-
Connoisseur’s Corner
Spanish Colonial Art The rich and widely varied category of Spanish Colonial Art has grown exponentially in the last 10 years, but how do we define and identify it? What Is It? Spanish Colonial art includes paintings, sculptures, and decorative objects created in Mexico and South America from 1492 to around 1820. If the year……
-
State of the Global Art Market in 2023
According to the latest art market report released by Art Basel and UBS, China’s zero-tolerance Covid policies pushed the UK back to the #2 spot behind the US, with sales growing 3% in 2022. Here are some key takeaways: “Sales in 2022 were greater than before the pandemic and represent the second-highest point achieved in……
-
David Webb’s Animal Jewels
Appreciating The Works Of An Iconic Designer by Virginia Salem, Graduate Gemologist, Antiques Roadshow Appraiser David Webb was born in North Carolina in 1925 and had a creative vein in his family. He was influenced by an uncle who was an engraver and made souvenir ashtrays. In his late teens, he moved to New York……
-
Have a Taste For Contemporary Art?
Tips On How To Start A Collection by Laura Lester, Principal, Lester Fine Art Jumping into the vast and nuanced contemporary art market as a new collector can be intimidating! I have spent the last 15 years of my career advising art collectors on what to purchase and how to enjoy collecting, in my roles……
-
A Story of Hope and Renewal in Chagall’s Last Commissioned Work
The corners of the tapestry tell Marc Chagall’s story of faith. In the lower right is a person reading from the scripture. In the lower left is a rabbi doing the same. In the upper-left corner is a depiction of the crucifixion of Jesus. This configuration of Christ represents, for Chagall, the suffering of all……
-
Are My Vintage Halloween Decorations Worth Anything?
Halloween is a supernaturally fun holiday for children! Spooky decorations, like ghosts, spider webs, and bat trimming bushes and trees, lend homes a decidedly “haunted house” aura. The anticipation awaiting the hunt for the perfect pumpkin to carve into a jack-o-lantern with a wacky or scary face. The excitement of donning costumes and being a……
-
Finding Phyfe: America’s Elusive Furniture Maker
Although having an acclaimed name within American decorative arts history, Duncan Phyfe furniture is extremely rare to behold. So, in regards to an antique furniture appraisal, setting eyes upon a piece of Phyfe furniture would be like discovering the holy grail of American antique furniture! Scottish-born Duncan Phyfe (1768-1854) was the most sought-after furniture maker in……
-
Why Art Collectors Need the Right Insurance
Some of the most common questions advisors hear from clients about their fine art and collectibles are, “Does my homeowner’s insurance provide coverage for my artwork? Do I need a special rider?” A typical homeowner’s insurance policy affords you a little bit of coverage. And when we say a little, we mean extraordinarily little. Typically,……
-
The World of Rare Books
What Determines Value and Where is the Current Market? BOOK VALUE IS GOVERNED BY THREE FACTORS: Intrinsic importance – the look and significance of the publication when first published, printed and bound. Collectors’ interest – the popularity of the subject. Scarcity – items that are in short supply. The limited availability of a commodity; for……
-
How Do Appraisers Become Appraisers?
Often when I work for a new client I am asked for my credentials and just how I became an appraiser. Did you go to Appraiser School? What’s your area of expertise? Or something of that nature. Each appraiser may have a slightly different story, but generally, they are along the same lines. Becoming an……