Christian Chaffee

April 18, 2015

2-3pm
Lecture at Beacon Artworks Studio 205 · 2121 Fifth Avenue (The Park West Square Building)
$15

So You Want to be an Art Collector
San Diego art dealer and collector Christian Chaffee will describe the characteristics found in California Plein Air and American Impressionist paintings, before settling into an in-depth discussion on how to build a great collection of art. By sharing the experiences and expertise garnered from a career that spans over 40 years, Mr. Chaffee hopes to impart the kind of knowledge that will help even the most fledgling of collectors blossom into the kind of seasoned and informed buyers who can build a noteworthy collection even with a modest budget. Appreciating the inherent beauty of art is important, but through this lecture you will also learn how to become better informed, and learn how to identify the buying environments that can lead to the best purchases. Mr. Chaffee will help illustrate these points with stories of discoveries, and by bringing a variety of art treasures to show the range of objects that can be found locally. In addition, he will bring a few of his favorite paintings, including previously "missing" museum quality examples by E. Charlton Fortune, and Franz Bischoff. This is going to be the best $15 you have ever spent.

Each attendee of this lecture will also receive a certificate for a free, in-home evaluation of your art and antiques by Mr. Chaffee.

Bio
Christian Chaffee has been dealing in fine art and antiques since 1969. Growing up in Santa Barbara, he began working with his father when he was 11 years old buying and reselling all kinds of art and antiques. In 1978, following his three years of service in the United States Navy, he opened and operated an antique shop in Soquel, California before he attended San Diego State University to study business administration and finance. Following his studies, Christian purchased Adams Ave. Van & Storage and turned it into the largest independent moving company in San Diego in just four years. After selling the moving company in 1990, he founded Chaffee Estate Services and returned to the art and antique business he had fallen in love with as a boy. Since then, Christian has sold works of art to museums in the United States, Canada, and Europe and countless private collectors worldwide. He was also recently nominated for honorary membership in The American Society of Appraisers by life-member J.R. Westfall.

Above all, Christian's business is based on his respect for history and the precious objects from our collective past. He has made a number of significant discoveries in his time as an antique dealer and has ensured that many historically significant items will be properly preserved and appreciated. Perhaps most significantly, Christian is responsible for the rediscovery and ongoing preservation of the three surviving historic Class 1 streetcars, which were originally designed by John D. Spreckels' San Diego Electric Railway Company for the 1915 Panama-California Exposition. He is currently spearheading an effort through the San Diego Historic Streetcars 501(c)(3) nonprofit to restore these Arts & Crafts streetcars and return them to a new rail alignment in Little Italy. Christian and this project received the On the Right Track People In Preservation Award from SOHO in 2012.

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