ANTIQUE APPRAISAL: ART APPRAISAL

When the art appraisers at EmailAppraisals.com are examining a piece of art in preparation for an art appraisal, the first thing they look for is the artist’s signature. This helps the appraiser determine the fame of the artist. Typically, work by more famous artists bring higher prices and thus are valued higher in an art appraisal.

On prints produced in the United States, “Entered According to Act of Congress in the Year________” indicates the print was made after 1802, but most lithographs produced in the United States were not marked with the year until after 1848.

It is very common to find Currier & Ives prints listed in an art appraisal. The first Currier & Ives’ print was made in 1857. A trained, professional art appraiser will determine whether it is an original print produced by the Currier & Ives’ company or simply a copy by examining it under a magnifying glass. A new copy will show a series of small dots; whereas, the original prints were made up of a series of short lines.

An art appraisal may include other forms of art. The silhouette is a “cutout” paper picture that was named for an unpopular Frenchman, Etienne de Silhouette, because as minister of finance he levied high taxes. This word “silhouette” was added to the French dictionary in 1835. An appraiser preparing an art appraisal show pay particular note to older silhouettes which command high values.

An art appraisal expert at Emailappraisals.com is trained in all of the various formats of art, including quillwork, tinsel, sand, glass paintings, and many others. An art appraisal should include a full description of the item, including medium, size, artist, framing, and condition. An art appraisal should provide a word description of the art that is as clear as if the client is looking at the art in person.