Art valuation sites

[thriftandtweed]

Hello, I an a seller of vintage items and have a framed original oil painting which I do not know how to price for sale.  Are there any free art valuation sites to use?  I cannot see the artist as the canvas is framed and may have covered the artists name.  I would appreciate anyone's advice.

[daydreams_12]

Have you tried Google for one?

[domino-710 · Accepted solution]

As any valuer would have to do - remove it from the frame - then replace it.

A good framer never covers the signature.

[siddieswans · Accepted solution]

"A good framer never covers the signature."

Exactly.

Unless you were my m-i-l who thought the signature of Walter Ebatarinja looked “childish” and spoiled the picture. So she instructed the 1960’s framer to cover it with a fillet (luckily removable) and had a nice shiny “art gallery” type plaque attached – which unfortunately mis-spelled his name.

[chameleon54]

In valuing paintings it is essential to work out who the artist is ( usually from the signature and possibly inscriptions or gallery / exhibition info that may be covered by card or paper on the rear of the painting. Without knowing who the artist is, it is impossible to get any sort of valuation.

Once the artist has been established it is a relatively simple matter to search the internet for works currently for sale or previously sold and also auction records ( although the prices for these are not always freely available )

Around 18 months ago I went to a garage sale of an old house that was being sold for demolition. There was a skip on the road verge with a few old oil paintings poking out the top. I took them home and researched them. One was painted around the 1920's by a reasonably well know artist and ended up selling on ebay for over $700. An old statue from the skip also sold for around $100. The skip was full of vintage decor items, ( most damaged after being dumped ) so I hate to think what else was thrown out.