A customer is the executor of a deceased relative's estate and needs his art collection valued. I gave her contact info. for an art appraiser and a local estate auctioneer. (I told her that I'm not a licensed appraiser, but am pretty good at being able to tell if someone isn't worth much, or is worth paying for an appraisal.) I did a paid walk-through, and his 'valuable collection' is almost entirely limited edition prints from the 1990's and a few lavishly framed Kinkade canvases, but they still need it valued. Now, I'm wondering if she should ask his insurance agency who they use for estate art appraisal.
told her that it's fairly likely none of what he owned would sell for what he put into it, or for what it's ostensibly worth. But at the same time, if someone is insuring art, is the replacement value for what it cost to buy and frame, or what you could get one for now on some internet site? And same for valuing an estate that's divided among heirs. Unless I'm mistaken, a lot of what he has is worth far less than they imagine, but even if someone wouldn't buy it, it still probably has theoretical value.
And if you use some site for general art valuation, feel free to share. The gallery where I worked in the 90's subscribed to the Art Expediter, but we don't. And I see that it has a website, but is it still very active? The auctioneer told me they've referred to artfacts.org and another site before. Feel free to share any thoughts/resources.
told her that it's fairly likely none of what he owned would sell for what he put into it, or for what it's ostensibly worth. But at the same time, if someone is insuring art, is the replacement value for what it cost to buy and frame, or what you could get one for now on some internet site? And same for valuing an estate that's divided among heirs. Unless I'm mistaken, a lot of what he has is worth far less than they imagine, but even if someone wouldn't buy it, it still probably has theoretical value.
And if you use some site for general art valuation, feel free to share. The gallery where I worked in the 90's subscribed to the Art Expediter, but we don't. And I see that it has a website, but is it still very active? The auctioneer told me they've referred to artfacts.org and another site before. Feel free to share any thoughts/resources.
