Toomey & Co. Auctioneers

Dennis DeCoster was born in Detroit and resided in his beloved community of Grosse Pointe Farms, Michigan. After high school, he attended and graduated from Wayne State University with a degree in Fine Arts and began his forty-year career at General Motors as an interior designer, working initially in the corporate headquarters building on West Grand Boulevard. Over the years, Dennis became one of the most respected designers in the corporation, working with many of the most senior executives on the design of their offices and facilities worldwide.

Dennis lived a life of pursuing his numerous and diverse interests. He was passionate about design, art, and architecture. In his early twenties, his love for Detroit evolved into a passion for Michigan architects, artists, and furniture manufacturers. He would make frequent trips to Pewabic Pottery, the architecture and gardens at Cranbrook Academy, Belle Isle, and Eastern Market. His creative and meticulous garden was recognized by the Grosse Pointe Farms Beautification Advisory Commission, which ultimately awarded Dennis with their distinguished Legacy Award.

The DeCoster Collection is one of a kind and represents a lifetime effort. Dennis always recognized that he simply was a steward of what he collected and that one day those items would be passed on to others.

Of all those interests, Dennis was most passionate about the Arts & Crafts Movement. He became a lifelong student and started collecting in his early twenties, scouring flea markets and antique dealers in remote locations. Dennis studied all of the artists and craftsmen of the period and became well-known across the country as both an expert and top collector. He cultivated a meticulous understanding of the provenance and details of the pieces he pursued. Ultimately, Dennis acquired several rare and obscure examples of fine art, decorative art, and furniture, many of which were of museum quality.

The DeCoster Collection is one of a kind and represents a lifetime effort. Dennis always recognized that he simply was a steward of what he collected and that one day those items would be passed on to others. Hopefully, these fondly cherished works will find new homes with those who possess the same reverence and respect that Dennis had for the artists and artisans of the period.