Art Appraisal

September 24, 2007

Ever had an Art Appraiser come to your home, whether for insurance purposes or because you want to resell any of your artworks? I am sure it was quite an experience. If you have an appraisal upcoming, it is worthwhile to prepare yourself. Author Corinne Cain wrote a little list of things to consider in her article

“Preparing for the Art Appraiser’s Exam (December 07, 2005):

• Locate all items in advance of the appraiser’s arrival and make them accessible.

• Share pertinent records about when and where items were purchased, including their receipts. Receipts often have a painting’s title, which may or may not appear on the back of the frame or on an attached plaque. Art works without a title may be determined if the artist is still living. Unfortunately, some artist’s do not remember titles or record them in a permanent ledger. Not all art bears the date or dates it was completed. The date of the receipt could assist in dating the artwork. The goal is to create as complete a record about the artwork as possible. Don’t slow the process down or create an opportunity for the document to be less complete by holding back information.

• Allocate enough time for the appraiser to carry out the inspection and the photography. Appraiser’s typically need about 15 minutes an item for both activities. While the appraiser often enjoys visiting with clients, he or she must focus on the task at hand in order to not take additional time or overlook pertinent information.”

Article Source: http://www.articleset.com

About the Author
Corinne Cain is the principal of Corinne Cain, Ltd, a nationally recognized firm affording expert appraisal and consulting services on Fine Art and Native American Art. Her background includes an MFA and MBA from Southern Methodist University. Ms. Cain is also the proprietor of Savvycollector.com, a nationally known secondary art market dealer.

My conclusion
Be ready with lists of points and all other suggested paperwork in hand and pace the session.

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