For this case study, we talked to David Warren, Director of the Bayou Bend Collection and Gardens, Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, about the research behind his article, "The Jordan Family of Georgia and Their Belter Parlor Furniture," published in the December 1998 issue of The Magazine Antiques.

Researching the decorative arts, like any research, is like solving a mystery. A successful researcher is committed to understanding the clues available to him and persistent in his efforts to uncover more. And while a little good fortune goes a long way towards unraveling the mystery behind the object--what it is, where it came from, when it was made, and who or what influenced it--an understanding of the research process and knowledge about possible sources of information will aid the researcher in his mission to uncover the facts.