N. David Scotti, a noted authority on antiques, rare books and papers, and the history of Southern New England, died on Friday at his home in Providence. He was 67.
When he was still in his teens, Mr. Scotti began attending estate auctions with his mother, the late Ursula R. W. Scotti . Those frequent forays led to what would become a lifelong passion and a successful business as an antiques dealer, appraiser, and auctioneer.
Mr. Scotti was educated at Portsmouth Abbey (then Porsmouth Priory) and briefly attended Boston University. With an incredible memory, an astute eye, and an insatiable love of reading, he was largely self-taught. He was a research historian, and his knowledge of the China Trade, American silver, and marine painting was encyclopedic. A student of genealogy with extensive knowledge of the history of Rhode Island, he could expound for hours on a family lineage.
As a young man, Mr. Scotti was an assistant to Clarkson A. Collins 3rd, librarian of the Rhode Island Historical Society, which Mr. Scotti first joined at age 14. He also labored tirelessly for the John Carter Brown Library. For a time, Mr. Scotti worked in the trust department of the old Hospital Trust Co. In his twenties, he and an associate, the late Frederick B. Wotton, Jr., started a business that would become Associated Appraisers Inc., appraisers and auctioneers with offices in downtown Providence. For about the past 30 years, Mr. Scotti ran the business alone, appraising estates and frequently auctioning their contents at freewheeling sales where he served as the auctioneer. The highlight of those auctions, attended by wealthy clients and dealers from all along the East Coast, was Mr. Scotti 's acerbic banter. He prided himself on being able to conduct, with gavel in hand, what were usually 12- or 14-hour marathon auctions with nary a break and only a sip or two of ginger ale. He also served as president of DJB Corp. (controlled by his friend, the late Dana J. Brayton), owner of the Mirabar in downtown Providence.
Mr. Scotti was generous with his expertise, examining and appraising antiques and artifacts - and sometimes entire estates - for scores of friends and acquaintances, often without charge. He lavished antiques and art on his parents, siblings, and nieces and nephews, frequently amusing himself with his gifts, which could have a slyly wicked edge.
The depth of his scholarship was masked by a highly developed wit. An unmatchable raconteur, he loved the parry and thrust of a spirited conversation, especially around the cocktail hour, often dispatching his opponent with a poisonous barb. He was a member of the Hope Club, the Turks Head Club, the Providence Art Club, and the former Kee Chong Society of Milton, Mass. He was a shareholder in the Providence Athenaeum.
Born in Providence, Mr. Scotti was the son of the late Ursula R. W. Scotti and Dr. Ciro O. Scotti and the nephew of the late Alice B. Dwyer. He was the grandson of Matthew S. Dwyer, ontime publisher of The Providence Journal and the now defunct Providence Tribune, and a grandnephew of David J. Barry, chairman of the Tribune Co.
Mr. Scotti is survived by 10 brothers and sisters: Maria Chapin, Rita A. Scotti , Alicia Scotti , and Ciro Scotti III of New York City; Francesco Scotti and Joseph Scotti of Jamestown; Paula Shevlin of Jamestown and Darien, Conn.; Peter Scotti of Cranston; Elena Scotti of Southwest Harbor, Maine; and Barbara Riehle of Washington, D.C.; his close friends Gian V. Ventilato of Providence and Michael A. Cappelli of Los Angeles; as well as 17 nieces and nephews and 9 grandnieces and grandnephews.
At his request, no funeral or memorial service will be held, but a gathering in his honor will take place at a date to be announced.
Providence Journal (RI) - August 26, 2008
When he was still in his teens, Mr. Scotti began attending estate auctions with his mother, the late Ursula R. W. Scotti . Those frequent forays led to what would become a lifelong passion and a successful business as an antiques dealer, appraiser, and auctioneer.
Mr. Scotti was educated at Portsmouth Abbey (then Porsmouth Priory) and briefly attended Boston University. With an incredible memory, an astute eye, and an insatiable love of reading, he was largely self-taught. He was a research historian, and his knowledge of the China Trade, American silver, and marine painting was encyclopedic. A student of genealogy with extensive knowledge of the history of Rhode Island, he could expound for hours on a family lineage.
As a young man, Mr. Scotti was an assistant to Clarkson A. Collins 3rd, librarian of the Rhode Island Historical Society, which Mr. Scotti first joined at age 14. He also labored tirelessly for the John Carter Brown Library. For a time, Mr. Scotti worked in the trust department of the old Hospital Trust Co. In his twenties, he and an associate, the late Frederick B. Wotton, Jr., started a business that would become Associated Appraisers Inc., appraisers and auctioneers with offices in downtown Providence. For about the past 30 years, Mr. Scotti ran the business alone, appraising estates and frequently auctioning their contents at freewheeling sales where he served as the auctioneer. The highlight of those auctions, attended by wealthy clients and dealers from all along the East Coast, was Mr. Scotti 's acerbic banter. He prided himself on being able to conduct, with gavel in hand, what were usually 12- or 14-hour marathon auctions with nary a break and only a sip or two of ginger ale. He also served as president of DJB Corp. (controlled by his friend, the late Dana J. Brayton), owner of the Mirabar in downtown Providence.
Mr. Scotti was generous with his expertise, examining and appraising antiques and artifacts - and sometimes entire estates - for scores of friends and acquaintances, often without charge. He lavished antiques and art on his parents, siblings, and nieces and nephews, frequently amusing himself with his gifts, which could have a slyly wicked edge.
The depth of his scholarship was masked by a highly developed wit. An unmatchable raconteur, he loved the parry and thrust of a spirited conversation, especially around the cocktail hour, often dispatching his opponent with a poisonous barb. He was a member of the Hope Club, the Turks Head Club, the Providence Art Club, and the former Kee Chong Society of Milton, Mass. He was a shareholder in the Providence Athenaeum.
Born in Providence, Mr. Scotti was the son of the late Ursula R. W. Scotti and Dr. Ciro O. Scotti and the nephew of the late Alice B. Dwyer. He was the grandson of Matthew S. Dwyer, ontime publisher of The Providence Journal and the now defunct Providence Tribune, and a grandnephew of David J. Barry, chairman of the Tribune Co.
Mr. Scotti is survived by 10 brothers and sisters: Maria Chapin, Rita A. Scotti , Alicia Scotti , and Ciro Scotti III of New York City; Francesco Scotti and Joseph Scotti of Jamestown; Paula Shevlin of Jamestown and Darien, Conn.; Peter Scotti of Cranston; Elena Scotti of Southwest Harbor, Maine; and Barbara Riehle of Washington, D.C.; his close friends Gian V. Ventilato of Providence and Michael A. Cappelli of Los Angeles; as well as 17 nieces and nephews and 9 grandnieces and grandnephews.
At his request, no funeral or memorial service will be held, but a gathering in his honor will take place at a date to be announced.
Providence Journal (RI) - August 26, 2008
N. David Scotti, a noted authority on antiques, rare books and papers, and the history of Southern New England, died on Friday at his home in Providence. He was 67.
When he was still in his teens, Mr. Scotti began attending estate auctions with his mother, the late Ursula R. W. Scotti . Those frequent forays led to what would become a lifelong passion and a successful business as an antiques dealer, appraiser, and auctioneer.
Mr. Scotti was educated at Portsmouth Abbey (then Porsmouth Priory) and briefly attended Boston University. With an incredible memory, an astute eye, and an insatiable love of reading, he was largely self-taught. He was a research historian, and his knowledge of the China Trade, American silver, and marine painting was encyclopedic. A student of genealogy with extensive knowledge of the history of Rhode Island, he could expound for hours on a family lineage.
As a young man, Mr. Scotti was an assistant to Clarkson A. Collins 3rd, librarian of the Rhode Island Historical Society, which Mr. Scotti first joined at age 14. He also labored tirelessly for the John Carter Brown Library. For a time, Mr. Scotti worked in the trust department of the old Hospital Trust Co. In his twenties, he and an associate, the late Frederick B. Wotton, Jr., started a business that would become Associated Appraisers Inc., appraisers and auctioneers with offices in downtown Providence. For about the past 30 years, Mr. Scotti ran the business alone, appraising estates and frequently auctioning their contents at freewheeling sales where he served as the auctioneer. The highlight of those auctions, attended by wealthy clients and dealers from all along the East Coast, was Mr. Scotti 's acerbic banter. He prided himself on being able to conduct, with gavel in hand, what were usually 12- or 14-hour marathon auctions with nary a break and only a sip or two of ginger ale. He also served as president of DJB Corp. (controlled by his friend, the late Dana J. Brayton), owner of the Mirabar in downtown Providence.
Mr. Scotti was generous with his expertise, examining and appraising antiques and artifacts - and sometimes entire estates - for scores of friends and acquaintances, often without charge. He lavished antiques and art on his parents, siblings, and nieces and nephews, frequently amusing himself with his gifts, which could have a slyly wicked edge.
The depth of his scholarship was masked by a highly developed wit. An unmatchable raconteur, he loved the parry and thrust of a spirited conversation, especially around the cocktail hour, often dispatching his opponent with a poisonous barb. He was a member of the Hope Club, the Turks Head Club, the Providence Art Club, and the former Kee Chong Society of Milton, Mass. He was a shareholder in the Providence Athenaeum.
Born in Providence, Mr. Scotti was the son of the late Ursula R. W. Scotti and Dr. Ciro O. Scotti and the nephew of the late Alice B. Dwyer. He was the grandson of Matthew S. Dwyer, ontime publisher of The Providence Journal and the now defunct Providence Tribune, and a grandnephew of David J. Barry, chairman of the Tribune Co.
Mr. Scotti is survived by 10 brothers and sisters: Maria Chapin, Rita A. Scotti , Alicia Scotti , and Ciro Scotti III of New York City; Francesco Scotti and Joseph Scotti of Jamestown; Paula Shevlin of Jamestown and Darien, Conn.; Peter Scotti of Cranston; Elena Scotti of Southwest Harbor, Maine; and Barbara Riehle of Washington, D.C.; his close friends Gian V. Ventilato of Providence and Michael A. Cappelli of Los Angeles; as well as 17 nieces and nephews and 9 grandnieces and grandnephews.
At his request, no funeral or memorial service will be held, but a gathering in his honor will take place at a date to be announced.
Providence Journal (RI) - August 26, 2008
When he was still in his teens, Mr. Scotti began attending estate auctions with his mother, the late Ursula R. W. Scotti . Those frequent forays led to what would become a lifelong passion and a successful business as an antiques dealer, appraiser, and auctioneer.
Mr. Scotti was educated at Portsmouth Abbey (then Porsmouth Priory) and briefly attended Boston University. With an incredible memory, an astute eye, and an insatiable love of reading, he was largely self-taught. He was a research historian, and his knowledge of the China Trade, American silver, and marine painting was encyclopedic. A student of genealogy with extensive knowledge of the history of Rhode Island, he could expound for hours on a family lineage.
As a young man, Mr. Scotti was an assistant to Clarkson A. Collins 3rd, librarian of the Rhode Island Historical Society, which Mr. Scotti first joined at age 14. He also labored tirelessly for the John Carter Brown Library. For a time, Mr. Scotti worked in the trust department of the old Hospital Trust Co. In his twenties, he and an associate, the late Frederick B. Wotton, Jr., started a business that would become Associated Appraisers Inc., appraisers and auctioneers with offices in downtown Providence. For about the past 30 years, Mr. Scotti ran the business alone, appraising estates and frequently auctioning their contents at freewheeling sales where he served as the auctioneer. The highlight of those auctions, attended by wealthy clients and dealers from all along the East Coast, was Mr. Scotti 's acerbic banter. He prided himself on being able to conduct, with gavel in hand, what were usually 12- or 14-hour marathon auctions with nary a break and only a sip or two of ginger ale. He also served as president of DJB Corp. (controlled by his friend, the late Dana J. Brayton), owner of the Mirabar in downtown Providence.
Mr. Scotti was generous with his expertise, examining and appraising antiques and artifacts - and sometimes entire estates - for scores of friends and acquaintances, often without charge. He lavished antiques and art on his parents, siblings, and nieces and nephews, frequently amusing himself with his gifts, which could have a slyly wicked edge.
The depth of his scholarship was masked by a highly developed wit. An unmatchable raconteur, he loved the parry and thrust of a spirited conversation, especially around the cocktail hour, often dispatching his opponent with a poisonous barb. He was a member of the Hope Club, the Turks Head Club, the Providence Art Club, and the former Kee Chong Society of Milton, Mass. He was a shareholder in the Providence Athenaeum.
Born in Providence, Mr. Scotti was the son of the late Ursula R. W. Scotti and Dr. Ciro O. Scotti and the nephew of the late Alice B. Dwyer. He was the grandson of Matthew S. Dwyer, ontime publisher of The Providence Journal and the now defunct Providence Tribune, and a grandnephew of David J. Barry, chairman of the Tribune Co.
Mr. Scotti is survived by 10 brothers and sisters: Maria Chapin, Rita A. Scotti , Alicia Scotti , and Ciro Scotti III of New York City; Francesco Scotti and Joseph Scotti of Jamestown; Paula Shevlin of Jamestown and Darien, Conn.; Peter Scotti of Cranston; Elena Scotti of Southwest Harbor, Maine; and Barbara Riehle of Washington, D.C.; his close friends Gian V. Ventilato of Providence and Michael A. Cappelli of Los Angeles; as well as 17 nieces and nephews and 9 grandnieces and grandnephews.
At his request, no funeral or memorial service will be held, but a gathering in his honor will take place at a date to be announced.
Providence Journal (RI) - August 26, 2008
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