The PSPI team and its Fine Art & Collections department are strengthened by the arrival of Johanna Massa as Fine Art and Collectibles Inventory Manager. Her in-depth expertise in the field of museology and her attention to detail bring undeniable added value to the management of PSPI customers’ collections.
Can you tell us more about your background?
My career has been shaped by my passion for cultural and artistic heritage and my commitment to its preservation. I studied in this direction, with a Master’s degree in museology and heritage management and an advanced Master’s degree in museology and conservation, all complemented by advanced certification in provenance research.
I then specialized (as a scientific collaborator) in collections research for various museum institutions and in the meticulous documentation of objects in collections, always with an emphasis on attention to detail.
Why this attention to detail is so important in your job?
Each piece is unique and deserves special attention. Meticulously recording every detail allows for efficient and accurate management of individual works, as well as the collection as a whole, and ensures their proper conservation, guaranteeing their long-term preservation for collectors and future generations alike.
Attention to detail is also important in determining the precise value of individual works and of the collection as a whole. In the case of older works, every detail is important in tracing the history of the object, understanding its context of creation and tracing its exact provenance. This makes it easier to determine whether an object has been the object of spoliation – whether in a colonial or national-socialist context – and thus to understand the ethical and political stakes involved.
You have been appointed Head of Fine Art and Collectables Inventory at PSPI. How will PSPI customers benefit from your expertise?
In this role, my mission is to offer customers exhaustive documentation of their collections, advice on preventive conservation, analysis reports and, above all, to provide a fair valuation of their assets.
I’m very keen to put my expertise at the service of PSPI’s clientele, to ensure that private collectors, whether amateur or experienced, have the best possible management and protection of their objects, while at the same time facilitating access to in-depth knowledge about their collections.
There’s no doubt that Johanna Massa’s arrival at PSPI marks a new era in art collection management!