Stories of priceless artwork lying unrecognized for decades will take center stage when one of America’s leading antiquities experts visits Newport next week.
Lark E. Mason Jr., a regular appraiser on PBS’s “Antiques Roadshow” since the show began in 1996, will present “Discovering America’s Treasures” on July 17 at 6 p.m. at Rosecliff. The talk is part of The Preservation Society of Newport County’s Summer Lecture Series.
Mason, an expert in Asian art and antiquities, brings nearly three decades of experience to his presentation, including 25 years as a senior officer and Chinese art specialist at Sotheby’s New York. His career has been built around the thrill of authentication — identifying valuable pieces that had gone unrecognized by their owners.
“Lark Mason has a trove of great stories about antiques and artworks that lay unidentified for decades before expert eyes realized their significance,” said Trudy Coxe, CEO and Executive Director of The Preservation Society. “His knowledge is incredible, and we are fortunate to have him on our Board of Trustees as well as a guest speaker this summer.”
Beyond his television appearances, Mason has established himself as a leader in the art world. He served as President of the Appraiser’s Association of America from 2019-2021 and founded multiple ventures including iGavel Auctions, an online auction platform; Lark Mason Associates, a full-service auction house; and Lark Mason Art Advisory for appraisals and consulting.
Mason has also contributed to art scholarship, authoring “Asian Art” in 2003 and translating Wang Shixiang’s “Connoisseurship of Chinese Furniture.”
Registration for the Rosecliff lecture is available at www.newportmansions.org/events.
The Summer Lecture Series, sponsored by Grande Masonry of Providence, continues with several other notable presentations:
Upcoming Events:
- July 29, 6 p.m., Rosecliff: “Investigating Allard Interiors” and “Richard Morris Hunt: In a New Light” (Free, advance registration required)
- August 5, 6 p.m., Rosecliff: “Decoding Davenport” and “Treasures from the Collection” (Free, advance registration required)
- August 7, 6 p.m., The Elms: “Christine Baranski in Conversation: ‘The Gilded Age’ and Beyond” (Sold out)
- August 14, 4 p.m., Rosecliff: “Coaching Weekend: Behind the Scenes”
The series opened with “‘The Great Gatsby’ Revisited: An Evening with Sam Waterston” on July 9, featuring the actor who played Nick Carraway in the 1974 film adaptation shot at Newport mansions. That event is nearly sold out.
The Preservation Society operates 11 historic properties in Newport County, seven of which are National Historic Landmarks spanning more than 250 years of American architectural development.