By Frank McNamee, Marion Antique Auctions

IVORYTON, CONN. — Mary Jean McLaughlin of Ivoryton passed away on January 9, after a long illness. She will be remembered for assembling the largest and most important collection of antique American wicker furniture in the country. She eventually became a dealer, operating a shop called “A Summer Place” in Guilford, Conn., then in Ivoryton. She was a fixture at auctions and antique shows throughout the Northeast. She ran ads in Maine Antiques Digest and Antique and The Arts Weekly, advertising to buy rare pieces of American wicker. Her focus was always on buying and she did step-up to pay for the best of the best.

I first met Mary Jean around 1979 when I was a young dealer. One of my specialties was wicker furniture and I heard about this eccentric collector that lived in a waterfront mansion in Guilford. It was rumored she had amassed more than 1,000 of the rarest antique wicker pieces. I was invited to visit and view her collection, and it was extraordinary. She became a good customer and a dear friend.

Mary Jean was passionate about collecting. Her pieces were featured in the numerous books on wicker by Richard Saunders, who authored price guides on wicker and a Collector’s Guide to Wicker Furniture and, of course, one of her pieces was always on the cover. The highest point of her collecting career came in 1993 when Jeremy Adamson, curator at the Smithsonian’s Renwick Gallery, launched the first major exhibition on American wicker furniture, titled “American Wicker.” She was the largest contributor to this show and the senior advisor. A wonderful book was written by Adamson, titled American Wicker: Woven Furniture from 1850-1930, published by Rizzoli. Of course, over half of the pieces featured in the book belonged to Mary Jean.

When Mary Jean became ill and was sent to a skilled care facility, I was contacted by her daughter to help liquidate most of her collection. I had not been in touch with her for many years because I had moved on in a different direction running Marion Antique Shop and Marion Antique Auctions, in Marion, Mass. I agreed to visit her large antique home in Ivoryton, and was amazed when I walked in the door. Every room was filled with the very best examples of American wicker. There were about 1,500 pieces. Clearly, Mary Jean had gotten a little carried away. So, I featured parts of her collection in three auctions and many of her pieces set record prices, and a number of pieces were purchased by institutions like the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston and The Trustees of Reservations for their historic home in the Berkshires “Naumkeag.”

Mary Jean was a dedicated and very knowledgeable dealer and a passionate collector. Her interest brought American wicker furniture to another level. She made many good friends through her interest in wicker. We will all miss our wonderful friend.