“How much is this piece worth?”
“Do you offer art appraisals?”
We get a lot of questions about art appraisals here at the Pocono Arts Council. Becoming an art appraiser takes years of specialized training and experience – inspecting artwork for authenticity, condition, historical significance, and other details requires meticulous observation! While we’re no experts ourselves, we looked to the masters and gathered some helpful resources for the seasoned art collector, passionate artist, or those with curious minds.
This curated playlist of videos features content from Dr. Lori Verderame, an arts and antiques appraiser from Bucks County. From research and restoration to how to gather clues about an artwork, check out these videos to learn more!
How a Painting’s Canvas Reveals its Age (2:28)
Determine how to date a piece based on the color and weave of the back of a canvas
How to Identify Painting’s Age & Origin (2:24)
Understand the different types of canvas stretcher bars and determine the place of origin
Should You Clean that Painting? (2:46)
Uncover reasons to clean artwork, risks of preservation work, and the importance of expert restoration
How to Value Paintings by Signature, Back, Stretcher, Canvas, & Frame (14:23)
Learn how to train your eye to look for clues in the subject matter and materials, how to distinguish a print from an original, how to identify artwork that has been cut down from its original size, how acid-free materials aid preservation, and more
Valuing, Identifying, & Selling Artwork (11:53)
Unveil a variety of inside tips including techniques for proper storage, finding clues in the materials and composition, researching and finding credible information, and more
Thrift Store Finds & Secrets – Lithographs, Ceramics, Prints, Bargains, Vases, Metal, More (17:03)
Identify the difference between drawings and prints, figure out how to gather clues on quality, time period, location, etc., and more
Pricing Lithographs and Antique Frames: Prints, Paintings, & Framing Artwork Tips (17:33)
Discover proper framing, hanging, and artwork storage techniques, along with the difference between decorative and fine art, how to determine historical value, and more
We know this only scratches the surface of the vast world of art appraisals. We encourage you to continue your own research or to reach out to a trusted appraiser for additional information.
Not sure where to get started? We recommend checking out the American Society of Appraisers (ASA) or the Appraisers Association of America (AAA) to learn more.
Photo: Antoni Shkraba