Page 11 - Decorative Arts, Part II: Far Eastern Ceramics and Paintings, Persian and Indian Rugs and Carpets

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

ORK ON THIS VOLUME BEGAN more than a decade ago, during which time many individuals, in Washington
and elsewhere, shared their knowledge and expertise, and offered encouragement and assistance as the
W project took innumerable twists and turns. Whenever possible, we have cited specific contributions in
the text, and we hope that any ommissions will be regarded as merely accidental rather than intentional.
For their comments on the rugs and carpets we are grateful to Hagop Barin, Steven Cohen, Walter Denny,
and Daniel Walker. Jerry Dennerline expertly translated the inscription on the back of the Coromandel Screen. Lily
Kecskes, Frances Klapthor, Daphne Lange Rosenzweig, Clarence Shangraw, and Suzanne Valenstein provided
invaluable assistance with the porcelains in the catalogue. Louise Allison Cort, Thomas Lawton, and Jan Stuart lent
their expertise to the combined installation of the Widener and Steele ceramics in the permanent galleries.
We are grateful to staff from many departments within the National Gallery. We are especially grateful
to Philip A. Charles, Jr., in the department of visual services for making the more than two hundred photographs
published here, with assistance from Rebecca Abrams and Lorene Emerson. The late Gaillard Ravenel offered
valuable advice throughout the course of the photography. The photography would not have been possible with-
out the many hours of work accomplished by the staff of the registrar's office, headed by Sally Freitag, especially
Gary Webber. In the library, headed by Neal Turtell, we were aided by Ted Dalziell and Thomas McGill. In the
office of curatorial records we are grateful to Anne Halpern and Nancy Yiede for their meticulous tracking of
provenance. In the department of sculpture, Douglas Lewis and Alison Luchs provided curatorial supervision.
Julia Burke, textiles conservator, offered valuable advice on the rugs and carpets. John O. Hand and Bill Williams
read and reread the text, offering countless comments throughout the long process. The editors office, headed by
Frances P. Smyth, was responsible for managing the preparation and production of this book over a period of sev-
eral years. We are grateful to Janet Blyberg, Chris Vogel, Katherine Whann, and Mary Yakush, as well as to design-
er Dana Levy and editor and indexer Lys Ann Shore.

A C K N O W L E D G M E N T S XI