Collector Resources
Fine art and antique appraisal is a complex and multi-faceted profession that requires a deep understanding of both the art market and the history of art and design. In these articles, we dive into the world of art and antique appraisal, exploring the intricacies of valuing works of art while examining the historical and market influences that shape their worth.
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Here you will find our favorite articles that will answer all your questions about antique and art appraisal.
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Here we explore the fascinating world of the art market. From soaring auction prices to emerging artists, stay up-to-date with the latest trends and insights in this ever-evolving industry.
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Join us on a journey through time as we explore the rich and diverse history of art and design. From prehistoric cave paintings to modern masterpieces, discover the stories and influences behind some of the greatest works of art in human history.
How to Appreciate Art for Beginners: Formal Analysis
If you are a beginning art collector, learning how to appreciate art is an excellent skill to develop. Once you understand how to appreciate art, you can more easily define your collecting philosophy, which is an essential component to creating an inspiring and valuable art collection.
What Happens to the Arts When the Economy Suffers and What Can We Do About It?
Widespread unemployment. Shuttering cultural institutions. Struggling artists. Sound familiar? As events often repeat themselves, the difficulties of the current art world can be mirrored to the 1930s in the United States.
Trick-or-Treat: No Tricks Here, Only a Sweet Treat, the History of Halloween Decorations
Swathing our houses in white gauze and spiders, artfully dotting pumpkins on our front steps, and placing plastic skeletons and black cats in our yard may appear to be a recent, modern addition to the festivities of the late October holiday of Halloween. Americans’ seasonal house decor of witches and pumpkins, however, can be dated back over 100 years ago to its beginnings at the turn of the 20th century.
What’s the Deal with Wicker?
When I think of wicker, I think of uncomfortable chairs, painted white and perched on patios, porches, and sunrooms. My childhood is littered with memories of sitting on wicker chairs at family gatherings only to stand with distinctive red marks crosshatched on the backs of my legs. Like, who thought this was a good idea? Well, it’s time to figure out with whom I should take up my grievances.
#Girlboss: Heath Ceramics
The simplistic lines, appealing form, and attractive colors of Heath Ceramics make its dining ware a modern addition to any home. The San Francisco based company draws its history to a singular woman, Edith Heath, who after catching the attention of taste makers and architects in the 1940s with her modern, visionary ceramic pieces, opened her own company.
#Girlboss: Rookwood Pottery
An astonishing 140 years ago, in 1880, Maria Longworth Nichols founded Rookwood Pottery in Cincinnati, Ohio, opening the first female-owned and operated pottery company in America. The daughter of a wealthy Ohioan, she initially started the studio as a hobby, but it soon expanded beyond a side project. The company received international attention after it won a Gold Medal in ceramics at the Paris Exposition in 1900.
The Man Who Brought Arts and Crafts to America: Gustav Stickley
No discussion about the Arts and Crafts movement in America can pass over Gustav Stickley. You may be familiar with the phrase “Stickley Furniture,” but just who was Stickley, and what did he do? One could argue that he, along with his brothers, brought the movement from Europe and disseminated it into American culture.
Art and Social Upheaval, Changes to the Design World After a Pandemic: an Opportunity for Creativity
What creativity comes out of a society wracked by disease, death, and suffering? Well, history may provide a clue. As scholars have noted, there are numerous parallels between modern-day experiences in the COVID-19 pandemic and the influenza pandemic of 1918.