The Collector and the Dealer

For their final discussion of Diamonds, Sandra Hindman and Benjamin Zucker consider their roles and relationship as dealer and collector in bringing this historical exhibition to fruition. Beginning with childhood recollections of stamps and postcard collecting, it quickly becomes apparent that the space between dealer and collector is uniquely blurred for both parties. Dr. Hindman discusses her past as a teacher and touches on her current collecting practices, while Benjamin Zucker articulates his Museé Imaginaire and describes its origins in the published reproductions of collectors catalogues. As fields, collecting and dealing live within a spectrum of fantastic imaginary historical time and the real, immediacy of the present. History, fairytale, myth, and adventure stories combine as Hindman and Zucker recount the paths that took them to diamond collecting and manuscript hunting. They even discuss identifying gems on treasure bound manuscripts which culminates in a discussion of the connections between manuscripts, precious stones, jewelry and historic personalities. This conversation took place within the exhibition Diamonds at Les Enluminures, NY, on October 30, 2019.