When Do You Need To Have Your Art Or Antiques Appraised?
Art and antique appraisers are experts in a particular field, such as 19th century European painting or French Art Deco glassware, who can help owners ascertain the value of the unique items they own. There are a number of reasons to seek an independent appraisal. In addition to being helpful information, an expert appraisal can help satisfy court, tax and insurance requirements. Reasons to seek an independent appraisal 1. For insurance purposes. Most standard homeowner’s insurance policies have a set cap on how much they will pay for any individual item that is stolen or damaged in your home due to a disaster like a fire or a burst water pipe. If you have items, such as artwork or antiques that are valued more than this maximum payment amount, you’ll need to purchase a separate policy, called a rider, for each of your expensive items. In order to determine the value, the insurance company will generally require a third party appraisal by someone experienced in working with that type of item. 2. To settle an estate. Another reason to hire an art appraiser is when someone dies and the court needs to find out how much the person’s possessions are worth, so they can either be sold or fairly divided among the heirs. Appraisals are also used to help determine the amount of estate taxes that will be assessed by the state and the IRS. Even if there was a previous insurance appraisal, the probate court will generally require a current appraisal, as the value of artwork and antiques can vary dramatically over even a few years. 3. To ascertain the value of an item you are giving to charity. If you are donating an expensive piece of art or an antique to a charity or art museum, the IRS requires that items valued at $5,000 or more be appraised by an independent appraiser. 4. To determine value of assets for divorce proceeding. Yet another reason to hire an art appraisers is to get a current value of a piece or pieces of art so that the value of a couple’s property can be determined and then divided. Art and antique appraisers, like Lipton Inc, can be found online by searching the International Society of Appraisers (ISA), Appraisers Association of America (AAA) or American Society of Appraisers (ASA) sites. You can also ask at your local art museum or private art gallery. Your probate attorney may also have someone that he or she works with regularly for estate...
read more3 Contemporary Art Styles To Consider For Your Home Collection
If you like the idea of owning original works of art, then you should look towards contemporary art. These styles are often times more affordable than classic works of art simply because there are so many living artists currently working and selling their paintings. If you are a complete novice to modern art, this article will give you a brief overview of 3 contemporary movements. They each cater to a different aesthetic, so you should find one that fits your personal preference. Minimalism Minimalism stresses pure form and color. Any sort of interpretative, expressive gestures are absent from the paintings. It is not unusual for minimalist paintings to be monochromatic, such as in the famous works of Robert Ryman. The style flourished during the 1960‘s. The concept of minimalism was not confined to painting. Sculptors, musicians and architects all embraced the precepts of the movement. It continues to be one of the most prominent architectural styles. If you live in a modern, streamlined home, then you might like the pairing of a minimalist, monochromatic painting with your home’s décor. Hyperrealism Hyperrealism is an outgrowth of photorealism. The paintings look like photographs. Artists want to depict an image that looks exactly like a real photograph. The artists will often include subtle alterations to the real image, though, so it is not an exact copy of what exists in reality. The movement wants to bring up questions of authenticity and representation. The subject matter can range from human form, such as with Johannes Wessmark’s nudes, to soda cans (Pedro Campos series on Cola). Other artists take a more fabulist approach and create fictive arrangements with political overtones, such as Gottfried Helnwein’s series critiquing Nazi ideology. If you like photography, then hyperrealism is a great entry point into contemporary art. Superflat This is a movement that developed in Japan. The originator is an artist called Takashi Murakami. He wanted to critique the shallowness of modern Japanese culture. The paintings are bright, full of color, but have no “depth”. They are influenced by the prevailing entertainments of the day, particularly manga. The beauty of the painting is meant to contrast with the emptiness of its subject. If you like the bright colors of pop art and are also interested in Japanese culture, this style is a fantastic choice. The school has caught on in Japan and there are many artists currently working in the style. It’s a great opportunity to get in on the ground floor of a new art movement. The trick to finding meaningful art pieces is finding something that appeals to your personal tastes. Consider these various types of contemporary art and see if you find any of them meaningful and aesthetically...
read moreTips for Beginners—5 Steps to Antique Jewelry Collecting on a Budget
Jewelry is a wonderful way to become introduced to the world of antique collecting. It is easy to keep and display without needing to devote too much space. Jewelry is practical, as it can be worn as well as displayed, and a lot of beautiful items are available at a very affordable price. Even better, the opportunities to find new pieces are everywhere. Every collection, no matter what is being sought, is not just stumbled upon. Creating a varied and interesting selection requires time, knowledge and patience. Step One: Narrow Down the Options Without a clear plan of what to collect, the choices available are overwhelming. There are too many styles, eras and individual pieces as well as famous-name makers to just broadly collect anything. The beginning collector needs to narrow down what it is that appeals to them most. Perhaps they prefer Bakelite or really love 1940s brooches. Collectors often choose specific gems, certain years of creation, or one type of jewelry like watches, earrings or pendants. Step Two: Become an Expert It is easy to amass all the knowledge needed to make smart purchases once there is a clear vision of what to collect. Numerous resources are available to help identify and value jewelry. Check out books at the library, look at websites and talk to other collectors. Buy and keep pricing guides whenever available and take them with you when you first begin shopping. Step Three: Know Where to Shop One of the reasons jewelry is great to collect is because it is available in so many places. Yard sales, estate sales and thrift shops are affordable options. Individual sellers, either through online auctions or at actual land-based auction houses will also offer jewelry, sometimes in large lots. Antique shops will often have great deals on beautiful pieces and flea markets can be a surprising source of exquisite jewelry. It can even be possible to find jewelry by placing a classified ad. Step Four: Set a Budget Never go shopping without a price limit. Take only cash so it is obvious when you reach your limit. Plus, it is often easier to negotiate prices when cash is being offered. When bidding on an auction, do not get caught up with the desire to win. It is very easy to make the transaction about just winning rather than the piece of jewelry being purchased. Instead, place a maximum bid and walk away until the auction has ended. Step Five: Consider Buying in Bulk Auctions and estate sales occasionally have large lots of jewelry they are selling at once. Collectors are often able to get the item they want for free by purchasing these lots and reselling what they are not interested in keeping. As long as the remainder of the lot has some value, this can be an easy way to build a collection for nearly nothing. Jewelry prices do vary widely, and like all antiques, the values can decline over time if collectors lose interest. This is why it is always important for people to pick something they personally enjoy having. When a collection is loved, its overall value will have nothing to do with its actual resale potential. Learn more tactics and build relationships by contacting resources like Crissy...
read moreA New Trend – Birthday Parties That Make A Difference
Parents can become overwhelmed with all the presents given to their children on their birthdays, and many times these gifts don’t even get a lot of use. Party guests sometimes spend way more time than they’d like debating in the toy aisle, trying to figure out the perfect gift for a kid they may not even know. One solution to this problem that’s becoming more and more popular is charity-themed birthday parties. Surprisingly enough, kids often jump on this idea when it’s presented to them, especially if the parents make sure they know they’ll still get presents from them as usual. A few different types of charity-themed birthday parties exist, making it even easier to join this trend. Kids – or the parents of very young children – can choose a charity and set up an online fundraising campaign. Then, when inviting people to the birthday party all that’s necessary is to add a note saying that instead of gifts the birthday child wishes people to make an online donation to the organization along with the website address necessary to do so. Some people aren’t comfortable with online donations, or prefer to give an object rather than money, so another option is going to the wishlist of a favorite charity, such as a local animal shelter or children’s hospital, and include that list on the invitation so people can choose items from the list to bring to the party in lieu of presents. Many larger charities post this type of information on their websites, but it’s also possible to contact the charity and ask if one isn’t posted. People who worry their kid won’t be happy giving up all their presents may want to use one of the charity birthday party planning websites. Many of these sites have people make an online donation and then give the child a gift card at the end of the process to buy a present of their own. In some cases, the people make the decision when donating how much goes to the child and how much to the charity. This way children can help others while not totally missing out getting something for themselves. This may be a good starting point for reluctant kids. For those not totally sure how to get started, it’s some charities even have party planning kits to make it easy to throw a party benefiting their charity. This makes it simple to plan a memorable and fun party that will help others. If you’re looking for more ideas, check out places like Purple...
read moreFrom The Gallery To Your Wall: What To Know Before Purchasing A Piece Of Optical Art
Optical art has delighted, entertained, and befuddled people for decades. While many of the visual illusions stand up well in the digital realm, there’s nothing like seeing optical art right there in front of your face. You may even want to take something home to enjoy in perpetuity. But before you purchase a piece of op art from a gallery, there are a few things that you should know. Not All Kinetic Art Is Op Art Optical art, like many forms of art, has a very loose definition. It has gone through movements, changes, and renaissances. As a subset of kinetic art, it’s easy to group a lot of op art in with other pieces that trick the eye or illustrate movement. It’s easy to confuse other movements, such as geometric abstractions, with op art as well. You should, of course, choose whichever pieces move you. But if you’re specifically looking for optical art, then you should know a little of what defines it. The art must be illusory It must be abstract or non-representational There must be positive and negative space These are the things that define op art in general, but there are also pieces that incorporate op art into larger works. Optical Art Transcends Mediums Artists have traditionally created op art with paint and canvas, but there are other forms of optical art that exist as well. Many digital creations are out there, as well as physical art that fulfills the requirements of op art without being actual paintings. Digital recreations and new art made digitally from scratch are fine if you want a print. However, these are probably not the kinds of artwork you’re looking for. Equally, the physical pieces are typically very large or more of a spectacle than traditional art. They’re not ideal for a home and are typically grouped in with kinetic art. So when looking for optical art, look to galleries and other distributors of fine artwork. Learn More About Op Art If You Plan To Collect There’s a difference between finding a piece that speaks to you and starting an op art collection. For the former, you will only need to find that which moves you to make a purchase. For the latter, you will need to know something about the history of optical art. You will need to know more about the market and what makes a piece more valuable than another. In either case, you can start by doing some research and visiting some art galleries that feature op art. For more information, check out your local optical art...
read moreAbout Me
My daughter has always shown artistic abilities that were beyond my own. She shared her father's skills and love of art, so anytime we went on vacation, we took the time to visit at least a few art galleries in the area that we were vacationing. My daughter and I have worked together to create this blog to show others the kind of art that you can find when you go out of your way to find a gallery or show whenever you are away from home. Hopefully, you will find the information as helpful as we hope that it will be.
