Collectors...
Every Collection • Every Story • Uniquely Yours
Whether you collect art, antiques, cars, dolls, furniture, sports memorabilia, vintage clothing, or something uniquely yours…
Or, you have an eclectic assortment of items that you’ve gradually acquired over the years, that you cherish and which now surrounds you.
Perhaps you’ve inherited pieces from a relative.
Your Collection is far more than the actual objects. It is a reflection of you, your interests, inspiration, passion and personal history.
Gather your treasured possessions together in a beautifully produced, easy to read, custom-designed volume, along with the story of how your Collection came to be and preserve your legacy for your loved ones.
Your Collection is your Story
…and it's waiting to be told through your own personal Collection Book with each item photographed, accurately described and accompanied by the story of how you came to acquire each specific piece. In this way those you care about can take pleasure in the beauty and joy of each and every cherished piece, knowing how much it meant to you to collect it in the first place.
…and your Story is your Legacy
When left untold, your story is forgotten. No matter how you tell it - the recollections and reminiscences that accompany your collection are what make each and every book unique! It's your life story reaching out through the collected pieces to your loved ones. Your voice to their hearts.
Image: Portugese Portolan Map - Parchment, ca. 1492
Why do it?
Image: Sara Ezra - Bronze
Female Figure, ca. 2007
Establish a
Visual Inventory
Your collection represents a substantial investment of time, effort and money. As a visual record your Collection Book can serve to provide proof of ownership for insurance purposes and estate planning.
By documenting the items in your home - individually, in situ, or both - there can be no doubt where each piece is specifically placed in case of fire or theft, nor that this collection is yours.
Image: Pablo Picasso – Watercolor
‘Les Dejeunes’, ca. 1963
Create Your
Legacy
Your legacy is what you leave behind for your loved ones and is how you will be remembered. The gifting of treasured possessions conveys intention and sharing the story of how they came to be a part of your life assures the recipients that they were cared about and loved.
Your Legacy Collection Book gives you choice over the way you wish your collection presented and your personal story told.
Image: RCA Gramophone
His Master’s Voice, ca. 1921
Demonstrate Your
Collection's Significance
By documenting and displaying the items in your collection together, you demonstrate their significance in your life, whether historical, aesthetic, or emotional – for past, present and future generations.
And should you wish, your Collection Book can serve as an excellent resource for prospective viewers if you’re planning on exhibiting or loaning out the collection.
If not now, when?
The Process
Image: Victorian Exercise / Juggling
Pins and Ball, ca. late 1800s
- An initial meeting is arranged to assess the needs of the project, set clear expectations and clarify the intended outcome.
- Each item is photographed, measured, researched and clearly described. If in situ photographs are needed, they are taken at this time.
- Through a series of discussions and interviews, together we build the narrative of your story.
- The photographs and written material are then laid out, edited, formatted, an introduction is written, and a camera-ready copy is prepared. The cover is designed. It all then goes to the printing house.
- Hard or soft cover books are printed in as many copies as you wish.
What emerges through the process is a visual narrative, your personal Legacy Collection Book, a life story for loved ones, friends and colleagues, produced according to your wishes, ready to share anytime, anywhere and a unique opportunity to serve as your living legacy.
In the words of museum professionals...
“From a museum point of view, a catalogue would be an incredibly useful resource for us to view if we were looking to loan items from a collector.”
“This is something that could be of interest to some of our local collectors.”
“You provide a service many collectors appreciate.”
...and personal clients:
Image: Jacques des Rousseaux
A 'tronie' of an old man at prayer
"I would like to commend Eve Black for the outstanding job she has done in producing a comprehensive catalogue of my family's art collection. She brought to the task a finely developed sense of aesthetics and outstanding skills in layout and design. In addition, Eve had a sensitivity for the story behind the acquisitions that highlighted the personal meaning and significance of the collection. I particularly appreciated her flexibility and acceptance of new ideas and suggestions, while still being very attentive to detail. Throughout the process of creating this catalogue I have found Eve to be highly efficient, a pleasure to work with and a complete professional."
- N.D., November 2019
Image: Burmese Ginger Jar
Bamboo & Lacquerware
"Eve's aesthetic eye and professional attention to detail produced a beautiful catalogue that captured the vision of what I had hoped to achieve with the project. Eve has a particular talent in interviewing people. I was impressed at how well Eve was able to pivot with new information and incorporate moving in new directions that unfolded in the creative process of working together artistically and resourcefully."
- E.S., February 2021
Image: Halvorson, 1967
Family Group
"Working with Eve Black on the catalogue of our art collection was a wonderful experience. Eve is expert at providing all that is necessary in order to achieve a gorgeous result. She is professional, thorough, patient , pleasant and positive. She has excellent attention to detail. She's responsive, proactive, independent and she allowed us to be as involved (or not) as we wanted. Eve is imaginative, extremely intelligent and creative and has an excellent esthetical sense. We also were greatly impressed with the team of people that assisted her. Thank you Eve for a fantastic experience and catalogue."
- E.M., December 2022
Volume I
Volume II
Volume III
Volume IV
"When I began working with Eve, I really 'just' needed an inventory and record of the art and antiquities my husband and I had amassed over our marriage but mainly over our time in Caesarea when we had the space to display. At first the thought was simply overwhelming, and we truly had no idea of what and how much there was... It took a year and amazingly we did it all before the movers arrived to pack it all up and put it into storage until our next home is ready... While I see these catalogues still as a work in progress... there are pieces loaned out that weren't photographed and new additions I am sure... with Eve it will be a breeze… and an absolutely stunning creation… I was totally impressed at first sight. The catalogues truly blew me away and I am more than delighted."
- D.S., April 2023
Image: Vintage Evening Dress
Red Lace over Silver Lamé
ca. 1960s
"Eve created a stunning book showcasing our mother’s dress collection spanning decades. Her attention to detail, creative flair, and dedication truly shone through in this thoughtful 91st birthday gift. The book is not just a visual delight but also a heartfelt tribute that captures the essence of our mother’s journey across the years. We are immensely grateful for Eve’s work and the joy it brought to our mother, to us, and to the rest of our family."
- O.G., R.Z., I.M., September 2023
About
I’m Eve Black, and I curate private collections. I am approached by people who collect specific items and want a recorded, elegant and personal account of their lifetime of collecting – chronicling the way it all began, the story behind why they chose what they did and what it means to them. Or there are those who have gathered items a bit more casually, gradually surrounding themselves with pieces, ultimately wanting to take stock of what they have and share the story of how the items found their way into their lives.
By putting everything into a single volume and documenting how your collection came to be, you invite those whom you care about to take a walk through your life and become more connected to you and to what is meaningful for you.
People tell their stories through objects. They turn to me because they understand that it takes someone with experience across the various aspects of the arts management world and who has a history of working with a wide network of international cultural institutions, museums and private clients, to produce a meaningful and beautiful end product.
With a B.Sc. in Arts Administration & Music and an M.A. in Archaeological Heritage Management, I have many years of successful collection management experience and Legacy Collection Book creation.
Let's get started!
Image: Ancient Storage Jar - Clay, ca. 1892
It would be my pleasure to discuss your specific project with you.
Contact Me:
eveblack@forcollectors.international
Absolute Discretion Assured
The client determines what background information may be made available for inclusion.