Product Description

Ever wonder if that painting gathering dust in the attic is a lost Rembrandt or a forgotten Van Gogh? Here, you'll find a guide to all the resources you need to make that call. This work gives the reader a broad overview of the contemporary art world, focusing on the myriad factors that go into the valuation of an art work and the various resources available to both novice and expert investor.

From the gallery to the auction house, this book explores the major venues of art acquisition. This book is an equally useful tool for researching the value of hand- and factory-made decorative and utilitarian arts, including pottery, glass, porcelain, metal and other media. It introduces basic terminology for the art collector and covers the basics of artwork analysis and documentation, including a concise overview of database researching methods and online resources. Published sources such as artists' catalogues raisonnés, exhibition catalogues, dictionaries and encyclopedias are identified with full annotation provided. Techniques for research into the history and provenance of a work are also discussed. Appendices provide a list of periodicals covering current art market issues and a directory of auction houses with pertinent website information.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #307436 in Books
• Published on: 2006-03-03
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 286 pages

About the Author
Tom McNulty is the librarian for Fine Arts at New York University's Bobst Library. He is also a freelance research consultant for O'Toole-Ewald Art Associates, Inc.

Customer Reviews

A detailed survey of how to determine the value of art works
If you've been wondering about the value of art works in your home or in a relative's estate, here's the place to look for guidance: ART MARKET RESEARCH: A GUIDES TO METHODS AND SOURCES isn't your usual valuation attempt but a detailed survey of how to determine the value of art works. Chapters survey major venues of art acquisition, terminology, the basics of analysis and how to research through databases and online. Techniques for authentication and determining art history are also a feature, while the bibliographic references are outstanding for further research detail. Serious art collectors and aspiring collectors alike will find plenty to learn from here, from methodology to art appreciation in general.

Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch