: Wendell D. Garrett - the "D," rarely used, stands for Douglas -
measures the world letter by letter, word by word, idea by idea,
book upon book.
There are a mere 14 letters in the graceful, calligraphic
signature that famously appends each of the 381 learned
editorials that he has written for The Magazine
Antiquessince July 1972. Often, the editorials begin with a
well-shaped quote, hospitably offered by a man who has hungrily
collected words and ideas as others hoard silver or gold, fine
paintings or rare objects. The quotes - "gathered from many
mouths," as Garrett says - are trophies from seven decades of
inspired travel through the realm of the intellect.
Other aphorisms appear in A Quire of Quotes, published in
three volumes by Garrett and his friend Darrell Hyder at Hyder's
Sun Hill Press. Garrett himself has owned three antique
letterpresses (the largest, a Washington press of about 1880, is
now at Winterthur). Enamored with the look of language, the
connoisseur of stone carving has taken to chiseling the gems on
slate or sandstone.
On a recent visit to the East 44th Street apartment complex where
Garrett has lived since 1976, Allison Ledes, who succeeded her
mentor as Antiques' editor when he joined Sotheby's
American decorative arts department in 1990 (he has continued as
Antiques' editor-at-large), did a quick inventory.
"There must be 10,000 books here," said Ledes, with an alarmed
glance at the dwelling's latest impediment, a set of shelves that
all but blocks access to the kitchen.
In the end, a book is but an artful meeting of minds. Wisdom
shared and built upon is what Garrett cares about most, as was
plain when we joined him on a snowy St Patrick's Day at Sotheby's
glass-tower offices at York Avenue and 72nd Street.
