SWAG.
According to Kamila Kocialkowska of the New Statesman:
The term, coined by analyst Joe Roseman of Investment Week denotes “alternate investments” which manage to defy economic gravity – namely silver, wine, art and gold.

Kandinsky: Drei Reiter
Courtesy of Worthington Gallery, Chicago

Art on the BIG screen

Wonderful works of art appearing on the big scree- hopefully near you!  Please support this.
http://www.exhibitiononscreen.com

Todays Tatoos and Patchboxes

You stumble across so many fascinating things doing appraisal research!

Patch-box, Charles Gouyn's Factory, London, ca. 1749-1754, Porcelain, enamel, and gilt, 3.5 cm x 4.1 cm, The Victoria and Albert Museum, London, 414:277-1885.

Some people today think they’re so cool with their  “tats”!

While this may not be tattooing- ladies were certainly decorating their skin way back when!

patch box,  small, usually rectangular, sometimes oval box used mostly as a receptacle for beauty patches, especially in the 18th century. During the days of Louis XV, black patches of gummed taffeta were popular with fashionable women (and sometimes men) who wanted to emphasize the beauty or whiteness of their skin.

The patches varied in form and design from simple spots, stars, or crescents to elaborate animals, insects, or figures. Patches had their own tacit language: a patch at the corner of the eye could indicate passion, one at the middle of the forehead could express dignity. Women sometimes carried their patch boxes (which sometimes also contained rouge) with them. A gift of a patch box could be a costly expression of admiration and sentiment, for they were usually gold, sometimes enameled or painted with amorous scenes and encrusted with jewels.

How does the fit in with appraising?  Well, like a detective, we have to gather many, many clues to research what we appraise.  If I see a painting that seems to be very old, ONE of the clues I use are costume, and appearance of the subject.  If a lady sports a patch box, I would use that clue to help date the painting from the 1700’s. 

Costco to sell "art" again----

Industrial sized art?  
Here's the link:
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/06/arts/design/costco-returns-to-the-business-of-selling-fine-art.html?_r=0

Here are my BUYER BEWARE tips:
Please note that this goes pretty much for all art buying!

Is it authentic?  
Just because you are handed "a certificate" that anyone can write, does not mean that the official body, that determines if a Warhol or a Picasso is authentic, has determined that it is real.    A SF dentist that bought at Costco found THAT out!  Speaking of which, even those authentication groups have been plagued by misattributions and loads of lawsuits.

There is a group of artists that you should not touch with a 10 foot pole because of issues of fraud.   You can get in touch with me to find out if a work  you are considering, or have, is one of them. 

Who is selling it?
What is their background?  How many years have they been in business?  Do they belong to organizations that promote ethical behavior and expertise like:  International Fine Print Dealers Assoc., or  Art Dealers Association of America?
You would like to buy fine art?
What to do?  Buy from an established dealer that you can trust and will take back that piece if there are any irregularities!  

Was the word "investment" used?
Anyone that uses the word like a financial term trying to insinuate that buying that a work of art is like an investment- be DOUBLY cautious!   Selling art is very difficult.  Art is also not a very liquid asset.  So, thinking you are going to make a fast buck on art; is not realistic.   Cruise ships are notorious places of dishonest dealing because there is no binding law out there on the high seas!     

What is the fine print?
Auction  Houses are famous for putting in the, itty bitty, teeny weeny,  fine print all sorts of reasons why they will not be responsible if the art work you bought from them is not the real deal.   Do your homework, just like you would when you buy a car, refrigerator, couch. 

What is the reputation of the seller?
So, let see:  The reputation of Costco:  Several years ago Picasso's daughter questioned the authenticity of her father's works that were being sold there.  They stopped selling art for a few years.   Red flag?
Look at what they offer and what they're good at:  Mainly household goods.  It's a big jump to sell "real" art, due to it's complexity.   

If you want wall decoration;  then, lets call a spade a spade.   That's about as far as I'm comfortable going:  Costco is selling wall decorations.  

While it might be a "feel good" moment,  that the warehouse is trying to capture, by "bringing art to the masses"; buyer beware.  
You only have 90 days to determine what you bought is authentic and return it.  

You can find a lot of living artists that will really enhance your life and home, but it's an adventure to find them.   The Bay Area in particular has A LOT of artists just waiting to help you own original art for decent prices.  Galleries often times too, will deal on price.  Just beware of slick stories and "Certificates of Authenticity".  Those things should raise a red flag right away!

Oh, by the way- is your art  insured adequately?   I can help you with some general suggestions for that too. 

Claudia W. Hess
www.hessappraisalgrp.vpweb.com

Carnegie Mellon receives a pledge of $265 Million that will be used for among other things fusion of left- right brain thinking research.  Pleasanton Chamber of Commerce: The Arts mean business.

                                   The author and friend Kevin in front of the orange painting he painted.

I say it again: Creative endeavors are America's lifeline to the future.  Support Arts creation and education! 

For a good book to start thinking about left-right brain fusion with interesting facts and games to try:
Daniel Pink: "A Whole New Mind"
And remember: "People rarely succeed at anything unless they are having fun doing it." (Southwest Airlines)

Is it in good condition? Or: The 70 million dollar elbow.

Yes, a tear right across the face of that lovely maiden in your painting will sink the value of the painting quite a bit. Who wants to buy damaged goods?  We appraisers will usually be able to see repairs or have the tools to find them.                                    The most famous story about a damaged painting recalls how Steve Wynn accidentally put his elbow through a Picasso RIGHT before his fellow art collecting pal Steve Cohen was due to pay $139,000,000.00 for it.  That unfortunate incident dropped the painting’s value by 70 million! 

Yes, a restorer could have repaired it, but Picasso is dead, and not around to repair his own painting.   So, it not longer is a 100% Picasso painting. 

                                         Le Rêve (The Dream) by Pablo Picasso

Please do NOT DREAM of ever “repairing ” any of your works of art that could be of value.  How do you know if it’s valuable?  Hire an appraiser, of course!  

Check out the story in detail: http://www.newyorker.com/archive/2006/10/23/061023ta_talk_paumgarten.

Keeping your valuables safe in vacation time

Protect Yourself during Summer Vacations:

Try to keep all valuable and fragile objects at least three inches off the floor in case of flooding.

Get some lights on a timer.

A few weeks before make sure your alarm is in working order and provide your alarm company with your vacation contact information.

Have someone check on your home weekly to find problems sooner rather than later!

Image: Courtesy of Worthington Gallery, Inc., Chicago.   www.worthingtonartchicago.com