Fine Art Appraisals 2013: Fact vs.

Fiction

Fact vs. Fiction

Rating the various databases

The good, the bad, the ugly

James Jackson
Jacksons International Auctioneers &
Appraisers

Fine Art Appraisals 2013: Fact vs. Fiction

Benefits
Search options
Most mediums
Attributed, Follower of, After

Drawbacks
- No low end
- Spelling sensitive

Benefits
Loads quickly
Easy to navigate
Good biographical information
Signature examples
Audio pronunciation guide

James Jackson
Jacksons International Auctioneers &
Appraisers

FineArtAppraisals2013:Factvs.Fiction

Moholy What?!

Loads quickly
Easy to navigate
Good biographical information
Signature examples
Audio pronunciation guide
Large and additional images
Links to galleries and other interested parties
Links to publications
List of museums that artists works
Shows percentage of sold vs. unsold lots
Highest price per square inch

Drawbacks
- Limited options for narrowing search criteria
- Spelling sensitive
- Does not include any prints, etchings, engravings, etc.
- Limited Fine Art photography data
- Only lists authored works

JamesJackson
JacksonsInternationalAuctioneers&
Appraisers

FineArtAppraisals2013:Factvs.Fiction

Benefits
Widely collected data
Good for the obscure
Various search criteria options
Signature examples
Most all mediums, including photography
Attributed works listed separately
Very forgiving on spelling
Great stats

Drawbacks
- Not as easily navigated lots of clicks to get to desired
information
- Images are often of an entire catalog page, not just the
lot you are interested in

Benefits
It is absolutely free
Quick loading and easy to navigate
All mediums
Variety of sorting options
Accepts a vast multitude of search terms
Many unrecorded sales

JamesJackson
JacksonsInternationalAuctioneers&
Appraisers

FineArtAppraisals2013:Factvs.Fiction

Drawbacks
- Only lists sales on their platform
- Sometimes returns too much information/too many
results
- Lists hammer price only

The importance of accurate comparables,

Subject, Medium and Size

Subject
Let common sense be your guide
Big picture
Look for nuances and trends within subjects
Stylistic changes

JamesJackson
JacksonsInternationalAuctioneers&
Appraisers

FineArtAppraisals2013:Factvs.Fiction

Stylecounts!
Grant Wood circa 1927
Sold for $114,000

Grant Wood circa 1932

Sold for $7,000,000

Subject

Let common sense be your guide

Big picture
Look for nuances and trends within subjects
Stylistic changes
Sketch vs. fully developed and finished work

Sketchvs.FinishedWork
Marvin Cone sketch
Sold for $82,000

Marvin Cone finished work

Sold for $752,000

JamesJackson
JacksonsInternationalAuctioneers&
Appraisers

FineArtAppraisals2013:Factvs.Fiction

Subject

Let common sense be your guide

Big picture
Look for nuances and trends within subjects
Stylistic changes
Sketch vs. fully developed and finished work
The pitfalls of portraits

PortraitPitfalls
E.M. Hennings non
Native American portrait
Sold $9,000

E.M. Hennings Native

American portrait
Sold for $385,000

Medium
Let common sense be your guide
Look for trends
Be cautious with works on paper

JamesJackson
JacksonsInternationalAuctioneers&
Appraisers

Fine Art Appraisals 2013: Fact vs. Fiction

Size
Let common sense be your guide
Sizematters
Theshapeofthings

Whentheymakesense

Boilerplate Statements
Let common sense be your guide
Makesureboilerplatestatementsareapplicable

James Jackson
Jacksons International Auctioneers &
Appraisers

Fine Art Appraisals 2013: Fact vs. Fiction

Howtoimproveyournarrativesbynot
writingaboutwhatyoudontknow(orwhat
doesntmatter)

The Art of Understatement

Let common sense be your guide
Stickwithwhatyouknow
Keepitsimple
Limitpersonalopinions

Quicktipsondetectingboth

James Jackson
Jacksons International Auctioneers &
Appraisers

Fine Art Appraisals 2013: Fact vs. Fiction

The Art of Understatement

Let common sense be your guide

ForgetJohnHancock
Stickysituation
Familylegendandfolklore
Canvas,cracquelure,andcoatings
Whyme?
Dali,Mir,Chagall,ohmy!

When provenance matters

Let common sense be your guide
Connectthedots

James Jackson
Jacksons International Auctioneers &
Appraisers

10

Fine Art Appraisals 2013: Fact vs. Fiction

DevelopingRelationshipswithExperts

Who you gonna call?

Let common sense be your guide
Considerthesource
Wheretofindthem
Makeiteasy

Theinsandoutsofworkingwithauction
houses

James Jackson
Jacksons International Auctioneers &
Appraisers

11

Fine Art Appraisals 2013: Fact vs. Fiction

Your new BFF

Let common sense be your guide
Makeiteasy
Layitonthetable

The tools of the trade

Blacklight
Whitelight
Magnification
Nailgun
Needlenosepliers
Boxcutter
Whitegloves

James Jackson
Jacksons International Auctioneers &
Appraisers

12