For collectors, a Michael Ricker sculpture is often much more than a decorative piece. The edition number, signature, certificate, original packaging, condition, and history can all become part of what makes one example different from another.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As we continue documenting the Roy & Pamela Sherry Collection<\/strong>, one of our goals is to record these details carefully and preserve them alongside each piece.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Michael Ricker became known for highly detailed sculptures depicting a wide variety of subjects. His work includes figures inspired by American life, history, professions, sports, wildlife, Western themes, and other subjects.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Many pieces were produced as limited editions, making the identifying information on an individual sculpture especially important.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Two sculptures of the same design may look nearly identical at first glance, but their individual edition numbers, condition, documentation, and provenance can make their histories quite different.<\/p>\n\n\n\n That is why we examine each piece individually.<\/p>\n\n\n\n One of the first things to look for when examining a Michael Ricker collectible is its edition information.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A limited-edition sculpture may have an individual number identifying where that particular piece falls within the edition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For example, a piece marked:<\/p>\n\n\n\n 325 \/ 2,500<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n would indicate an individual numbered piece within an edition of 2,500.<\/p>\n\n\n\n These markings should be photographed and recorded exactly as they appear on the sculpture or its accompanying documentation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We do not assume an edition size based solely on another example found online. Whenever possible, information in the Roy & Pamela Sherry Collection is verified directly from the piece and its associated materials.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Signatures and identifying marks are another important part of documenting a sculpture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Depending on the piece, identifying information may appear on the sculpture itself, its base, a plaque, certificate, label, or other accompanying material.<\/p>\n\n\n\n When cataloging the collection, these markings are photographed whenever possible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Small details matter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A clear photograph of a signature, edition number, copyright marking, or identifying label can sometimes provide more useful information than several photographs of the sculpture from a distance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n When a Michael Ricker piece retains its original Certificate of Authenticity<\/strong>, the certificate should remain with the sculpture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Certificates may contain valuable information about the piece, including its title, edition, issue information, or other identifying details.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For collectors, keeping the certificate and sculpture together helps preserve the history of the piece.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Within the Roy & Pamela Sherry Collection, surviving certificates and related paperwork are being treated as part of the collectible’s documentation rather than as separate miscellaneous paperwork.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Original packaging is easy to overlook.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It shouldn’t be.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A box may contain labels, shipping information, product identification, dates, numbers, or other details that help establish the history of a collectible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Original packaging can also tell us something about how a piece was stored and preserved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Roy & Pamela Sherry Collection includes pieces that have retained their original boxes and, in some cases, pieces that have remained unopened in their original shipping packaging<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Whenever possible, those materials will remain with their corresponding pieces.<\/p>\n\n\n\n When documenting a collectible, condition should be described rather than simply assigned a vague rating.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Things worth examining include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Photographs are particularly valuable because they provide a visual record of the piece at the time it was cataloged.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Provenance refers to the ownership and documented history of an object.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For the sculptures featured on this website, their inclusion in the Roy & Pamela Sherry Collection<\/strong> forms part of that history.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Where additional records exist, we will preserve and document them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The goal isn’t to create a more exciting story around a piece. It is to preserve the story that can actually be supported by the evidence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you own a Michael Ricker sculpture, resist the temptation to discard materials that may seem unimportant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Whenever available, keep the sculpture together with its:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Even if those materials do not appear valuable today, they may become increasingly useful as the history of Michael Ricker’s work is researched and documented.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Michael Ricker Collection \u2014 Roy & Pamela Sherry Collection<\/strong> is being developed as both a collection archive and a resource for other Michael Ricker collectors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As we catalog additional sculptures, we will publish detailed photographs, edition information, signatures, certificates, packaging, and other information that can be verified.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Future articles will also examine individual Michael Ricker sculptures and help collectors understand how to identify and document the pieces they own.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Every newly documented piece adds another small part to the historical record.<\/p>\n\n\n\n And sometimes the smallest details\u2014an edition number, an old label, a certificate tucked inside a box\u2014can tell the most interesting part of the story.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" For collectors, a Michael Ricker sculpture is often much more than a decorative piece. The edition number, signature, certificate, original packaging, condition, and history can all become part of what makes one example different from another. As we continue documenting the Roy & Pamela Sherry Collection, one of our goals is to record these details […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-7204","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/michaelrickercollection.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7204","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/michaelrickercollection.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/michaelrickercollection.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/michaelrickercollection.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/michaelrickercollection.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=7204"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/michaelrickercollection.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7204\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":7205,"href":"https:\/\/michaelrickercollection.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7204\/revisions\/7205"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/michaelrickercollection.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=7204"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/michaelrickercollection.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=7204"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/michaelrickercollection.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=7204"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}Understanding Michael Ricker Sculptures<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Edition Numbers Matter<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Look for the Michael Ricker Signature<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Certificates of Authenticity<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Don’t Throw Away the Original Box<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Condition Is More Than “Good” or “Excellent”<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Provenance Adds Another Layer<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
What Should You Keep With a Michael Ricker Collectible?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Creating a Permanent Michael Ricker Reference<\/h2>\n\n\n\n