A Question of Value - by Robert Brunk (Paperback)

About the Book

"In thirty-one essays, each titled for a specific item Bob encountered in his long and increasingly successful auction career, objects are presented as windows, invitations to consider broad personal and collective histories, often leading to unresolved social inequities. The author, whose Mennonite background often conflicts with his career, wrestles with the complexities of ownership and value: possessions as self-definition, symbols of wealth and ambition, icons of family history, sources of addiction, or wells of comfort and inspiration. The result is a portrait of a man and a community that reflect the best and worst of ourselves as we grasp for meaning in objects-and then must decide what to do with our possessions when it's time to let them go"--

Book Synopsis

In the late 1970s, Robert Brunk discovered the world of auctioneering. Drawn to the unique mountain culture and the history of fine art in and around Asheville, North Carolina, Bob started a business, Brunk Auctions, that became part of a bustling network of commerce. America's passion for collecting, buying, and selling reached remarkable heights in the following decades. Auction houses and antiques stores thrived; people paid hundreds of dollars for a humble country basket and thousands for a rare piece of folk art.

In this collection of compelling, compassionate essays, Bob considers specific items and remarkable situations he encountered in his long and successful work as an auctioneer and appraiser. He presents objects as invitations to consider personal and collective histories often related to unresolved social inequities. Bob also describes how, as his business grew to offer the finest examples of American and European art, his career often conflicted with his Mennonite background and the complexities of ownership and value. The result is a portrait that reflects the best and worst of us as we search for ways to live with objects--and then decide what to do when it's time to let them go.

Review Quotes

"A Question of Value is a fun and enjoyable read that not only offers a behind-the-scenes look into second-hand sales and auctions but also earnestly revisits the many lessons Brunk learned from observing and dealing with personal accumulations and the ephemera of our daily lives. No matter whether you are an experienced collector or are just curious about how auctions work, Brunk's anecdotes and perceptive reflections will leave you with a new appreciation for the objects we hold dear and the stories embedded within them."--H-Material-Culture

"Deeply thoughtful and elegant in its forthright simplicity, A Question of Value is one of the best books on collecting in many years."--Antiques and the Arts Weekly

"In his new memoir . . . the gavel-wielding philosopher shares wisdom gleaned from his many years on the road and in the salesroom. [Brunk's] empathetic tales capture the comedy, pathos, joy, and ultimate mystery that is collecting."--The Magazine Antiques