Tips for Buying or Selling American Art
Art is an important part of every culture, including American culture. There is a distinct vibe to American artworks, which is reflected in the work of numerous famous American artists, including John Singer Sargent, Jasper Johns, Grant Wood, Georgia O’Keeffe, Jackson Pollock, and many others, spanning diverse styles but encapsulating an unmistakable American feel. Its distinct American flavour makes collecting American artwork not only enjoyable but also difficult when determining the value of a piece you intend to buy or sell.
American art auctions are brimming with valuable and impressive works, and American art collectors are a savvy and diverse group of people with high standards. In this article, we’ll look at some helpful hints to keep in mind when buying or selling art.
1. Understanding the Value of American Art
Understanding how the value of artworks is determined is critical for navigating the world of American art. Authentication is an important first step, and it can be relatively simple with contemporary pieces when the artist is still alive to verify them. It becomes more difficult, however, with older, historic pieces that have had multiple owners. Serious art collectors are always concerned with authentication. The artist’s reputation is important in determining the value; the more famous the artist, the more valuable the artworks. Other factors that influence the value include condition, size, and materials (for example, oil paintings are often more valuable than watercolours). The subject of the artworks or their provenance (previous ownership) can add significant value in some cases. Finally, the market will decide.
2. Expert Appraisal for American Art
Whether you are planning to sell American art online or spot a piece in a gallery that you must have, consulting with an American art appraiser is a wise move. A well-trained expert is well-versed in American history and art, allowing him or her to accurately determine the artwork’s origins, age, and value. He or she is also familiar with the market dynamics and legal complexities involved in selling a single valuable piece or an entire collection. It is critical to hire a reputable expert to assess the artwork. Check an appraiser’s educational and professional background before hiring him or her, and compare his or her prices to other experts to ensure you’re getting a reliable assessment.
3. Negotiation and Pricing
Don’t be afraid to look around and negotiate when visiting galleries. Because of the contract between the artist and the gallery, most galleries have the flexibility to lower the price by a small percentage. If you adore a piece by a particular artist but it is out of your price range, inquire about other works by the same artist. There could be a less expensive option that fits your budget. Because American art buyers are skilled at spotting a good deal, it’s worthwhile to investigate various options.
4. Preparation for American Art Auctions
If you want to participate in American art auctions, careful planning is important. Examine the auction catalogue carefully to become acquainted with the artworks on offer. Consider hiring an art expert to provide you with advice during the auction. Their advice can be invaluable in determining the best bidding strategy. Auctions can be hectic, and bidding can be perplexing at times. When in doubt, it’s better to watch than to participate. When dealing with online auctions, be cautious because they may not always guarantee the same level of authenticity and provenance verification as traditional physical auction houses. While auctions are often enjoyable for American art collectors, being well-prepared is essential to making the most of the experience.
5. Leveraging Online Resources for American Art
The internet is a powerful tool for buying and selling American art, offering a wide range of options and information. While it provides excellent value, the sheer volume of results can be overwhelming. Prominent platforms, such as Sotheby’s auction house, can be relied on for high-quality artworks and reasonable prices, both when buying and selling. Premier art galleries are also a dependable source of exceptional art. However, the internet goes beyond simply connecting with well-known businesses. It’s a meeting place for auction houses, galleries, American art appraisers, and buyers and sellers of all kinds. Many artists now sell their work online, and people frequently sell artwork from their collections via various online channels. Additionally, numerous websites help you research the value of American artwork and find reputable American art appraisers. Thanks to the internet, it’s easier than ever to navigate the process of buying and selling American art.
6. Diversity in American Art
American art is incredibly diverse, reflecting the country’s multiculturalism. It’s worth noting the diversity of African American, Hispanic, Indigenous, and other artists who have contributed to the American art scene. This variety adds depth and variety to American art, emphasizing the importance of exploring and appreciating various cultural contributions.
7. Art Styles in America
Describe the various art styles that have emerged in the United States. From the powerful impact of Abstract Expressionism to the bold statements of Pop Art and the realism captured by artists, American art has evolved through various movements, each of which has left its own distinct mark on the artistic landscape.
8. Art Investment Considerations
Some collectors consider art to be an investment. It’s worth noting that, while art can appreciate over time, it is also a speculative investment. Purchasing art should be motivated primarily by a desire to own it, with investment potential serving as a secondary consideration. Warn the potential investors about the art market’s volatility.
9. Condition and Conservation Awareness
Highlight the significance of artwork condition and proper conservation. Buyers and sellers should be aware of how to care for and preserve artworks in order to ensure their long-term value. Well-preserved art retains its appeal and can command higher prices.
10. Networking in the Art World
In the art world, networking, participating in art events, joining art clubs, and networking with other collectors, artists, and experts can broaden one’s knowledge, open new doors, and foster a deeper appreciation for American art.
11. Legal Aspects
Understanding legal aspects of art, such as copyright, provenance, and any potential restrictions on specific artworks, is critical. To ensure that a smooth transaction and avoid legal issues, buyers and sellers should be aware of legal considerations.
12. Exploring Emerging Artists
While mentioning well-known artists is important, it is also exciting to discover new artists. These artists may offer one-of-a-kind and reasonably priced pieces, and supporting them can be rewarding. Highlight the possibility of discovering emerging artists in the American art scene.
13. International Impact of American Art
American art has had a substantial impact on global art trends. Mention the impacts of American artists on the international art market, because international buyers may be interested in American works, giving the market another dimension.
14. Supporting Local Art
Encourage buyers to explore local art scenes and support local artists. Exceptional art doesn’t always come from well-known galleries. By engaging with local artists, buyers can discover hidden gems and contribute to their local artistic community.
15. Role of Art Critics
Explain briefly the role of art critics and how their interpretations and reviews can affect the perception and value of artworks. Understanding the art critics’ perspectives can provide valuable insights into the larger art context.
What Are Some Good Online Auctions To Sell Antiques?
When you possess an ultimate collection of rare antiques and collectibles in your attic and are wondering how to sell them off at the best price, the first thing that comes to mind is “good online auctions.”
We are all in search of good things, and to find them, we try our best. Similarly, when it’s about choosing an ideal auction, we go beyond and beyond, and sometimes we look for effortless ways to achieve what we want to accomplish.
However, I’m the one who always wants trouble-free and easy ways to find everything. So, to make my readers just like me! I made an effort only for my readers to ease their search by listing down good digital auctions conducted by antique & estate buyers under one roof.
Best 5 Good Online Auctions To Sell Collectibles & Antiques
These online platforms have a good reputation and history in the auction industry. The auctioneers of these auction sites are advanced-level experts in understanding everything about ancient treasures and have held endless auctions throughout the years. Let’s check them out.
1. William Smith Auctions
William Smith Auctions conducts online auctions in a professional and efficient manner. Participants that are interested register on the William Smith Auctions website and examine the catalog of available objects. Each lot has full information, descriptions, and photographs on the web platform. Bidders can put bids online and receive real-time bidding progress updates.
Finally, winning bidders are contacted, and arrangements for safe payment and item pickup are established. William Smith Auctions provides a seamless and interesting online auction experience with a user-friendly interface and efficient operations.
We are a trusted & oldest auctioneer & antique buyers in US located in Plainfield, New Hamisphere helded more than 100 auctions in Plainfield, Sarasota, & online since 1962. If you want to get your precious antiques or collectibles auctioned or want to bid for, you can count on us by contacting us through a phone call or fill the online form on our website.
2. Sotheby’s
Bidders must register on Sotheby’s website in order to check out the catalog and submit bids. The auction site offers detailed information and photographs for each lot, allowing for bidding selections. Participants can use proxy bidding to specify maximum bid levels, assuring competitiveness without continual observation. Bidders receive notification on their progress and top bids.
Finally, winning bidders are notified and must make safe payment and item pickup arrangements. Sotheby’s online auctions provide a simplified experience that brings the thrill of bidding to a global audience.
3. eBay
legitimate online auction place where both buyers and sellers can reap benefits. By listing your product on eBay and mentioning the starting price you want for your ancient piece, a bidder will bid for the product, and when the auction stops and the bidder wins, a notification of payment will reach the antique buyer. Also, after the sale, you are charged a final value fee by eBay. Remember, here on eBay & etsy, you can also find reputed antique shops that buy antiques nearby your area listing their products or waiting for seller like you to sell your antiques.
Ebay offers easy and effective ways for users to bid and earn unique treasures with sky-high value as well.
4. Etsy
Etsy, a famous online store, makes it simple to conduct online auctions. On Etsy, sellers may create auction listings for their products, including the beginning price, length, and bidding increments. Buyers may browse the auction listings and put bids on the things they want. Participants are notified of outbids during the auction, helping them to stay involved.
The highest bidder wins the auction, and the seller organizes payment and shipment. Etsy’s online auction function provides a simple venue for customers and sellers to compete for unique products by bidding.
5. Ebid
Ebid is an online marketplace that provides a platform for online auctions. To participate in an online auction on Ebid, users must first register an account and then browse the auction listings. Bidders can put bids on items of interest and receive bidding progress updates. The Chinese antique collectors normally sets the auction period, and the highest bidder wins at the end.
Ebid helps the successful bidder and seller make safe payment and delivery arrangements, assuring a pleasant online auction experience.
Shining Off!
Last but not least, after narrowing down the search, I found that such auctions are the best fit for your interests. If you’re searching for an antique dealer & appraiser nearby in Florida, contact us, we can help you. Therefore, I wish you the best of luck and hope to see you soon with more latest news about auctions and antiques.
How to decide the best estate sale or auction services
If you ever needed to sell your collectibles, perhaps because you’re moving from one home to another or due to some other reason, estate sales and auction services are the most obvious options. Proponents of any of the methods would rightly come up with arguments about why you should choose one over the other.
But that’s not what this article is about once you decide on the option that suits you best, the next question that comes to mind is ‘how do I know the best antique appraisers for my estate sale or auction services?
Below are some tips that should help your decision-making process:
Meet as many as you can: Remember, it’s your money we’re talking about here. To get the best estate auctioneers & appraisers, you need to do due-diligence by interviewing as many companies as you can. Seek to know about the services they offer and their mode of operation. At the end of the sampling, you should have some companies you’re comfortable with, and there will be some that make you run for the door.
Consider the cost vis-a-vis the service provided: The impulse to seek the cheapest alternative is only natural. But you should not sacrifice quality service due to your need to cut costs. Professional antique appraisal services do not come cheap, but you shouldn’t have to pay through your nose either. You need to strike a balance between service quality and cost.
Take your time: You should never have to choose your estate jewelry appraisers in a hurry. Feeling pressured to make a decision often ends up badly. So, take your time to research the company. You can only make the best choice if you go the distance.
There you have it. The tips mentioned above should help you choose the best estate sale or auction services. Your willingness to research and ask the right questions are the factors that matter most at the end of the day.
Ultimately, finding the right antique appraisers or estate auctioneers for your valuables is about trust and confidence in their expertise. Reviews, referrals, and their track record in handling similar estates or auctions can provide valuable insights. Engage in detailed discussions about their strategies, marketing approaches, and their understanding of the particular niche your collectibles fall into. Remember, the goal isn’t just to secure a sale but to ensure your prized possessions are handled with care and respect, fetching the value they deserve in a manner that aligns with your expectations.
Which Antiques offer the best e-value and can be sold online?
Know which antiques offer the highest value when sold online and can be effectively marketed through antique appraisal, auctioneers, or antiques and collectibles?
In recent years, the online medium has provided antique enthusiasts with a platform to buy and sell antique items online, which has caused an increase in demand for items with the highest e-value that can be sold online. Antique items are greatly sought after because of their age, rarity, and historical significance.
The Tiffany Studios designed the highly collectible antique item, the Tiffany lamp, in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. These lamps are renowned for their stained glass shades that feature intricate patterns and designs. Boudoir lamps and mosaic lamps with reverse painted shades are among the most popular types of Tiffany lamps. Handel lamps, which also feature reverse painted shades, are another popular type of antique lamp.
Tiffany and Handel lamps typically include miniature boudoir lamps and mosaic lamps with painted artwork on their shades. Handel lamps are well-known for their distinctive feature of reverse painted shades. These shades may have metal overlays in diverse patterns and lovely colors, while some lamps have metal bases or marks on their shades.
If you are interested in buying or selling antique Tiffany lamps, it is advisable to visit antique appraisers auctioneers who specialize in these items, as well as Handel lamps and other quality antique and vintage lamps. These specialists can generally offer a better price compared to dealers who handle all antiques and may not have expertise in lamps or could be into scrapping antiques.
Patek Philippe, a Best Seller Since Ages…
Patek Philippe SA, a Swiss watch-manufacturing company, creates some of the most prestigious watches in the world.The company’s selection of watches is inclusive, offering a diverse range of options suitable for individuals of any gender, be it male or female. Patek Philippe SA is particularly renowned for producing the most complicated mechanical portable timepieces, including stopwatches and wristwatches, which showcase the exceptional expertise and skill of the world’s top designers and watchmakers. Patek Philippe watches are listed among the world’s top five most expensive watches and are highly sought-after by the elite. They are considered to be worth every penny spent.
How Can a Professional Antique Auctioneer Help?
Skilled professional auctioneers sell antiques through auctions, where they accept bids and facilitate the transfer of ownership to the new owners while ensuring legal compliance. Professional antique auctioneers are licensed and equipped to ensure that antiques are transferred to new owners lawfully. A catalogued listing of the items for sale is typically provided to all attendees at the start of the auction. In addition to being specialists in evaluating antiques, professional antique auctioneers must have knowledge and appreciation of antique pieces, examine them to evaluate their age, condition, origin, and quality, consult with experts and historians, and ensure the authenticity and proof of ownership of each piece. They also maintain records of all pieces that go through their auctions. As knowledge is crucial in the auction business and fairness to all participants is the goal, professional antique auctioneers must conduct extensive research prior to the auction. Before choosing an auctioneer to sell antiques, sellers should attend at least two auctions conducted by the auctioneer to verify their talent.
Tiffany and Cartier Jewelry
The Tiffany and Cartier Jewelry brands are among the two most prominent brands in their own right, and buyers are often confounded as to which to choose. While Tiffany has been in the market longer (over decades), it started off as a silverware manufacturer before branching out to jewelry, unlike Cartier, which started out as a jewelry maker. As both companies produce similar product types, buyers’ choices tend
How to Sell Antiques: Tips from Expert “Antique Appraisers & Auctioneers”
An antique can address different things to different people. It might represent a piece of history that has been preserved to continue to be appreciated in the present. It might have a great deal of sentimental value and represent the family history and departed loved ones. A fine antique can be seen as a thing of artistic beauty that will enhance the décor of a room. It might be simply a valuable item that can be sold for money. Once you have decided to sell your antiques, you have to determine the value of it and find a buyer for them. That is when you might start wondering how to sell antiques and start looking for tips from antique experts.
Know the Value of Your Antiques
Experts will tell you that you should know the value of your antiques before selling them. That’s when it is a good idea to begin by finding antique experts who can appraise your antiques. They will consider a number of factors when determining value. These factors include the condition of the item, whether it has been restored, whether it bears a manufacturer’s mark, the provenance, how rare it is, and (perhaps above all) how much demand there is for the item among antique buyers. Once you have an expert opinion on the value of your antiques you will be in a good position to get the best price when you are selling.
Where to Sell Antiques
When you start to look around you will see that there a number of places where you can sell your antiques. Below there is an outline of the places that antique experts and antique buyers use when they are looking to buy or sell antiques.
Sell Antiques Online
One of the most obvious places that antique sellers and buyers turn to in today’s digital age is the internet. A simple search will enable you to cast a net that will capture results showing a wide range of reputable antique dealers. Depending on where you live, you may feel a little overwhelmed by how many search results you receive. You can begin to research the various stores and individual buyers who pop up in your search engine results to find someone who might be the right buyer for your family heirloom. If you do receive a lot of results it can also be helpful to narrow them down by focusing on the type of antique you are selling. Selling online also lets you connect with buyers from around the world.
Get Tips on Where to Sell from an Expert
We already discussed the importance of consulting antique experts before selling and getting an appraisal. When you have the appraisal done you can ask the expert for tips about where to sell as well. They can point you in the direction of reputable antique dealers who might be interested in your piece. They know the secrets of where to sell.
Auctions are Great Places to Sell Antiques
Auctions are obviously a great place to sell antiques. Antique experts and buyers see auctions as a great place to meet other buyers and sellers and check out an array of antiques. Attending auctions can help you make connections and get advice about selling antiques. They are often the best places to sell antiques and also the best place to meet someone who might be interested in buying your antique, even if you aren’t selling anything at the auction itself.
If the auction contains items similar to what you are selling, you can also get a clearer idea of your item’s value and how you can present it when you try to sell it. Since different antique buyers attend the auction, you will have the opportunity to talk to a number of potential buyers about your antique. They know what the market for your item is and may be able to connect you with someone who will be interested in buying it.
A final tip from antique experts, antique shows can be a great place to find antique buyers for the same reasons!
Antique Auctions: Know How the Auction Process Works
Antique auctions are the stuff of theater and carry with them an air of luxury and wealth. We all have the image in mind of fine antiques and collectibles up on the auction block with fast-talking and smooth antique auctioneer crisply starting the bidding. We picture a room full of wealthy people with paddles bidding and driving the price up, creating drama. You might have antiques to sell at auction and wondering what’s the process. You might be looking to buy but you are new to auction. In this article we are providing you with antique auction guide to get you started and explain how the auction process works.
What is an Antique Auction?
Let’s start with the basics. An auction brings together items (usually antiques, houses, vehicles, luxury items, artwork, and other valuable collectibles that have been appraised for a certain value) that are being put up for sale at the auction with buyers who will bid on the items. Antique auctioneers serve as the middleman between them. The bidding starts at a base price and people bid against each other, driving the price up. At some point the bidding concludes and the person who placed the highest bid wins the items. If you have ever bid for something on eBay, it is a lot like that.
An Antique Auction Starts with a Preview Period
One of the most important steps in the antique auction process starts before bidding begins. It is called the preview period. During the preview period potential bidders have the chance to look the items up for auction over and assess their interest in them. There is usually an auction guide or catalog available ahead of time for people to look at. Once a buyer (or someone who will act as a buyer’s agent) has determined that they will bid for an item, they have to register with the auctioneer and provide identification and other information, such as the financial ability to cover their bids. The preview period can last from a few days before the auction right up to a few hours before it begins.
How an Antique Auction Begins
At the set time the auction will begin when the auctioneer announces the opening of bidding and goes over the terms and conditions. Then the first lot will be placed for bidding. As each item comes up for bidding there will be a starting price. The starting price is set by the seller, usually after the item has been appraised to determine its value. The starting price is designed to be the lowest price that a seller will sell for. It is designed to be low enough that people will be willing to bid and drive the price up.
The Exciting Part- The Bidding
Now we come to the dramatic part- the bidding. This is the part of the auction that is often depicted on stage and screen. At a live antique auction, the auctioneer starts the bidding on an item and buyers, or their agents, who are sitting in the audience, hold up paddles to place a bid at the current price being called out by the auctioneer. It can be a swiftly moving and exciting process when there are numerous bids or a “bidding war” between two buyers. The bidding ends when the auctioneer calls out, “sold”. This usually happens when there are no bids being placed because the price has become two high for any new bids. The auctioneer calls out a final chance and then, “going, going, gone!” Then the item is won by the person who bid the highest.
Online Antique Auctions
Obviously, online auctions are an increasing part of antique auctions these days. Some auctions are even a mix of in person and online. The process of a preview period and bidding are basically the same. However, the buyers have the option of previewing the items up for bid and bidding from the comfort of their own homes. It is likely that the popularity of websites like eBay and the reality of how things are done in pandemic times will lead to increase in online auctions.
Antique Paintings from Inimitable Painters through the ages
Art in-itself is as wide as the oceans and there are countless paintings that imbibe the various styles that exist. However, herein we will address a few select painters and their unique paintings that have set a precedence through the ages and deserve the right to be called antiques.
Paul Sample
An American artist who studied architecture and later, drawing and painting, Paul Starrett Sample is acclaimed for his works depicting the life in rural New England in the twentieth century & his illustrations of New England landscapes, naval activities during the Second World War, murals, and portraits are considered works-of-art. With his art, Paul Sample found a medium via which he could portray the importance of the relationship between the land and its people, thus blending Social Realism and Regionalism. By alternating his style to express his commitment to his audience, Sample succeeded to attract numerous admirers for his art, including corporate, federal, and state commissions. Some of the most prominent styles he applied include compositional style (lateral framing, plunging perspective, and rhythmic groupings) and his triangular organization (elements in the foreground, distant landscape in the background of the center with a high line of the horizon, and strong vertical accents to the center).
Emile Gruppe
Acclaimed for the role he played in establishing The Gloucester School of Painting and his books on painting (Brushwork, Gruppe on Color, and Gruppe on Painting), Emile Albert Gruppe was an American painter who depicted New England’s autumnal and wintry landscapes, the maritime port scenes, as well as sailing ships in his works. Although he is most renowned for his impressionistic landscapes and portraits, Emile Gruppe’s greatest painting are those of fishing boats docked at Gloucester and Rockport, and his Rockport village scenes. Today, his paintings are among the most sought after pieces and can range in value from $1,500 – $40,000.
A. Hibbard
Aldro Thompson Hibbard was an American painter noted to be among the most exquisite Rockport painters. A painter of mountains, oxen, rural towns, and snowy landscapes, Hibbard’s paintings outline the legacy of a period in America characterized by hardworking New Englanders living off the land. As one of the founders of the Rockport School style of painting, Hibbard influenced several artists like Emile Gruppe.
Antonio Jacobsen ship painting
With a lineage from Danish and American descent and from a long line of violin makers, Antonio Nicolo Gasparo Jacobsen was an American maritime artist, a pioneer renowned for his portraits of sails, ships, and steam vessels. With over six thousand portraits to his name, Antonio Jacobsen’s ship paintings expressed the history of both international and local ships, and were designed per the requests of crew members, sea captains and the ships’ owners. His commitment to capture every detail easily dubbed him “the most prolific of marine artist.
Local Antique Painting Appraisers
When seeking for an antique appraisal, it is important to seek out a certified appraiser who can be objective and evaluate without bias towards a particular category of antique. To be sure of their qualifications, search for a local antique appraiser from any one of the following three credible appraiser organizations: American Society of Appraisers, Appraisers Association of America, or International Society of Appraisers, which provide a complete profile with the backgrounds (references) and certifications of the appraisers. For a flat fee or hourly rate, the appraiser will provide a written report including the description and value of the object, as well as the basic knowledge of the procedure used to estimate the value.