Art Auctions: Live or Online
We work with clients throughout Central Massachusetts, Greater Boston, and the rest of New England, to sell their inherited or collected art, both in a live-auction setting and in an online auction.
Why might you need an art auction?
Imagine sending a $20,000 painting to Goodwill. It has happened. Many incredibly valuable pieces sit unnoticed for many years.
Whether you’ve just inherited a bunch of belongings or are just trying to downsize a bit, you’re better off steering clear of the donation box until you’ve had an expert have a look at your oil paintings, photographs, and other art pieces. You may just have a lot of money sitting on your walls, and if you’re not an antiques expert you’d be hard-pressed to tell. (For more info, see our page on How Valuable Is Your Antique Painting? Easy Ways to Tell If You Should Sell Your Painting at Auction.)
Edward Hill 1879 – Old Man of Mountain Signed painting – sold for $10,000 at our December 2021 auction from a Providence estate
Why not just sell the art at an estate sale?
If you’ve only got one or two moderately valuable pieces, selling at an estate sale might be the way to go. However, if you own many valuable art pieces or several highly valuable pieces you might want to use a dedicated art auction to reach out to collectors who are willing to pay top dollar for the works in your possession.
Are paintings the only pieces that might sell at art auctions?
No. Sculptures, pottery, stained glass, art deco pieces, gold crafted and silver crafted pieces can all sell for top volume when they’ve been properly appraised and made available for sale at a professional art auction. Avoid making any assumptions! And yes, even pieces which might seem absolutely hideous to you might have some value among collectors. You just never know until you get a professional’s eyes on it.
Can you conduct an online art auction?
Yes. We auction art online and at live auctions regularly. We will sell your art in the venue which best suits it. It’s all about strategy, and creating the auction type which will serve you and/or the estate best.
When we meet with you we’ll discuss the best strategy for selling your art so you get top dollar for your valuables.
You can check our current online auctions here.
I’ve considered keeping some of this art.
Great! You might want us to appraise it for you anyway. First, this will allow you to make an informed decision about what you want to do with your piece. Second, because you will need a proper appraisal if you want to insure your art in the future.
I know I’ve got high-value art, but I still want to donate it.
That’s fine. You just need to get it appraised so you know the dollar value of what you are donating. The IRS requires you to appraise anything that’s worth more than $5000, and you certainly aren’t getting the full value of your tax write off if you donate a $10,000 painting and then claim $20 of donations on your taxes. Getting an art appraisal is just smart, no matter what you intend to do with the pieces.
What makes a piece of art valuable?
What’s the difference between a piece of art that can sell for hundreds or even thousands of dollars and a piece of art that sells for less than a pizza?
The first thing you need to consider is whether the piece is an original piece or a print, replica, or other facsimile. Sometimes a print, plate, or other collectable replica can still be worth a great deal, though, especially if it’s very rare. Don’t discount any piece without an appraisal.
Next we’d look at the artist. It doesn’t need to be a Monet or a Dali to have great value. Even an artist’s presence in one prestigious gallery can drive up the value. The sales record matters, too, as does the artist’s body of work: Pieces reflective of the artist’s known style are more valuable than outlier pieces.
Another thing we look at is the ownership history. Influential collectors lend prestige to a piece. A piece owned by a historical figure might hold more value.
The value of a piece of art ultimately depends on what someone will pay. Does the piece have cultural significance? Does it tie into a historical event? Does it catch the eye of a collector who likes the piece at the right time and place?
Contrary to popular belief, a piece of art does not have to be hundreds of years old to be worth auctioning off. Some of our biggest sellers were 20th century art pieces.
Determining the potential worth of your art can take a great deal of research and digging, which is why we suggest getting an evaluation before you make any decisions.
What kind of returns can you expect at an art auction?
Here are some results from past auctions.
- We sold a William Scott painting, “Nine Pears on a White Plate,” for $117,500.
- We sold a Barbara Hepworth painting, “Rhythmic Form,” for $31,000
- We sold a Michael Malpass “Sunset Sphere II” metal sculpture for $3,750
- We sold an 1957 Pablo Picasso Limited Edition Owl Earthenware Plate for $13,000
- We sold a Bessie Potter Vonnoh bronze statue called “In Arcadia” for $9,500
An art auction is full of surprises. Even some of the cheapest pieces often are worth hundreds of dollars. Whether you have one valuable painting or a handful of relative peanuts, the whole process will likely be worth your while.
