Seller Information
Do you own a priceless work of art? Do you appreciate the piece for its beauty, cultural value, or do you see it as an investment? Do you display it or hide it away? Do you spend hours enjoying the work's magnificent qualities, or is it just another valuable possession?
It is sometimes difficult to be honest about our relationship with an object of value. As a comparison, society tells us we could learn to enjoy opera, but for many of us, opera just doesn't have the emotional appeal that a good country western song does. The same is true about fine art. The late President Harry Truman said, "I don't know art, but I know what I like." This is often profoundly true.
Good art has always been touted as a good investment. But is that always true? The investment value of art is as complex as option trading on the commodity market. It takes years of formal education to learn the history of art and the context in which its value is created. The background and history of the artist is part of the history and value of the piece of artwork itself. Even for the professional, learning the standards of the art market is fraught with the danger of failure when determining what pieces will increase in value over what period of time. Add that the art market is fickle to the serious collector, and you have an area of expertise incomprehensible to most of us.
Art is not a passive investment:
Art is degradable. Protecting your investment requires stringent environmental conditions to prevent humidity, sunlight, mold, fading, and many other factors that can affect an oil painting or watercolor. If you are displaying your masterpieces in your home, it is very possible, though unintentional, that you are slowly destroying their quality and value.
Art is a security risk. Is your home or office as secure as the art deserves? Would you frame thousands of dollars of cash and put it on your wall where any visitor could see it, including those with nefarious intentions? Do you let just anyone have access to your bank account? International art theft has increased drastically over the past fifty years. Some of the most famous paintings in the world have been stolen with little hope of recovery. How can pieces that are instantly recognizable disappear without a trace? Because there are private collectors who are far more concerned with possessing art than in the legal niceties of ownership. Art can be easily transported to any part of the world, and the black market on stolen art is increasing every day.
Art wants to be appreciated. Are you storing your art in a protected vault, only occasionally viewing it to check your investment? This may be a wise financial move, but defeats the purpose of the artist and those who would gain great pleasure from seeing your work of art. What is the true value of art that is never viewed by those who can appreciate its greatness?
Art is high maintenance. Consider the cost of security, insurance, protection from the elements, the cost of restoration when necessary, and the cost of proper presentation. Is it worth having bragging rights? Of course, the more you brag about and display your art, the higher the risk of theft.
Are you truly enjoying your art? Do you want to spend the effort to give it the protection all great art deserves, even demands? Are you certain you are making a good investment by keeping your masterpiece in your possession? Would you know if it was replaced with a good copy? Would you be able to recognize the difference? If the answer to any of these questions is "no", then you might want to give serious consideration to transforming your art investment into a medium that provides greater security and reliable returns.
If you are not a serious art collector, but have a serious piece of art, consider using the services of Masterpiece Art, LLC. We will appraise your work of art to determine a realistic market value. Your identity will be kept confidential until a serious buyer is found; a buyer meeting your price. You avoid the risk of an under-value sale that can occur when using an auction house. In addition, Masterpiece Art, LLC offers a lower commission rate than auction houses or the public art market.