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.
Transylvania’s Curious Histories
In 2003, four college students in Lexington, Kentucky orchestrated a DIY heist, hoping to steal four folios of John James Audubon’s Birds of America from the Transylvania University Library’s Special Collections. The group failed at their intended mission and resorted to grabbing a first edition of Charles Darwin’s On the Origin of Species and tasing a female librarian instead. Transylvania University, which also happens to be Lindsey Owen’s alma mater, tied Central Kentucky to one of the largest art heists in FBI history.
Victorian Perspectives on Death
The Victorian era was a jumping-off point for a variety of strange and curious traditions surrounding death, none of which survive, yet remain ingrained in our perceptions of the time. Mourning jewelry, death portraits, and more reveal the materiality of death as well as scientific and spiritual notions of the period. Despite Victorians’ belief in the sanctity of bodily relics after passing, they partook in mummy unrollings and even incorporated parts of them in homeopathic remedies.
Master Forger Icilio Federico Joni
Of all the notorious forgers in art history, perhaps the most interesting relationship between forger and victim comes from the tale of Icilio Federico Joni and legendary connoisseur Bernard Berenson. Joni did the impossible, ultimately tricking Berenson with one of his forgeries, a game he would play repeatedly. Although Joni was originally interested in putting his mastery of painting and aging works to use for financial gain, he was eventually satisfied with the mere idea of fooling Berenson.
Underwater Cultural Heritage
With Steven Spielberg’s Goonies story being brought to life last week, now is the time to discover the real world of underwater cultural heritage that parallels the captivating realm of treasure hunting. Named ‘The Beeswax Project’ on account of the beeswax chunks found floating to shore, the Spanish galleon that may have inspired ‘The Goonies’ was also carrying a diverse selection of Chinese porcelain when it capsized in 1693. So what happens to these treasures, and are they actually up for grabs by just anyone?
Should You Invest in NFTS and Cryptoart?
Over the last several months, there has been increased media coverage on NFTs and cryptoart. NFTs and cryptoart are not new things— in fact, the first NFTs were used in 2017. As for cryptoart, this is an iteration of digital art or computer art (a.k.a. “new media”), and artists and art critics have been dissecting these pieces since the early 1950s. Cryptoart is simply digital art that is integrated into blockchain technology.
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.