CHICAGO, ILL. -- Susan Bagdade, 61, a well-known author of books
on antiques and a regular contributor to Antiques and The Arts
Weekly, died Tuesday evening, March 18, after a brief
illness.
A petite, vivacious woman with close-cropped dark hair, Mrs
Bagdade was born in Brooklyn, N.Y., on March 2, 1942, to Lillian
and the late Frank Ingber. At 20, she married Dr Allen Bagdade, a
pediatric dentist. She studied at the University of Michigan
before receiving a bachelor's degree at Northwestern University.
The Bagdades reared two children, David Bagdade and Felicia
Bagdade Clements, in suburban Northbrook, Ill., before moving to
downtown Chicago, in part to be closer to the antiques scene they
loved.
Mrs Bagdade began her career in antiques 25 years ago as a
collector and dealer in Quimper pottery, selling the colorful
Brittany faience decorated with images of costumed peasants in
cheerful, everyday pursuits out of her home. Dr Bagdade joined
his wife in the business, which they called The Country Peasants,
as his medical practice allowed. The firm, which continues, is
known for unusual pieces as well as for figures and early
decorative examples of the French pottery.
The Bagdades' enormous enthusiasm for antiques regularly took
them to shows and auctions all over the United States. They
visited New York several times a year, timing their visits to
coincide with important shows in the city and the surrounding
area. They worked as a team, Dr Bagdade photographing objects of
interest, while Mrs. Bagdade interviewed subjects and took notes.
As an outgrowth of their pursuit, the Bagdades became well-known
journalists and authors. In addition to Antiques and The Arts
Weekly, they contributed to AntiqueWeek, Antiques &
Collecting Hobbies, Antique Trader Weekly, Great Lakes
Trader, The New York-Pennsylvania Collector and
Yesteryear.
Mrs Bagdade was perhaps best known for co-authoring, with her
husband, Warman's English & Continental Pottery &
Porcelain. The book, now in its third edition, is
published by Krause, which bills it as the "bible" for pottery
and porcelain collectibles.
The couple also wrote Warman's American Pottery &
Porcelain, now in its second edition; Collectors Guide to
American Toy Trains; and Antique Trader - The Best
Of...Answers on Antiques. At Mrs Bagdade's death, the couple
was working on the fourthedition of Warman's English
& Continental Pottery & Porcelain.
When we last saw her in October at the International Antique and
Fine Art Dealers Show in New York, Mrs Bagdade, still healthy,
energetically described two other projects near and dear to her
heart: the House & Garden Television Network shows At The
Auction and The Appraisal Fair, both hosted by the
Bagdades' longtime friend, Chicago auctioneer turned dealer
Leslie Hindman. The Bagdades participated as guest appraisers in
the shows, which recently stopped taping after eight seasons.
HGTV is still airing reruns of both programs. They also
contributed to Eppraisals, an online appraisal service founded by
Ms. Hindman.
"I don't think the Bagdades ever missed an antiques event," said
Ms Hindman, who met Mrs Bagdade in 1979. "Susan and Al have been
generous, caring people -- the sort of people who make the
antiques community the wonderful place that it is."
In addition to her husband, children and mother, Mrs Bagdade is
survived by a grandson, Josh Bagdade; and a sister, Marcia
Mermelstein. Services were March 21 at Shalom Memorial Park in
Arlington Heights, Ill. Contributions in Mrs Bagdade's memory may
be made to the American Cancer Society, 77 East Monroe, Chicago,
IL 60603.
