Getting Fine Art Appraised
Author: Corinne Cain

Preparing for the Appraiser's Exam

• 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.

Discussing Value With a Prospective Appraiser

Identify what you need to have appraised by providing the
following information:

• Artist's first and last name
• Medium such as bronze, painting, or print
• Condition, especially if you are not sure if the item has
enough value to warrant an appraisal.

State why you need the appraisal.

The same item can have a different value depending on the
purpose of the valuation. Appraisers ask why you need an
appraisal document because they want to investigate value for
the appropriate market. Imagine that you are buying this item
instead of having it appraised. Would you expect to pay the
same price for the item at a flea market or at an estate sale
as you would in a high-end antique shop or art gallery?
Different purposes mandate different markets, which translates
to correspondingly different value levels.

Identify the timeframe needed for the appraisal document's
completion.

Is this a rush job? If there are 200 items and your moving van
will arrive in less than 60 days, this is a rush job. Also, the
appraiser may have too many active assignments to meet your
desired timeframe. If this is the case, the appraiser may
redirect you to someone else who can fit your appraisal into
his or her schedule.

Identify if there are special conditions for examining your
artworks.

For example, does the appraiser need to bring a ladder? Will
the appraiser need to wade into a pool to examine a sculpture?
Will the appraiser need to wear washable clothing? While
unforeseen events do happen at most appraisal inspections,
pre-planning keeps them to a minimum.


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 http://Savvycollector.com, a nationally known secondary art
market dealer.