Kleine Weltin

Kleine Weltin

Wednesday, June 22, 2011

How Rare Is It?

Not everything rare is valuable!  An old book of beautifully illustrated prose might be extremely rare...but who wants to buy it?
Rarity IS one component of value.
What we consider is: How rare was it, when it was made?
Think of a triangle.  At the top are works made with the finest materials, for the use of royalty, and upper classes.  At the bottom: Things that were mass produced that were and are worth less.

Another consideration: What has occurred in the meantime that would make a work rare?
Some German Expressionist Art prints were geared to be shared by a larger audience.  The Nazis branded them as degenerate art and burned them, and artist studios were bombed in WWII.  Therefore there are much fewer works available today than were actually made.  This rarity makes them more valuable.

Thursday, June 9, 2011

7 Key Principles of Appraising Antiques and Collectibles

Good morning:
In each of the following 7 posts I will talk a little about the some of the overall techniques I use to appraise antiques and collectibles.

Basically appraising such items is a combination of art and science.   I do a lot of research (science) and also use my intuition (art) honed from over 25 years of examining and collecting antiques and collectibles.    The look and feel of an object gives me a lot of information to hammer down whether it's a fake or not and how much it will be worth.
Here are 7 questions I ask myself when appraising a work:
1.) How old is it?
2.) How rare is it?
3.) Does this fit in with the artist's or makers other works? (typical or trendy?)
4.) Is it in good condition?
5.) Does it tell a story?
6.) Who owned it before?
7.) Who collects this today?
Tune in for more detailed conversation on this topic!
Hapyy collecting- and be sure to get your collection appraised every 3 years!

Thursday, June 2, 2011

Seeing the Stein Collection at SFMOMA

I will once again leading a spirited and exciting tour.   This time to:

SFMOMA's newest landmark show:

The Steins Collect: Matisse, Picasso, and the Parisian Avant-Garde


Join me as we take a trip over "the pond" with the San Franciscan Stein Family.
Tour dates/oppportunity cost:

Evening Thursday June 23rd:  1/2 price admission to SFMOMA  total cost:  $24   6-8:45pm
Meet at museum at 6pm.  We will go for dinner or drinks afterwards. 


Daytime Sunday June 26th: total cost: $33  10am-12noon.  We can eat lunch afterwards at the museum cafe.  
If we get 10 people by Thursday June 23rd, we may be able to get a group discount. 
Save your ticket stub for $2 off  if you wish to do an optional visit to the Jewish Museum in the afternoon.

Please email me with your commitment at least 3 days before tour at: hessfineartappraisals@yahoo.com.  If you need my phone number, pls. email me. 




View this video of the exhibit:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rFzJiqz6ZaI&feature=player_embedded#at=183



Stay tuned for the Picasso Show at the De Young Museum tour dates!