Whether you’re looking to buy or sell fine art, art appraisals are a quintessential first step. Frequently you hear about people who’ve paid 75% more than the market value for a particular piece, or conversely you hear about people who’ve bought a painting at a garage sale for a few dollars, only to find out that it is worth over a million dollars! To be on the winning side, it’s a good idea to get your work appraised, ideally by a professional. While it will cost a few dollars initially, the money you’ll save by getting top dollar or the best value will be far greater.

There are several steps in getting an art appraisal. First of all, note whether you have original artwork, and if it was directly created by the artist. If you are unsure, visit a frame shop or art gallery to help you figure out if you have a print or the original.

Next, find the artist signature to ascertain the artist. Some auction houses will accept works without a discernable signature, so long as you provide clear pictures. Thirdly, gauge the condition of the art you possess. Are there any rips, signs of over-painting or corrections? Has the color faded, are there watermarks or does it need cleaning? Never try to fix a painting up by yourself! There are professional restoration experts who can carefully, gently improve the overall appearance of the work, without making it obvious.

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This entry was posted on Monday, January 14th, 2008 at 11:14 pm and is filed under Arts, Crafts & Hobbies. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.