The Winterthur Library

 The Joseph Downs Collection of Manuscripts and Printed Ephemera

Henry Francis du Pont Winterthur Museum, Winterthur, DE  19735

302-888-4600 or 800-448-3883

 

 

OVERVIEW OF THE COLLECTION

 

Creator:         Gordon, Elinor                                               

Title:               Elinor Gordon business records

Dates:             circa 1953-2007

Call No.:         Col. 874

Acc. No.:        10x68

Quantity:       

Location:        8 A 1-6

 

 

 

BIOGRAPHICAL STATEMENT

 

Elinor Rose McIntyre Gordon of Villanova, Pennsylvania, was one of the most important antiques dealers in the United States specializing in Chinese export porcelain.  She opened her business in 1953 and participated in her last antiques show in April 2009.

 

Elinor and her husband Horace began as porcelain collectors soon after their 1943 marriage.  At the time, these wares were usually called Oriental Lowestoft.  They bought from the leading dealers of their day, including J. A. Lloyd Hyde.  Their curiosity about their purchases led them to do much research, and with increasing knowledge, she felt ready to become a dealer, opening her business in 1953.  The Gordons traveled to Europe as well as around the United States seeking wares for the business and for their own collection.  Elinor Gordon’s shop was open by appointment only in order that she could work more closely with each customer.  She also participated in major East Coast antiques shows.  She supplied private collectors, including Pamela Copeland, whose collection is now in the Peabody Essex Museum; Euchlin and Louise Reeves, whose collection is now at Washington and Lee University; the Dietrich American Foundation, various museums; and the United States Department of State Diplomatic Reception Rooms.  In 2003, she received the Antique Dealers Association of America's Award of Merit for her contributions to the antiques business.  Being a recognized expert in the field, Mrs. Gordon was asked to give lectures on porcelain. As well, both Gordons wrote articles and books on the subject of Chinese export porcelain. 

 

Elinor Gordon was born on February 23, 1918, in New York City, the daughter of Helen and James A. McIntyre.  Her parents lost their jobs during the Great Depression, so she was unable to graduate from college.  Instead, she became a model, working through the John Robert Powers Modeling Agency.  She appeared in Vogue and Harper’s Bazaar, and on the cover of Life on January 2, 1939, in a photo taken by Alfred Eisenstaedt.  Elinor met Horace William Gordon of Pennsylvania during World War II, and they married in 1943.  Horace (born in 1901) was a graduate of the Wharton Business School at the University of Pennsylvania.  He was primarily an investment banker, although he also bought and sold antiques on commission, and they lived in Villanova, Pennsylvania.  Their particular interest in Chinese export porcelain was armorial pieces, and Mr. Gordon studied heraldry in order to identify the coats of arms on the wares which they purchased.   

 

Over her lifetime, Mrs. Gordon was also active in charitable and social organizations, including the Republican Women of Pennsylvania, the Hannah Penn House (of which she was a director), the Geographical Society of Philadelphia (along with her husband), and the Women’s Board of Jefferson Hospital.  

 

Together, Horace and Elinor Gordon wrote Oriental Lowestoft, a small booklet on the subject which went through several editions.  Elinor Gordon also wrote Collecting Chinese Export Porcelain and edited Chinese Export Porcelain: An Historical Survey and Treasures from the East: Chinese Export Porcelain for the Collector. 

 

Horace Gordon died in 1983, and Elinor Gordon on July 22, 2009.  Elinor was Horace’s second wife; he had one son with his first wife, but he and Elinor had no children.

 

 

SCOPE AND CONTENT

 

The collection documents the antiques business run by Elinor Gordon; Horace Gordon’s purchase and sales of antiques, particularly for the Dietrich American Foundation; and the couple’s personal collection.  The records include invoices for antiques purchased (mostly porcelain, but also paintings, furniture, and scrimshaw); records of sales of antiques; correspondence with clients; and stock cards.  Also included are appraisals for clients, records of consignment sales, and an extensive list of contacts.  Some expenses of the business are also documented, including expenses for antiques shows and charges for advertising copy.   As well, notes about Chinese export porcelain, some publications, and a few copies of the Gordons’ articles and books also are found.  Also documented in the collection are exhibits of the Gordons’ personal collection in Harrisburg, Pa. and Baltimore. 

 

The collection also includes photographs (both black and white and color), color transparences, and slides.  Regretfully, not all photos are identified.  It is difficult to tell if the photos are of Elinor Gordon’s stock, the Gordons’ personal collection, or both.  Some photos are also filed with correspondence because people would write Mrs. Gordon to inquire if she were interested in purchasing their pieces or to seek information on a piece of porcelain which they owned.

 

           

ORGANIZATION

 

The papers are divided into four series: I: Business papers (which also includes a very few personal papers); II: Correspondence, including appraisals and consignments; III: Stock cards;  and IV: Photographs.  Dietrich family and foundation materials, including photographs, are filed in Series II.

 

 

LANGUAGE OF MATERIALS

 

Most of the materials are in English.  A photocopy of a book in Portuguese is also found.

 

 

RESTRICTIONS ON ACCESS

 

Collection is open to the public.  Copyright restrictions may apply.

           

 

PROVENANCE

           

Gift of the family of Elinor Gordon.

 

 

ACCESS POINTS

 

Topics:

            Antique dealers - Pennsylvania - Villanova.

China trade porcelain.

            China trade porcelain - Collectors and collecting - United States.

            China trade porcelain - Photographs.

China trade porcelain - Private collections - Exhibitions.

Collectors and collecting - Pennsylvania - Villanova.

 

            Additional author:

                        Gordon, Horace W.

 

 

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE COLLECTION

 

Location: 8 A 1-6

 

 

Series I: Business papers

 

Box 1:

 

Folder 1:         Ads for Elinor Gordon

 

Folder 2:         Articles about Elinor Gordon or porcelain

 

Folder 3:         Associations of antique dealers

 

Folder 4:         Auction catalogs

 

Folder 5:         “Collecting Chinese Export Porcelain”: notes for slide show

                        [slides are in Series IV]

 

Folder 6:         Gordons’ Chinese export porcelain exhibit at William Penn Memorial Museum, Harrisburg, 1977

 

Folder 7:         Gordons’ collection: inventory, 2003 and earlier

 

Folder 8:         Gordons’ collection: inventory: handwritten list

 

Folder 9:         Gordons’ collection: items sent to Baltimore Museum, 1980

 

Folder 10:       Gordons’ collection: list of items and boxes received by museum in Harrisburg

 

 

Box 2:

 

Folder 1:         Gordon, Horace William

 

Folder 2:         Elinor Gordon: interior design receipts

 

Folder 3:         Inventory [unclear whether for gallery or personal collection]

 

Folder 4:         Elinor Gordon: lectures, exhibits, etc.

 

Folder 5:         Main Street Press: catalog for exhibit at William Penn Memorial Museum, Harrisburg, 1973-1977

 

Folder 6:         Main Street Press: draft of book

 

Folder 7:         Montgomery, James, Princeton, letter to Elizabeth Hayes, Philadelphia, June 4, 1801 [original manuscript].  Expresses pleasure in writing to her and to all his relations.

 

Folder 8:         Resale certificates for other states [required when participating in antiques shows]

 

Folder 9:         Elinor Gordon: stationery and business cards

 

Folder 10:       United States Department of State

 

 

Box 3:

 

Folders 1-2:    Contact names: customers, dealers

                        [see also Box 4, rolodex and business cards]

 

Folder 3:         Customers’ wants lists

 

Folder 4:         Sales leads from Arts and Antiques

 

 

Box 4: rolodex and business cards

 

 

Box 5: [legal size files]

 

Folder 1:         Ceramica Brazonada, vol. 1, by Conde de Castro e Solla (Lisbon, 1928) [photocopy]

 

Folder 2:         Ceramica Brazonada, plates for vol. 1, by Conde de Castro e Solla (Lisbon, 1928) [photocopy]

 

Folder 3:         Ceramica Brazonada, vol. 2, by Conde de Castro e Solla (Lisbon, 1930) [photocopy]

 

Folder 4:         Ceramica Brazonada, plates for vol. 2, by Conde de Castro e Solla (Lisbon, 1930) [photocopy]

 

Folder 5:         “Cincinnati China and Worcester Vases” [chapter from unknown publication]

 

Folder 6:         Gordon articles and books

 

Folder 7:         Miscellaneous museum and gallery publications and articles

 

Folders 8-9:    Miscellaneous notes and lists, chiefly about Chinese export porcelain

 

 

Box 6:

 

Folder 1:         Oriental Lowestoft, by Horace and Elinor Gordon, editions of 1956, 1959 (2 copies), and 1963 with handwritten corrections for 1969

 

Folder 2:         Oriental Lowestoft, draft [booklet by the Gordons]

 

Folder 3:         Oriental Lowestoft, draft of later edition and extra pictures

           

Folder 4:         Oriental Lowestoft, galley proofs for 3d edition

 

Folder 5:         “Porcelain suitable for museum exhibits” [probably a list of the Gordons’ own collection]

 

Folder 6:         Trade catalogs

 

Folders 7-9:    Sales books, 1963-1966

 

 

Box 7:

 

Folders 1-5:    Sales books, 1967-1969, 1971-1973

 

 

Box 8:

 

Folders 1-7:    Sales books, 1974, 1976-1984

 

 

Box 9:

 

Folders 1-8:    Sales books, 1985-1995

 

 

Box 10:

 

Folders 1-6:    Purchases, 1949, 1956-1971 (dealers’ invoices for items purchased by Gordons)

 

 

Box 11:

 

Folders 1-7:    Purchases, 1972-1976, 1983-1994, 1996, 2007 (dealers’ invoices for items purchased by Gordons)

 

Folder 8:         Bills for books

 

 

Box 12:

 

Folders 1-15:  Business and show expenses, 1965-1973, 1976, 1984-1985, 1987, 1990, 1992-1994 and no date

                        [bills for such expenses as photography, advertising, repair work; for shows, the bills indicate booth rental as well as expenses for electrical work and decoration of the booth; additional bills for show expenses are found in Box 13]

 

 

Box 13: Antiques shows

 

Note: additional bills associated with many of these shows are found in Box 12

 

Folder 1:         Baltimore, 1983-1991

 

Folder 2:         Delaware, 1967-1991

 

Folder 3:         Ellis Memorial (Boston), 1968-1995

 

Folder 4:         Lake Forest, Ill., 1966-1994

 

Folder 5:         Theta Charity (Houston), 1980-1988

 

Folder 6:         University Hospital (Philadelphia), 1969-1994

 

Folder 7:         University Liggett School and Grosse Pointe shows (Michigan), 1970-1991

 

Folder 8:         Winter Antiques Show [formerly East Side House Settlement] (New York), 1968-1994

 

Folder 9:         other antiques shows

 

Series II:  Correspondence; Appraisals; Consignments

 

Box 1:

 

Folder 1:         A

 

Folder 2:         Allman estate

 

Folder 3:         B

 

Folder 4:         Beall, Rebecca

 

Folder 5:         C

 

Folder 6:         Caulkins, Dixie

 

Folder 7:         D

 

Folder 8:         Dale, Ernest

 

Folder 9:         Donaghey, Anne

 

Folder 10:       E-F

 

Folder 11:       Foster estate

 

Folder 12:       G

 

Folder 13:       Gates family

 

Folder 14:       Goldstein & Hastings: re: hong bowl

 

 

Box 2:

 

Folder 1:         Goodman, Robert

 

Folder 2:         Gordon scholarship fund

 

Folder 3:         H

 

Folder 4:         Harrower collection

 

Folder 5:         Holman

 

Folder 6:         I-J

 

Folder 7:         K

 

Folder 8:         Kerr Place (Onancock, Va.)

 

Folder 9:         L

 

Folder 10:       Lake, Cynthia

 

Folder 11:       M

 

Folder 12:       Martha Stewart Living

 

Folder 13:       McNeill, Robert

 

Folder 14:       Mellon Certified Restoration

 

Folder 15:       N

 

 

Box 3:

 

Folder 1:         Northeast Auctions (Ron Bourgeault)

 

Folder 2:         O-P

 

Folder 3:         Odette

 

Folder 4:         Osborne, Lithgow

 

Folder 5:         Overall, David

 

Folder 6:         Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission

 

Folder 7:         Peters, Landon

 

Folder 8:         Pocock, Pauline

 

Folder 9:         R

 

Folder 10:       S

 

Folder 11:       Smithsonian Institution

 

Folder 12:       Sussell, Arthur J.

 

 

Box 4:

 

Folder 1:         T-V

 

Folder 2:         W

 

Folder 3:         X-Z and surname unknown

 

Folder 4:         Appraisals

 

Folder 5:         Appraisals: Lake, Benjamin

 

Folder 6:         Appraisals: Van Alen, William

 

Folder 7:         Appraisals: Ware, Eileen

 

Folder 8:         Appraisals: Williams, John

 

Folder 9:         Consignments

 

Folder 10:       Consignments: Freesman, Norma

 

Folder 11:       Consignments: payments

 

 

Box 5: Dietrich family and foundation

 

Folder 1:         Correspondence, 1964-1969

 

Folder 2:         Correspondence, 1970-1972

 

Folder 3:         Correspondence, 1973-1979

 

Folder 4:         Correspondence, 1980-1989

 

Folder 5:         Correspondence, 1990-1998

 

Folder 6:         Appraisals, 1980-1981

 

Folder 7:         Bills of sale, 1963-1969

 

 

Box 6: Dietrich family and foundation

 

Folder 1:         Bills of sale, 1970-1980

 

Folder 2:         Miscellaneous notes

 

Folder 3:         Photos: Bowls

 

Folder 4:         Photos: Cups and cups with saucers

 

Folder 5:         Photos: details of porcelain

 

Folder 6:         Photos: more than 1 form depicted and miscellaneous pieces

 

Folder 7:         Photos: paintings and furniture

 

Folder 8:         Photos: plates and platters

 

Folder 9:         Photos: tea and coffee pots, pitchers, creamers, etc.

 

Folder 10:       Photos: tea sets and partial tea sets

 

Folder 11:       Photos: tureens and covered bowls


 

Series III: Stock cards

 

Boxes 1-4: Stock Cards

 

On one side of each card, the stock item is described.  On the other side, the cards list the name of person or shop from whom an item was purchased, the date, and price of purchase; and then the date, name of purchaser, and price when sold.  Although many of the cards were found in some semblance of order (mostly, grouped by year sold), some of the cards were not in a labeled group. 

 

Series IV: Photographs

 

Note: photos are of pieces of Chinese export porcelain, unless otherwise stated

 

 

Box 1:

 

Folders 1-4:    Bowls 

 

Folder 5:         Chinese paintings, sculpture, scrimshaw, furniture, silver, etc.

 

Folder 6:         Cups and mugs

 

 

Box 2:

 

Folder 1:         Cups and saucers (in sets)

 

Folder 2:         Details

 

Folder 3:         Elinor Gordon: portraits; books; home and gallery

 

Folders 4-5:    Figures (mostly animals; includes tureens in shapes of animals)

 

Folder 6:         Gordon collection

 

 

Box 3:

 

Folder 1:         Miscellaneous pieces

 

Folders 2-3:    More than 1 form depicted     

 

Folder 4:         Negatives

 

Folders 5-6:    Paintings (American and European)

 

 

Box 4:

 

Folder 1:         Paintings (pictures of paintings, not photos; includes notes about paintings)

 

Folders 2-5:    Plates and platters (continues in next box)

 

 

Box 5:

 

Folders 1-3:    Plates and platters (continued from previous box)     

 

Folder 4:         Sets of porcelain; shows

 

Folder 5-6:      Tea, coffee, and chocolate pots; and pitchers

 

 

Box 6:

 

Folder 1:         Teas sets (includes partial sets)

 

Folders 2-3:    Tureens and covered bowls

                        [note: animal-shaped tureens are filed under Figures]

 

Folders 4-5:    Urns, vases, sets of garniture, and lamps made from them

 

Folder 6:         photos stuck together

 

 

Box 7: Notebooks of photos

 

Folder 1:         “Items in Personal Collection,” no date

 

Folder 2:         “Pieces sold, put in new book,” no date

 

Folder 3:         “Pieces Sold,” no date

 

 

Box 8: Slides

 

Portraits of Elinor Gordon

“Collecting Chinese Export Porcelain” slide show [script in Series I]

Chinese paintings

Displays and sets of porcelain

Porcelain exhibit, Baltimore, 1980

Antiques Monthly advertisement pictures

Animals [includes animal-shape tureens]

Plates and platters [continues in next box]

 

 

Box 9: Slides

 

Plates and platters [continued from previous box]

 

 

Box 10: Slides

 

Bowls

Tureens and covered bowls [note: animal tureens filed under animals]

Tea, coffee, and chocolate pots; and pitchers

Details

Miscellaneous non-porcelain items

 

Box 11: Slides

 

Tea sets

Cups with saucers [sets]

Cups and mugs

Urns, vases, garniture

Miscellaneous forms

More than 1 form depictted

 

Box 12: Slides

 

Oversized slides which did not fit into regular boxes

 

 

Box 13: oversized

 

Folder 1:         Picture proofs for book or article

 

Folders 2-3:    Advertisements for Elinor Gordon

 

Folder 4:         Proofs for black and white ad

 

Folders 5-9:    Multi-page proofs for ads      

 

Folders 10-11:                        oversize photos and negatives