Many people mistakenly believe that art appraisal and art authentication are the same things. They are not the same thing. They are very different. Below is a description of the differences between art authentication and art appraisal. The difference between art appraisal and art authentication can significantly impact the value of your valuables.
What is Art Authentication?
Art authentication refers to the process of proving that an original piece of art is authentic, i.e., it is what it purports to be. It requires a lot of research by recognized experts.
There are many ways to authenticate art. The specific piece will determine the method used to authenticate it. The process of authenticating an artwork is very different from that of authenticating it as a sculpture.
No matter what piece of art, authentic art authentications all have one thing in common:
A qualified authority performs art authentication. A qualified authority in art matters is a recognized professional who has the credentials and authority to support their claims.
The artworld is extremely isolated. The most qualified authorities are often curators or noted experts who have authored hundreds of thousands of articles in their fields, artists themselves, and/or the descendants/friends of the artist in question.
When it comes to art authentication and qualified authorities, the most important thing is to remember that there are experts in every field. Just mention the piece, and everyone will be able to recall the names of some notable authorities.
2. Art authentication must be accompanied by documentation. This documentation is known as provenance in the art world. Provenance refers to the documented history of an art piece. Provenance can be in many forms: sales receipts and articles in newspapers and magazines mentioning the piece. Previous owners may also be mentioned. Films/recordings by the artist discussing the piece are all examples.
In most cases, verifiable provenance increases the value of artwork because it gives a detailed history. Although provenance can be falsified, it is easy to verify and identify.
Now that you are familiar with art authentication let us turn our attention towards art appraisals.
What is an art appraisal?
An art appraisal simply identifies the value of an art piece. The value of an item can be determined by many factors, including current market value, market demand, replacement value, and resale value.
An art appraisal involves two main factors: the market and the purpose of the art being appraised.
A piece’s fair market value may differ from its estate value. It can lead to a difference in the replacement value.
It is important to remember that art appraisals are only as reliable and trustworthy as the credentials of those who performed them.