counterfeit gold bars.
On October 24 detectives from the financial crimes unit had initi-
ated an investigation after victims had come forward and reported that
two suspects were selling counterfeit gold bars and coins in Sussex
County. After conducting interviews and examining evidence, police
suspected that Paul Micaletti and Heather Micaletti, both of Ocean
View, Delaware, had allegedly sold over $35,000 in counterfeit gold
to victims who thought they were purchasing legitimate gold bars.
The investigation revealed that the victims had discovered these
gold bars on an Internet sales site. On Sunday, July 31, 2016, one vic-
tim had met with the suspects in Lewes, Delaware, to purchase gold
bars for over $1700. During the exchange the victim had the suspects
sign and date a handwritten receipt stating that the gold bars were
legitimate. Paul Micaletti allegedly told the victims that his father-
in-law had passed away and that the gold bars and coins belonged to
his estate. After these gold bars were sold, the investigation revealed,
Heather Micaletti wanted to sell more of her counterfeit gold bars.
During the probe into this case, it was revealed that Paul Micaletti
provided the victims with a copy of a fake invoice from a mint shop.
The invoice was for over 100 units of what was believed by the vic-
tims to be gold bars purchased by his father-in law for an amount of
over $38,000. In October 2016 another victim then purchased more
gold bars in the amount of over $8000. The victims made a combined
purchase of counterfeit gold bars and coins for over $35,000.
During the investigation the gold bars and coins were appraised and
tested. It was determined that the gold bars were all counterfeit.
Paul Micaletti, 41, and Heather Micaletti, 34, were arrested at their
residence without incident and transported to Troop 4 in Georgetown,
where both were formally charged with 38 counts of forgery first
degree, two counts of theft by false pretense over $1500, and con-
spiracy second degree. Both were arraigned before the Justice of the
Peace Court 3 and released on $20,500 unsecured bail.
This incident remains under investigation by the Delaware State
Police. Anyone who has information about this incident or had similar
transactions is asked to contact Detective T. Shockley at (302) 752-
3812 or Troop 4 at (302) 856-5850. Information may also be provided
by calling Delaware Crime Stoppers at 1-800-TIP-3333, by sending
an anonymous tip by text to 274637 (CRIMES) using the keyword
“DSP,” or via the website ).
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there are some who choose to make antiques a part- or full-time
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See more Fragments on pp. 22-A and 39-A
Sotheby’s announced on October 26
that it had acquired the Mei Moses
Art Indices, which will now be known
as Sotheby’s Mei Moses. The indices use
repeat sales—the sale of the same object
at different times—to track changes in
value. Through this acquisition, “Sothe-
by’s has unique access to an analytic tool
that provides objective and verifiable
information to complement the world-
class expertise of the company’s special-
ists,” the firm said.
The indices comprise a constantly
updated database of 45,000 repeat sales
of objects in eight collecting categories,
approximately 4000 of which change
hands each year. The methodology
enables Sotheby’s to compare the invest-
ment performance of art against various
asset classes, to analyze its performance
against myriad benchmarks and compet-
itors, and to measure
the impact of macro-
economic and societal
forces on the art market.
Sotheby’s Mei Moses
uses existing data model
and computation meth-
odology to ensure consistency of the
index.
“The collecting community is increas-
ingly sophisticated and, in many cases,
looking to analysis to understand the
overall market, individual artist and
category trends, the value of their col-
lections, as well as gain insight into the
timing of their consignments and pur-
chases,” said Adam Chinn, Sotheby’s
executive vice president. “We are very
happy to be in a position to provide col-
lectors with proprietary information tai-
lored to their needs, while at the same
time helping us identify and examine
trends that can inspire further innova-
tions within Sotheby’s to better serve an
expanding client base.”
Sotheby’s Acquires Mei Moses Art Indices