If you live in Phoenix, Arizona, or anywhere in the United States, perhaps you know that we are home to several historic neighborhoods with houses built in the 1930s and earlier. Many such houses still stand today, whether remodeled, restored, or maintained through the decades. You know where we’re going with this. Basements and attics, which are common in just about every house in the country, may hold decades of forgotten objects. If you live in an old home, valuable artwork may appear where you least expect it, tucked between antique furniture, stacked under newspapers, or placed behind old mirrors. We don’t always know who put it there or why, but when a piece surfaces on your property, you need to know whether it’s a masterpiece or merely decorative.
What to Do If You Found a Potential Masterpiece in the Attic or Basement
Below is a step-by-step guide on what to do if you find an old painting or a print tucked away by previous homeowners or your ancestors.
Step 1: Initial Inspection and Condition Check
Begin by carefully examining the artwork. Place it under good lighting and look closely for tears, discoloration, flaking paint, water damage, mold, or insect damage. Restoration could still save a valuable piece. Note signatures, dates, inscriptions, or labels on both front and back.
Step 2: Identify the Medium and Technique
Identify whether it’s an oil painting, watercolor, pastel, print, lithograph, or etching. In most cases, oil paintings are more valuable than prints. You can determine the medium (the materials used) by observing the artwork’s texture, sheen, and surface quality. Paintings usually have visible brush strokes, while prints have a flat texture throughout.
Step 3: Research the Artist
Knowing who created the artwork can dramatically affect its value. Most artists sign their work, but signatures can fade or become indecipherable over time. If you can’t find a signature, try using a magnifying glass or looking at it under different lighting conditions. Once you’ve got a solid guess, a quick online search can reveal whether the artist is well-known or historically recognized.
Step 4: Check the Catalogue Raisonné
Once you identify the artist, you can check a catalogue raisonné (pronounced ray-zoh-NAY), a detailed, scholarly record of every known artwork by artists in a specific medium or all media. It lists paintings, drawings, or sculptures complete with descriptions, photos, histories, and sometimes notes on fakes.
Step 5: Research Comparable Artworks
If your piece isn’t listed in a catalogue raisonné, search online auction databases or art marketplaces such as Sotheby’s, Christie’s, or Artprice to look for similar works by the artist. Note down prices realized at auction or current asking prices at reputable galleries. Comparing your artwork to similar pieces can give you a realistic sense of its market value and desirability.
Step 6: Check the Artwork’s Age
Older artworks are generally more valuable, especially if they’re well-preserved. If there’s no date on the piece and you didn’t find the artwork in a catalogue raisonné or art marketplaces, look for clues in the style or materials. For example, hand-stretched canvases or cracked paint (craquelure) may hint that the piece is from the 16th century. Even rusted nails, old gallery labels, or discolored varnish can help narrow down when it was made.
Just remember, age alone doesn’t guarantee value. A 200-year-old amateur sketch might be worth less than a mid-century modern painting by a famous artist. But if your piece shows signs of age, it’s worth digging deeper!
Step 7: Check the Frame’s Quality
The frame isn’t just there to make an artwork look nice. Sometimes, it’s a treasure all on its own. Antique or handcrafted frames can increase the value of a painting or print. Many collectors and appraisers pay closer attention to frames because high-quality ones can make the entire piece more desirable and expensive.
So, how do you know if your frame is special? Start by examining the overall construction. Solid wood, like oak or walnut, is a good sign, particularly if it has hand-carved designs. Older frames might show slight wear, like faded gilding or minor dents, but that’s part of their charm. Ornate Baroque or Rococo-style frames, for example, were popular during the 18th and 19th centuries and are highly collectible today. Even simpler frames can be valuable if they’re original to the artwork, since keeping a piece in its first frame preserves historical integrity.
In addition, look for details like real gold leaf (not just gold paint), plaster embellishments, or signed maker’s marks on the back. Some frames were made by famous artisans or framing studios, which can add to their worth. And if the frame matches the style of the artwork, say, an Impressionist painting in a late 1800s French frame, that’s a big plus.
Step 8: Visit an Art Appraiser Near You
Getting a professional appraisal is the most reliable way to assess your artwork’s authenticity and market value. Choose an appraiser accredited by the International Society of Appraisers (ISA) or the American Society of Appraisers (ASA), or those with credentials in your artwork’s category, whether fine paintings, prints, or antiques.
For professional art appraisals in the Scottsdale-Phoenix area, contact us to discuss your needs and our services.
Step 9: Brace Yourself for the Truth
After all your research and hopeful guesses, it’s time for the professionals to weigh in.
If the verdict is positive, congratulations! Move on to the last step to know your options.
On the other hand, if the answer isn’t what you hoped, don’t despair. Not every old painting is a lost masterpiece, but that doesn’t mean it’s worthless. Either way, you’ll walk away with answers, and maybe a better eye for your next treasure hunt.
Step 10: If It’s a Masterpiece, Consider Selling or Keeping It
Finally, decide what you want from your newfound masterpiece. You can sell the artwork here at Biltmore Loan and Jewelry, loan it to a museum, or insure it, keep it, and wait for its value to rise even more. However, if the piece holds sentimental value within your family, it might be best to preserve it regardless of its market worth. And if it doesn’t have a high appraisal, its value as an heirloom or connection to your family tree can make it priceless.