Viewing page 7 of 180

This transcription has been completed. Contact us with corrections.

T UT/TF
10th
December 10th., 1928.
Dear Mr, Tannahill:
Mr. Waegen of our firm, who was just in Detroit for a few days and who saw Dr. Heil, told me that you were interested in the very fine carved ivory diptych that we lent to the exhibition, but that you thought the price a little bit too high.
I have discussed this question at length with Mr. Germain Seligmann, the head of our firm, whom you have met and who, as you probably know, is personally a great collector and amateur of ivories and enamels of these early periods. Mr. Seligmann considers this carved ivory diptych of the second half of the Fourteenth Century as one of the finest in quality he has ever seen, and it is certainly an important piece as regards size and perfection of workmanship. It also has the ideal blonde patins, which so few ivories acquire, either because they have been in damp places or mishandled.
The relief of this ivory is, as you have undoubtedly noticed, very deep, which is a great quality, and likewise you must certainly have noticed how every parsonage is carefully carved and has its personal expression.
As regards the price, we specially quoted a low one to your museum, but if it were just a question of making a further nominal reduction  we would gladly do so. As a matter of fact, this ivory, which we bought together with several other things from a special collection, had already been put at a very low price.
Ivories of this quality are so scarce, as you no doubt know, that one can easily foresee that in a few years hence, it will be practically impossible to find any, even at double that figure!
However, as I said above, if a further nominal reduction would tempt you to purchase it, we would be very glad to make this to you, as we would be very pleased to have you own this beautiful piece.
With best regards from Mr. Seligmann and myself, believe me to be,
Yours sincerely,
Robert Tannahill, Esq.,
121 Boston Blvd. E.,
Detroit, Michigan.