Gonzalo, I can follow you a long way of the stony road called amateur research. There are, however a few lights on the road, one is stubbornness, and another is enthusiasm – and both counts, when it comes to research, Besides, I know several amateur collectors, with a bigger special knowledge than many museum people. However most museum people cover a very big area, while the amateurs mostly work within a very narrow area.
The key questions to the rest you mention is a network, as big as possible, with the masks a small as possible, and to specialist amateurs. If you can build up such a network you are a well down the road – although there will still be far to walk.
|