Auction Results
For a fee, ArtPrice will provide the latest auction results, as well as nifty charts on the prices an artist has fetched, his or her monograms and signatures, and news on upcoming auctions with works by specific artists. ArtPrice is based in Paris and emphasizes European and American art, heavy on the nineteenth and twentieth century.
Another service, which claims to base its opinions on auction results from the past five years and adjust for inflation, is Telepraisal.
Telepraisal
P.O. Box 20686
New York, NY 10009
(800) 645-6002
The International Fine Prints Association website will let you search for print dealers in your area. It also has a detailed guide to prints and printmaking for the beginning collector entitled "What is a print?"
Wondering how to clean that Koekkoek?
Consult a conservator, whom you can find at the American Institute for Conservation's website. Their website also has lots of downloadable brochures on caring for fine and decorative art.
Similar organizations are the Canadian Conservation Institute and the United Kingdom Institute for Conservation.
Major Auction Houses
The major auction houses will be happy to look at photos of your treasure and let you know what they think of it. Or you can make an appointment at Christie's or Sotheby's and show it to them in person.
Note: Some auctioneers charge a fee for their evaluation.
In Britain, you might also try Bonham's, particularly for Asian art. Their California branch, Butterfield's, also has an expertise in Asian art.
For prints, drawings, photos, maps and posters the specialists are Swann's.
New York-based Phillips de Pury is known for its expertise in contemporary art, furniture and furnishings. They also have offices in Geneva, Berlin, and Munich.
The Art Dealers Association of America's website has a publication called "Collector's Guide." They offer seminars in New York on collecting. You can also search for art dealers who perform appraisals through their website, though most of their members are in Manhattan.
The Fine Art Dealer's Association is broader geographically than the ADAA, and you can also use its website to locate members who will appraise. They sponsor exhibits. Their website also has handy publications on buying and selling art, and art appraisals.
One final word
If you plan to ship your Simone Martini abroad for an appraisal, you should insure it. Some of the best known insurers are AXA and Huntington Block in the U.S. (800-424-8830). Block is affiliated with AON, based in Germany.
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From your Guide: Nadine Granoff, professional art researcher, locates artistic needles in prestigious Haystacks otherwise known as the Library of Congress, Archives of American Art, and the National Gallery of Art Library in Washington, D.C. She's been happily doing so for the past ten years. She may be reached at her email address.
