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Tucson, Arizona | Published: 05.04.2008
Q We paid something like $5,000 for a painting in 1950. I cannot read the signature. I want it appraised and took it to a gallery owner who offered me $2,000 for it. I cannot find a professional appraiser here. Are there any in my area?
— David, Tucson
A Several issues are at play. First, values do not automatically appreciate with age. If that were true, anyone with old furniture, clothes, art and so forth would be sitting pretty. Tastes change, as does the market. That's what makes collecting so interesting.
Five thousand dollars was a lot of money in 1950. Did the seller provide a letter of authentication? Smart collectors always demand a signed statement warranting that the item is what the seller claims it is. For a painting, the dealer's letterhead note includes the artist's name and a description of the work, plus a money-back guarantee if the piece is not as represented. The buyer has the right to demand certification or an attorney's approval. Put the paper in a lock box. That way, one never "loses" a signature. It's also documentation for heirs.
Have you contacted a professional appraisal organization? I'm sure at least one will list a qualified, certified art appraiser in your area. If the painting is so esoteric that it needs evaluation in, say, New York, you can consider shipping it fully insured.
FYI: To find a professional appraiser in your area, try www.appraisersassoc.org, www.isa-appraisers.org or www.appraisers.org.
Q Dad was a Navy pilot in World War II and bought a Hummel Nativity collection of 10 pieces in Germany. The mark is a "V" with the bee inside. Value?
— Kurt, Bangor, Maine
A There is good news and bad news on Hummels. On the down side, the market is nowhere as flush as it was decades ago. Tastes change, and original buyers are aging and selling off. Unfortunately, they discover that younger buyers find zero appeal in "cute," including Hummels.
On the plus side, you have a Nativity scene, and as long as Christmas is collectible, those Hummels will be desirable. If selling is a goal, your task is to find a motivated buyer.
I could quote book value, but book prices do not reflect market reality. A highly regarded source on Hummels is "No. 1 Price Guide to M.I. Hummel Figurines, Plates, Miniatures and More" by Robert L. Miller. Now out of print, versions from 2000 to 2003 are on Amazon.com. "Luckey's Hummel Figurines and Plates: 12th Edition" by Carl F. Luckey is another source. Luckey's lists individual pieces in the 214 (a mold number) Nativity set, first designed in 1951, at $85 to $3,000. Clearly, some pieces are more desirable than others, and therefore pricier. Certain sets are more sellable because buyers pay for pieces they want. With Hummels, it is important to consider size, markings, color and the date of issue.
A book can be especially useful in identifying marks. There are multiple versions of the stated mark, spanning 1940 to 1979. Nuance matters.
A Hummel dealer buys back (if they buy) at half retail or less. Often a lot less. Unless in a targeted auction, Hummels often sell in box lots. The most accessible, true measure of value is online sale results.
Completed sales on eBay show that an 11-piece 214 set sold at $600. A 21-piece set with stable brought $1,272.50.
If price is curiosity only, you now have ballpark figures. Before selling, evaluate comparable sets by size and color, characters, etc.
Courtesy of Christie's
● Send e-mail to smartcollector@comcast.net or write Danielle Arnet, c/o Tribune Media Services, 435 N. Michigan Ave., Suite 1400, Chicago, IL 60611. Please include an address in your query. Photos cannot be returned.
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