Help Lg Collection of Antique Italian Frames

[broadway]

I have a customer who just called asking me how to tell if her frames are worth anything. She said she has a large collection of Antique Italian Frames and are all in original condition. Sizes from small(16x20) to large(40x60). Is there any suggestions on who to contact or send this lady to? Please Help...

 

[Prospero]

They could be anything. The term covers a large area. If they are hand-carved 18th century they could could be worth a lot. There are people who collect them and hang them on the wall with no painting in. There again, just because a thing is old doesn't always mean it's worth cash. They made a lot of carp in the olde days too.

 

[wpfay]

There are a couple dealers in vintage frames in NYC who could possibly evaluate them, but it will cost. I just Googled Antique Frame Dealers and found a few resources. Best to establish first if they are indeed "Italian" and if they are in fact "Antique". I have had any number of people bringing in "Antique Italian Gold Leaf" frames for estimates on value with "Hecho en Mexico" stamped on the back.
People often don't really know what they have.

First order of business after that would be having very good photographs taken of the pieces. Contact the appraiser to find out exactly what they need.

 

[05]

I know of one auction house and two appraisers in Cleveland who could help this customer out, so there must be someone in Austin. You may not be able to refer her to one specifically, but she can google and find choose her own.

 

[Rick Granick]

I have had any number of people bringing in "Antique Italian Gold Leaf" frames for estimates on value with "Hecho in Mexico" stamped on the back.

These were obviously fake, then, because if they were real they would have been stamped "Hecho en Mexico."

Rick

Thanks for catching that, Rick...unlimited editing does have its advantages.

 

[Baer Charlton]

Hencho en Mexico is a good start ---

but your first clue that they are blown foam or bogus is the size.

the imperial measurements of 16x20 or 40x60 are American and photo
sizing. While 16x20 does date way back in the antique time of the 1970s....
if they aren't metric.......

RUN

 

[Prospero]

If it's any use, you can sometimes tell a whole lot more from the back of a frame than the front.