Karl Chiao, Executive Director of the Dallas Historical Society, and Tonya Adam, founder of When Pigs Fly Estate Sales and Auctions, hosted an engaging evening exploring the fascinating world of collecting, luxury estates, and the journey of treasured objects from private homes to the marketplace.
Held at the When Pigs Fly Monitor St. Gallery in the Dallas Design District, the event brought together collectors, history enthusiasts, designers, and members of the community for an inside look at the estate and auction industry. The gallery, which serves as the company's headquarters for gallery-hosted estate sales, auctions, and curated collections, provided the perfect setting for the discussion.
Drawing on her experience managing significant estates, private collections, gallery-hosted estate sales, and auction placements, Adam shared stories from the field, insights into the valuation and disposition of historic objects, and practical advice for collectors and families navigating the estate process. Chiao and Adam discussed the role estate professionals play in preserving history, uncovering provenance, and connecting important objects with new stewards.
The evening also featured designer raffle prizes, signature cocktails, live piano music, a caricature artist, and appetizers generously provided by Parigi on Oak Lawn. Guests enjoyed browsing curated displays from participating artists exhibiting their designs, while learning more about the intersection of history, collecting, and the estate marketplace.
The event also highlighted the growing role of the When Pigs Fly Monitor St. Gallery as a destination for collectors, designers, and estate clients throughout North Texas and beyond. Through its gallery-hosted estate sales, auction services, and management of significant collections, When Pigs Fly has created a unique venue where history, craftsmanship, and exceptional objects continue their journey from one generation to the next.
VIP tickets were complimentary for Dallas Historical Society members at the Collector level and above. If the public is interested in receiving exclusive perks like complimentary VIP access to events like this, learning more about becoming a member or upgrading membership, visit DallasHistory.org.
About Dallas Historical Society
Established in 1922, the Dallas Historical Society is the preeminent organization of its kind in Dallas, collecting, preserving, and exhibiting the heritage of Dallas and Texas to educate and inspire future generations. Housed at the Hall of State in Fair Park since 1938, the Society presents these collections through education programs, exhibitions, tours, access to research materials and workshops. Each year, the Dallas Historical Society is visited by more than 160,000 people and serves more than 20,000 students through guided tours and educational programming at the Hall of State, as well as outreach programs at school locations. More information is available at https://www.dallashistory.org/.
About Hall of State
Built by the State of Texas for the 1936 Centennial Exposition in Fair Park, the Hall of State has hosted events honoring presidents, royalty, heads of state, and other dignitaries for over eighty years. Located just minutes from downtown Dallas, the Hall of State can be rented for private functions ranging from corporate dinners or meetings to weddings or gala social events. Rental fees support the operations of the Dallas Historical Society, which calls the Hall of State “home.”
Photos by Rob Wythe/Wythe Portrait Studio