Condition Beware !!!
Sunday, March 7th, 2010 | General | No Comments
Visited an auction today to preview items of interest. One basket cited in the printed catalogue as in “excellent condition” wore a vertical tear measuring over 2″ in length! An astute appraiser would cite its condition as “poor”. Can you imagine what you would feel like, had you bid on it as though it was in excellent condition, once it was delivered to your home?
Please request condition reports in writing when you cannot personally inspect items to be auctioned or hire a representative to examine them on your behalf.
As an art appraiser with an eye for detail, this examination service is provided for the nominal fee of $20 per item if the sale is held within 25 miles from the office or if I am planning to attend a sale held elsewhere. Closeup images of the problem areas can be photographed to further clarify any commentary.
Corinne Cain of www.SavvyCollector.com
Sold! $9,000 plus the Juice!
Thursday, February 25th, 2010 | General | No Comments
Sargent Claude Johnson (1888-1967), Untitled (Standing Mexican Figure)–bidding stopped at $9,000. Add to $9,000.00, a 20% buyer’s premium = $10, 800 versus the Swann Galleries estimate of $5,000 – $7,000.
This result tells us that the quality of that sculpture out shouted the physical damage present or the fact that this sculpture was created late in the artist’s career.
Learn to identify what sets a work apart, qualitatively, and it will be hard to make a mistake purchasing art.
Corinne Cain of www.SAVVYcollector.com
Buying at Auction? Always call for Condition Report
Tuesday, February 23rd, 2010 | General | No Comments
Previously a sculpture by Sargent Claude Johnson was given a modest estimate in Swann’s upcoming African-American Fine Art sale, slated to take place tomorrow, February 23.
This standing Mexican figure in terra cotta is relatively large at 25″ in height. Highly expressive, the estimate seemed modest at $5,000 to $7,000, if you are aware of what other sculptures by this artist bring. Granted, this example was created 25 years later in the artist’s career, than the sculpture posted on the Swann catalogue’s back cover by Johnson. This earlier and smaller example (Standing Woman) bears an estimate of $30,000 – $50,000. It relates to another small sculpture created for the Federal Works Project of the WPA.
Nicely Swann’s photograph of the Mexican figure reveals its broken and repaired hand. Additionally I received the following condition report from Swann’s African-American Art specialist Nigel Freeman:
A 3″ long by 1/2″ deep crack inside the base, visible when looking inside the figure, well outside the exterior (1/2 inch from recto surface) as the base is 1 ” thick, 2 inch vertical repaired break in the figure’s right hand. Several scattered hairline cracks in the figure, particularly near the base, which appear to be from the firing of the piece. Otherwise in good condition and sound.
This information serves to influence how high one might bid. Without it, a bidder might be disappointed upon receiving his/ her “prize”.
Corinne Cain of www.SavvyCollector.com
DANGER! Art Auctions held in Posh Hotels
Friday, February 19th, 2010 | Collector Savvy tips, General | No Comments
Prestigious Arizona hotels are being chosen with care by sellers, as their established nature, lends an air of credibility to these events. On two separate occasions I have been employed to review art purchases made at these auctions. In both cases, not one of the items was “advantageous to the purchaser” with respect to price paid versus value received.
Having contacted an established local hotel allowing the sellers to rent their ballroom space, nearly the same response was rendered more than 5 years earlier. “We just rent the space. We are not responsible for how the space is used.”
Investigating further, some of the same artists offered through cruise lines are sold by businesses electing to conduct hotel-sited art auctions.
Please avoid selling opportunities where all sales are final, unless you are as practiced as an art appraiser or a savvy collector.
Corinne Cain of www.SavvyCollector.com
Major clue: “Original offset lithograph”, which was accurate, but rather an oxymoron.
Good Time to Shop African American Art ? Feb 23 Swann Galleries auction
Thursday, February 11th, 2010 | Collector Savvy tips, General | No Comments
Positively wonderful terra cotta sculpture (circa 1933-1935) by Sargent Claude Johnson is lot #12 estimated to sell for $30,000 – $50,000. Perhaps this is an opportunity to make an auspicious purchase. There is another lot #67 by Johnson, a different terra cotta sculpture (Lot 67) with a tamer estimate of just $5,000 – $7,000.
This sale also features two spectacular collage compositions, one by James Denmark titled Knowledge is Power, another simply titled Family by Marie Johnson-Calloway (Lot 143).
Cheap thrill: Visit Swann Galleries’ website to experience this catalogue in 3D. Allow the catalogue to load (be patient, as it takes time) and then turn each page clicking on an arrow.
www.Swanngalleries.com/3dcat/2203
Good shopping!
Corinne Cain of www.SavvyCollector.com
Sad to Report >50% Fraudulent “Indian” items sold to the public
Wednesday, February 3rd, 2010 | Collector Savvy tips, General | No Comments
November 2, 2009 Wall Street Journal article by Stephanie Simon addresses sales of American Indian pottery, jewelry, rugs and other merchandise is largely misrepresented–so know from whom you are buying.
“The Indian Arts and Crafts Association, a trade group, estimates that nationally, as much as 75% of the roughly $1 billion of jewelry, pottery, rugs and other merchandise sold every year as authentic, is not. In the jewelry business, as many as 90% of pieces held out as examples of Native American craftsmanship are fake, according to the New Mexico attorney general’s consumer-protection division, which is trying to police the trade along with federal authorities”.
“Some of the imported jewelry is exquisite, studded with real gems and painstakingly crafted–only, it is made by Chinese or Thai or Filipino works abroad, not by Native American artisans. Other pieces are mass-produced with polished bits of plastic that look uncannily like real jewels.”
I’ve seen some examples stamped with a Navajo individual’s name, with the item not having been made by that person at all.
Prospective buyers are encouraged to visit www.ATADA.org, a self-policing organization that dismisses members guilty of misrepresentation. Yes, I am a member, but so are many, many other professional dealers located all over the country.
Respect your hard-earned funds and make inquiries about the source of your purchases of American Indian arts.
Corinne Cain of www.SavvyCollector.com
Kateri Weiss and I will be teaching a 2-day class to appraisers on the does and don’t of appraising American Indian beadwork, jewelry, baskets, textiles and pottery February 5 and 6–Rhode Island School of Design, Continuing Education
Just 3 Spots Left ! Feb 5 & 6 American Indian Arts Connoisseurship at RISD
Sunday, January 24th, 2010 | Collector Savvy tips, Exhibition news, General | No Comments
Rhode Island School of Design’s Continuing Education is sponsoring 2 meaty days of class covering American Indian baskets, textiles, pottery, beadwork and jewelry 9 am – 5 pm. Their campus is in Providence, Rhode Island.
Cost is $395 for both days during which time tribal identification, dating, value characteristics will be covered along with conservation issues. Known fakes will be presented for your physical examination. A reading list will be provided with our best picks highlighted.
Kateri Weiss will cover beadwork and jewelry with acumen, due to her 40 plus years of experience as a collector and conservator of both. Corinne’s experience stems from her involvement as Gallery 10’s first director (1978) and before as a kid who was charmed by baskets, as well as over 20 years as an appraiser of American Indian arts.
15 attendee maximum, with just 3 spots remaining available !
Call Tiffany Bowman at 401 454-6499 tbowman@risd.edu if you would like to take advantage of this opportunity.
It is my understanding that most of the attendees are appraisers, but collectors might avail themselves of this information as well. We ask that you bring a 10 power loop to assist with your viewing experience.
Call here if you have any questions, 602 906 1633 Corinne
NOT a stupid question !!!
Wednesday, January 6th, 2010 | General | No Comments
What is a Printer’s Proof?
Printer’s Proofs look identical to the regular edition, as frequently the numbering is carried out
after the total edition is completed, to make sure there are enough impressions to issue a Printer’s Proof.
Some workshops require as part of their payment, a Printer’s Proof for each different image with which they assist with the execution. In other cases the Printer’s Proof represents another means of paying a tip to the printer for doing an excellent job, gifted by the publisher or by the artist.
Often these Printer’s Proofs find their way back onto the market when a printer or studio would like to
generate extra funds or when the printer dies and his/her spouse wants to realize some funds.
What is a Trial Proof?
A Trial Proof is entirely different. In the process of finalizing the appearance of a print, the artist makes changes. Proofs are printed to judge how better to improve its appearance. These proofs reveal the development of the print’s final look. They often are not identical to the regular edition, unless they represent the last proof made before the final printing of the edition.
Remember, if there is something you don’t understand on SavvyCollector.com, ask for clarification. My goal is to make the pursuit of art crystal clear, to the best of my ability.
Corinne Cain of www.SavvyCollector.com
Provenance defined more fully
Wednesday, December 30th, 2009 | Collector Savvy tips, General | 1 Comment
- Receipts for the original and subsequent sales going back to artwork’s creation,
naming the dates of purchase, price, seller
- Catalogues from exhibitions in which artwork had been included
naming dates of exhibition and locations of exhibitions and names of museums (exhibition venues)
- Literature citations for the artwork
books in which artwork is discussed and/or illustrated, especially catalogue raisonne citations
Corinne Cain of www.SavvyCollector.com
Provenance, a Non-Fictional Investigation (2009)
Wednesday, December 30th, 2009 | Collector Savvy tips, General | No Comments
Provenance book cover
Commanding , intimidating–this book leaves one guarded about who and what to believe, with respect to the history of ownership of any artwork one might purchase, especially if it is substantial in price. Substantial, but if it is priced too low, this could be your first clue to run don’t walk away!
- Could it be stolen art? OR
- Could it be a forgery?
Provenance, the tracking of when and from whom it was purchased, added to whom had owned it prior to its current owner, can be fictionalized causing a normally cautious buyer to drop their guard. We can be psychologically comforted by the belief that an informed collector previously owned an item when considering an item for purchase.
This book reveals that highly practiced art dealers are fooled less readily, but nevertheless they are victimized along with art collecting novices.
Provenance presents an additional role for an art appraiser to play for collectors. Hire them to research the validity of a provenance provided to perspective buyers, not just to perform valuations as of the prospective date of purchase.
This book is important for those art purchasers who would like to avoid imprudent purchases.
Corinne Cain of SavvyCollector.com