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How Myers Collected
When Myers came into collecting, wealthy collectors underwrote their agents’ purchases in Europe with blank checks. Myers’ own collecting strategies reflected his more limited purchasing power. Although wealthy, he was neither in a position to write blank checks nor interested in doing so. Instead, he focused his energy on the allocation of his financial resources to their best advantage.
With his discerning eye, his commitment to educating himself about the material he collected and his reliance on knowledgeable advisors, Myers was able to experiment with new areas of collecting and to spend less when purchasing textiles. He collected less-sought-after textiles and pieces that were not in pristine condition but that did have historical, technical and design significance.
The majority of Myers’ textiles were acquired through dealers based in New York, Paris, London, Vienna, Berlin, Munich and Cairo. Myers was known as a well-informed and highly intelligent buyer. He believed that “one must be firmly grounded in art and unusually independent and tenacious of opinions honestly formed, not to be utterly confused by what he sees.” Some dealers developed lasting relationships with Myers that extended from the years before he established The Textile Museum to his death in 1957.
Many individuals contributed to Myers’ efforts in building a comprehensive collection. He sought advice from a large network of respected scholars, including curators of The Textile Museum and scholars associated with other institutions. They advised him on the technical and historical aspects of textiles and guided him to new areas of interest. Myers nonetheless always reserved for himself the right to make final decisions.
Read more about:
Myers' Collecting Philosophy
Myers as an Educator
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