Max N. Berry shares his maxims for building collections through curiosity and connoisseurship

Collector, connoisseur, patron: Max N. Berry’s commitment to art reflects both an insatiable curiosity and a discerning eye. A lifelong student, he cultivated close relationships with experts in the field and was driven by both instinct and rigor. He built exceptional collections spanning diverse categories, from Chinese ceramics of the Han and Tang dynasties to the radical experiments of European modernism and important works of American art and Judaica.

Max Berry also knows a thing or two about magic. Interested in the subject since the age of eight, the accomplished international trade attorney would put on magic shows for charities and birthday parties for family and friends. Reading into the history of the craft, he became intrigued by sixth- and seventh-century magic traditions from China, India, and Japan. This whimsical interest from the lawyer who served in the US Army’s Judge Advocate General Corps in the Pentagon where he contributed to historic cases relating to the Nuremberg Tribunals; chaired the successful Walter Fauntroy campaign for non-voting representative for D.C. to Congress (the first election in modern D.C. history); the two successful campaigns for D.C. Mayor Anthony Williams; and was appointed by President Carter to chair the Pennsylvania Avenue Development Corporation, might seem incongruous to some. But those who know Berry know that his interests are extensive and deep-seated.

Following the sale of record-breaking works by Alexander Calder and major sculptures by Alberto Giacometti in November, COLLECTOR/CONNOISSEUR: The Max N. Berry Collections continues into 2026 with auctions that highlight the full breadth of his expertise: Open through December 22, a private selling exhibition showcases select Hanukkah lamps from Berry’s renowned Judaica collection. In January 2026, works from Berry’s American art collection, one of the most important still in private hands, come to Christie’s Americana Week, which this year celebrates the 250th anniversary of the United States. The Berry works will be offered in a dedicated evening sale, day sale, and two online sales. Selections from his singular collection of Chinese works of art will be offered during Asian Art Week in March 2026.

Throughout his 50-plus-year legal career, during which he founded the East-West Trade Council and received numerous international recognitions including France’s Legion d’Honneur, the Danish Queen's Medal, and Finland’s Order of the Lion, Max Berry was a dedicated philanthropist and patron of the arts. He served as Chairman of the National Board of Trustees of the Smithsonian Institution, as well as Founder and Chair of the Smithsonian’s National Alumni Board of Trustees; Chairman of the Archives of American Art; and on the Boards of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Asia Society, the Terra Foundation, the Phillips Collection, and the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts, among others including the Gilcrease and the Fred Jones, University of Oklahoma Museums in his native Oklahoma and the Historical Association and Preservation Trust on his beloved Nantucket. He also served on the Trustees Council of the National Gallery. He has been a benefactor to all of these institutions.

A lifelong collector

How did this prolific collector develop his connoisseurship? He started young. Born in Cushing, Oklahoma, and raised in Tulsa, he began his collecting journey with stamps, coins, and marbles (Max started playing marbles with his friends competitively at age seven). By age ten, he was a member of the Tulsa Philatelic Association, swapping knowledge with enthusiasts decades his senior. This early intuition and interest matured into a passion for collecting and stewardship.

Max Berry has amassed 30 different collections over the years, including objects like corkscrews, mechanical banks and toys, Nantucket baskets, scrimshaw, watches, and porcelain as well as museum-quality masterpieces of 19th- and 20th-century art. Consulting with advisors and fellow collectors, he has learned through experience. Berry was as welcoming of opportunities to expand his knowledge as he was of the many new and diverse friends who brought an incomparable sense of fulfillment into his life. He knew the value of curiosity and asking questions, including seeking out expertise. To that end, Berry, who turns 90 this December, has come to lean on the following adages to guide his collecting ethos:

Max’s Maxims

‘‘The first step for a collector is to listen. Listen to museum directors, curators, specialists, dealers, scholars like Bill Gerdts and John Rewald, collectors, and friends. Learn to become not only a collector but a connoisseur.’’

‘‘Don’t be afraid to ask for advice. Several experts and advisors have helped me evaluate which works to pursue over the years. For American art, Bill Gerdts, the great scholar of American Impressionist and still-life artists, has been an important resource.’’

‘‘Follow your passions, even if they are many. My collecting has been as diverse as Punch and Judy collectibles and Alberto Giacometti sculptures to Hudson River School paintings, western and indigenous arts, and Tang dynasty horses. Each reflects a different aspect of me and has been a joy of its own.’’

‘‘When you find an artist you love, don’t shy away from collecting in depth. Favorites of mine include Maurice and Charles Prendergast, Robert Kulicke, and Fidelia Bridges.’’

‘‘Find your collecting community. More formally, I have served on boards of many museums, including the Metropolitan Museum, the Gilcrease Museum, and Smithsonian Institution, but over the years of my collecting pursuits I’ve also made many friends, who have made it all the more fun.’’