Moldy and beyond repair?

Rozmataz

SGF, Supreme Grumble Framer
Joined
Jun 13, 2002
Posts
2,773
Loc
Fingerlakes Region of NYS
A-choo! Yet another of my favorite things.

A customer with a water damaged piece of art that is moldy and in a plastic frame (nice!).

She would like an estimate for insurance claim

The piece is approx 11 x 14. It is in terrible condition.

It is likely an acrylic but on a piece of cardboard. The board is yuk. The paint on the face is lifting and chipping off the surface. The paint color has faded according to customer and she would like it restored.

I doubt this can even be touched to restore.

So, how do I handle? Decline the work is looking like my way to go.

Thanks,

Roz
 
Usually the amount an insurance company will allow for restoration is equal to the value of the piece, otherwise it is considered a total loss. The client will have to produce a bill of sale or an appraisal to prove the value to an insurance company. They should first go to their insurance company and see what requirements there are, and what limitations there are to their making a claim. Often there is a limit that a client can claim without having purchased a personal articles floater from their insurance company for the particular art in question.
I've seen this a couple of times and sometimes it is a legitimate claim, but be sure you CYA by getting them to pay for any estimates from conservators or other costs you might have in finding out how much restoration would cost.
Some folks are just after the money and want you to do the footwork for them.
 
An acrylic on cardboard!! That sounds like something of lasting value to me.

Out of curiousity, what legitimate artist would ever consider doing an original of any media on cardboard??

Roz, I would put the onus on the customer's shoulders as Wally suggests and not get too wrapped up in time/money to research the actual value of this piece. It may well be an amateur's school project that happens to have some significant interest to the owners and not be worth the "paper" it is done on.

Framerguy
 
I think a "pasadena" is in store.... I took woman's no. and let her take her moldy piece home with her!!!

The artist was a local friend of the family and it is certainly of sentimental value only.

I will spend little or no more time on this.

Thanks for the supportive answers.

Roz
 
As I prefer to organize these things, the order goes:

appraiser, conservator, framer or
conservator, appraiser, framer

Legwork done by client or legwork done by any of the above for a fee, generally charged out at $75 - $100/hour. When chargable legwork or written estimates are done, the adjustor has to ok first.

Even if the legwork is done by client, there is usually a fee if exam/estimate takes more than 15 minutes (eg a collection rather than a single piece).

For moldy pieces, I'm considering a "mold fee" as one really does have to use proper respirator/cartridges to avoid health problems and add in clean-up time.

Rebecca
 
Originally posted by Framerguy:

Out of curiousity, what legitimate artist would ever consider doing an original of any media on cardboard??
Framerguy
Degas, Picasso, HT Lautrec to name a few. They didn't know any better and the urge to create outdid the costs of conventional substrates. There was a local artist from upstate NY that was famous for his pastoral scenes...his name escapes me at the moment...but he was inclined to work on the cardboard that is used to keep shirts flat when returning from the cleaners.
 
Hmmmm, you would think that, after 16 years of framing, I would have known that! Just goes to show ya what a sheltered life some of us lead ........... without even realizing it!

FGII
 
Wally, don't forget paper napkins. About 15 years ago I framed a drawing on a paper napkin, from the Moulon Rouge by an "unknown" named Lautrec. The owners house manager stood over my shoulder as it was fitted in a frame he supplied. When I asked what it was worth, and I through out a figure $10,000 he only responded with a thumb up response.
 
Jerome...A barnap no doubt...those guys were notorious lushes. Matisse worked on wallpaper...as did Walter Inglis Anderson. Matisse had an excuse, it was a family business. Anderson just had "issues".
 
Rebecca,

Thank you for your input.

It all makes sense.

Do you (or anyone else) recommend that I give this customer (or any other customer for that matter) the name of the conservator/appraisor so they can contact directly. It really is out of my realm of work.

Thanks,

Roz
 
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