Collector Resources
Fine art and antique appraisal is a complex and multi-faceted profession that requires a deep understanding of both the art market and the history of art and design. In these articles, we dive into the world of art and antique appraisal, exploring the intricacies of valuing works of art while examining the historical and market influences that shape their worth.
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Here you will find our favorite articles that will answer all your questions about antique and art appraisal.
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Here we explore the fascinating world of the art market. From soaring auction prices to emerging artists, stay up-to-date with the latest trends and insights in this ever-evolving industry.
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Join us on a journey through time as we explore the rich and diverse history of art and design. From prehistoric cave paintings to modern masterpieces, discover the stories and influences behind some of the greatest works of art in human history.
7 Art Films You Might Have Missed
As an art history lover, it’s likely you’ve already seen The Thomas Crowne Affair, Frida, Girl with a Pearl Earring, and more, but filmmakers in recent years have become interested in both revealing the more secretive aspects of the art world as well as seamlessly incorporating art into films with other themes. Normalizing issues of art crime, female representation, and highlighting the unconventional is compelling to audiences, and often contributes to a sense of realism within other stories.
Ukrainian Cultural Heritage Under Attack
Ukraine’s Kherson regional history museum has been pillaged by Russian civilian and military forces under orders that intentionally rob Ukrainians of their cultural heritage. Known to have one of the most impressive and sizable collections of its kind, the Kherson museum contained precious objects spanning Ukraine’s history which Russian forces have systematically looted.
8 Art Books You Need to Read
Through a mix of historical and contemporary themes, these 8 books confront the underlying social structures that affect the art world and its creations. Topics centered around the practice of collecting, the making of visual culture, art crime, colonialism, and more stir up new and invigorating conversations surrounding the art world and those who operate within it.
Glass Onion
f you saw Glass Onion’s Netflix premiere last week (spoilers ahead!), you may have picked up on the intentional yet subtle characterization of genius billionaire Miles Bron through the decorative aspects of his mansion, gardens, and more interestingly, the art he collects. A particularly biting and appropriate satire exposing the reality behind some tech geniuses, Glass Onion cleverly touches upon an issue that often affects the contemporary art world.
The Rise and Fall of Connoisseurship
The notion of a connoisseur having “discriminating taste” is perhaps the most concise way to identify why the practice provides necessary expertise, yet creates suspicion in its blind faith approach. An experienced professional knows that relying on a team of experts often yields the best results, as perhaps the practice of connoisseurship is not as useful in isolation as it was in the past.
The Art of Celebrity
It’s not often we see celebrities cross over into the art world as those who create rather than collect. There are those who go above and beyond to engage with the art world and pursue their practice–but how does this type of expression differ from the spectacle of television and film?
Surrealist Icons
Last month, Hindman’s auction ‘Casting Spells: The Gertrude Abercrombie Collection of Laura and Gary Maurer’ saw Abercrombie’s achieve record highs for the artist, suggesting collectors and other art players pay close attention to female surrealism, both of the past and presently. Abercrombie’s 1953 Self and Cat (Possims) sold through Hindman in 2003, going well beyond its estimate of $5,000-7,000, selling at $20,060. Last Wednesday, the same self portrait sold for $375,000. Other works in Abercrombie’s oeuvre reveal a similar allure, with familiar subjects like doors, shells, and animals fetching record-setting numbers as well.
Surrealist Legacies
The 2022 Venice Biennale’s central exhibition takes its title The Milk of Dreams from the writings of female surrealist Leonora Carrington (1917-2011), curated by Cecilia Alemani. Including both contemporary and historical artists, Alemani outlines a magical realm that proves the enduring nature of surrealist notions. Now is the chance to learn from art history and take note of their rising female contemporaries who continue the surrealist legacy
Transylvania’s Curious Histories
In 2003, four college students in Lexington, Kentucky orchestrated a DIY heist, hoping to steal four folios of John James Audubon’s Birds of America from the Transylvania University Library’s Special Collections. The group failed at their intended mission and resorted to grabbing a first edition of Charles Darwin’s On the Origin of Species and tasing a female librarian instead. Transylvania University, which also happens to be Lindsey Owen’s alma mater, tied Central Kentucky to one of the largest art heists in FBI history.
Victorian Perspectives on Death
The Victorian era was a jumping-off point for a variety of strange and curious traditions surrounding death, none of which survive, yet remain ingrained in our perceptions of the time. Mourning jewelry, death portraits, and more reveal the materiality of death as well as scientific and spiritual notions of the period. Despite Victorians’ belief in the sanctity of bodily relics after passing, they partook in mummy unrollings and even incorporated parts of them in homeopathic remedies.
Master Forger Icilio Federico Joni
Of all the notorious forgers in art history, perhaps the most interesting relationship between forger and victim comes from the tale of Icilio Federico Joni and legendary connoisseur Bernard Berenson. Joni did the impossible, ultimately tricking Berenson with one of his forgeries, a game he would play repeatedly. Although Joni was originally interested in putting his mastery of painting and aging works to use for financial gain, he was eventually satisfied with the mere idea of fooling Berenson.
Underwater Cultural Heritage
With Steven Spielberg’s Goonies story being brought to life last week, now is the time to discover the real world of underwater cultural heritage that parallels the captivating realm of treasure hunting. Named ‘The Beeswax Project’ on account of the beeswax chunks found floating to shore, the Spanish galleon that may have inspired ‘The Goonies’ was also carrying a diverse selection of Chinese porcelain when it capsized in 1693. So what happens to these treasures, and are they actually up for grabs by just anyone?
Should You Invest in NFTS and Cryptoart?
Over the last several months, there has been increased media coverage on NFTs and cryptoart. NFTs and cryptoart are not new things— in fact, the first NFTs were used in 2017. As for cryptoart, this is an iteration of digital art or computer art (a.k.a. “new media”), and artists and art critics have been dissecting these pieces since the early 1950s. Cryptoart is simply digital art that is integrated into blockchain technology.
How to Appreciate Art for Beginners: Formal Analysis
If you are a beginning art collector, learning how to appreciate art is an excellent skill to develop. Once you understand how to appreciate art, you can more easily define your collecting philosophy, which is an essential component to creating an inspiring and valuable art collection.
How To Buy Art on Instagram
In 2015 the New York Times published an article about Instagram’s growing influence on the art market. Over the years, online art sales continued to increase accounting for $4.82 billion in sales in 2019. Flash forward to 2020, galleries and museums, and auction houses had to close their doors and move online. This means that Instagram is more influential than ever when building your collection.
What Happens to the Arts When the Economy Suffers and What Can We Do About It?
Widespread unemployment. Shuttering cultural institutions. Struggling artists. Sound familiar? As events often repeat themselves, the difficulties of the current art world can be mirrored to the 1930s in the United States.
Trick-or-Treat: No Tricks Here, Only a Sweet Treat, the History of Halloween Decorations
Swathing our houses in white gauze and spiders, artfully dotting pumpkins on our front steps, and placing plastic skeletons and black cats in our yard may appear to be a recent, modern addition to the festivities of the late October holiday of Halloween. Americans’ seasonal house decor of witches and pumpkins, however, can be dated back over 100 years ago to its beginnings at the turn of the 20th century.
What’s the Deal with Wicker?
When I think of wicker, I think of uncomfortable chairs, painted white and perched on patios, porches, and sunrooms. My childhood is littered with memories of sitting on wicker chairs at family gatherings only to stand with distinctive red marks crosshatched on the backs of my legs. Like, who thought this was a good idea? Well, it’s time to figure out with whom I should take up my grievances.
#Girlboss: Heath Ceramics
The simplistic lines, appealing form, and attractive colors of Heath Ceramics make its dining ware a modern addition to any home. The San Francisco based company draws its history to a singular woman, Edith Heath, who after catching the attention of taste makers and architects in the 1940s with her modern, visionary ceramic pieces, opened her own company.
#Girlboss: Rookwood Pottery
An astonishing 140 years ago, in 1880, Maria Longworth Nichols founded Rookwood Pottery in Cincinnati, Ohio, opening the first female-owned and operated pottery company in America. The daughter of a wealthy Ohioan, she initially started the studio as a hobby, but it soon expanded beyond a side project. The company received international attention after it won a Gold Medal in ceramics at the Paris Exposition in 1900.