| "I just bought a painting from an estate sale of a wealthy family. I think it is very valuable!," exclaimed the voice on the other end of the phone. I made an appointment to meet the excited treasure hunter at her residence to inspect the painting she purchased. She greeted me at the door and walked me into her living room where the painting was leaning up against a sofa. |
| |
| My attention moved quickly from the "treasure" she purchased to the painting hanging above her sofa. I asked her where she acquired it. "Oh, that's nothing, it is a painting I inherited. It hung above the mantle in my grandmother's home for as long as I can remember. I always enjoyed it and when she passed, I brought it into my home." |
| |
| I recognized it right away; it was a work by the acclaimed landscape artist T.C. Steele. Her treasure was not what she had purchased at the estate sale but what was hanging slightly crooked collecting dust on her living room wall. |
| |
| This is not an uncommon story. Many people make empty assumptions about their inherited artwork. They assume that a piece is worthless because the person they inherited it from was not wealthy or an "art collector." |
| |
| Wrong, wrong, wrong. |
| |
| I always suggest to our clients to look at their artwork as if they have not seen it before. With a fresh and unbiased eye, they often are surprised to find something revealing about their painting that always has gone unnoticed. |
| |
| So how should you begin this process? A good starting point is to look for a signature. Generally the signature is located in the lower or upper corners of the painting. In some cases the artist may sign it on the back of the work or incorporate the signature in the work itself, or may not sign it at all. |
| |
| Finding the signature may be the easy part, reading it may be as difficult as deciphering a prescription from a doctor. Reading signatures is an art of its own. If you are able to read the signature do a little research. There are several signature books available. If you are computer savvy, go online. |
| |
| So your painting isn't signed. That does not necessarily mean that it has no value. I can think of many specific cases where a painting may not be signed but still has a substantial value. |
| |
| It is always advisable to consult a professional appraiser before jumping to any conclusions on your discoveries, but this information will help you begin the treasure hunt on your walls. |
