Lasting Tribute: The Conill-Mendoza Chase Collection

Saturday, 07 October 2006 11:09

Melbourne, FL – Lasting Tribute: The Conill-Mendoza Chase Collection celebrates the life and legacy of collector Enrique Conill-Mendoza.  At 1,000 Chase pieces, counting color, shape, and metal variations, Conill-Mendoza built what is considered the most complete collection of Chase Brass & Copper Co. objects, part of the permanent collection of the Brevard Museum of Art and Science.  Select portions of the collection will be on display. Chase objects are recognized among America’s foremost Art Deco designs in the decorative arts.  The exhibition is on view through October 29, 2006.

The Conill-Mendoza Chase collections grew during the 1980s and 1990s when Conill-Mendoza worked under contract with the State Department and traveled to over 45 states with international visitors.  An initial one year research at the U.S. Patent Office, Design Patents section at Washington, D.C. and Virginia, seemd a good source to uncover design patents acquired by Chase during the 1930s.

During weekends, international visitors were escorted to museums, antique fairs, and stores in search of American antiques in general and Chase in particular.  Such weekend activities turned out to be interesting and educational for our visitors, who not only enjoyed the events and learning about American culture and traditions, but quite successfully uncovered a few rare Chase pieces.

Nowadays it would be practically impossible to duplicate such a collection. For one, Art Deco pieces are being sought after by a greater number of collectors and the cost of traveling the entire country over a period of 20 years has become too expensive to justify the trip.  At 1,000 Chase pieces, counting color, shape, and metal variations, this collection is considered the most complete Chase collection in the world.

About the Museum
The Brevard Museum of Art and Science is a non-profit organization supported in part by the State of Florida, Department of State, Division of Cultural Affairs; the Florida Arts Council and the National Endowment for the Arts; Brevard County through the Brevard Cultural Alliance; the Tourist Development Council, and by members of the Brevard Museum of Art and Science.

Visit : www.artandscience.org/