Alfred Hair appraisal

A ridiculous appraisal will not help you sell your painting on eBay.

A realistic appraisal might not, either.

Copy/pasted from the eBay listing:

"This is an original Alfred Hair painting. Mr. Hair was the original highwayman and was killed in a bar fight when in his 20's. More can be found on him on Google by typing in his name. This painting was valued at $2500.00 and as high as $6500.00 fully restored."


http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=280606655438&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT

addendum 02/03/11

OK, boys and girls, if this posting is still available when you stumble upon my exciting blog, you can see that the seller, with all his shared "knowledge" of the value of this piece, started the bidding at $1700.00. It attracted attention, certainly, as would any original "fast painting" by such a famous deceased artist as Alfred Hair. It did not attract any bids, however.

And, what the hell, as long as I'm picking on this attempted transaction, despite the fact that Gary Monroy sold all those books titled " Harold Newton, the Original Highwayman", and despite the fact that Antiques and Art Around Florida published my article on the discovery of a painting by Newton and titled it (for me) "The Original Highwayman's Self Portrait Discovered and Sold", and despite the fact that Harold Newton met and worked with Backus before Hair was introduced to the old Beanster, this seller "enhanced" his listing by trumping all that and deciding that Alfred Hair was "the original highwayman".

Sheesh. How did THAT work out for him ?

The seller went fishing, but caught nothing. Ebay made money. End of story.

highwaymen art summary 2010

I'm feeling lazy and I need a few days off. Both of those things.
I'm just linking you to the other blog, something to read about, if you got a mind to.

http://highwaymenart.blogspot.com/

Merrry Christmas and Happy New Year.

2011 has to be better, doesn't it ?

Harold Newton, early or late ?

This is an interesting Harold, especially if you like action. Looks like a hurricane.

True to life, hurricanes are not especially colorful.

Howevah......................The style and colors and the frame he used confirms a later work.

So when Geraghty tells you it's EARLY, do not think it was painted in the 50's or 60's, but possibly in the late 70's, although it looks newer to me. 80's or 90's.

I wasn't there when Harold painted it, so I don't know for sure.
But I HAVE been studying his work for the last 15 years.

I DO believe he priced it fairly, and that's what matters in the end.

Another caveat emptor for your interpretation of eBay descriptions.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Highwaymen-Painting-Harold-Newton-highwaymen-ocean-/260709228765?pt=Art_Paintings&hash=item3cb37b20dd

H Newton appraisal policy chapter 5 or 6

Maybe this spells it out more clearly than in previous posts ?
You be the judge.

email received and responded to this morning.


Greetings,

I have a painting by H Newton that my dad gave me years ago. He acquired it when he lived in Palm Bay, Fl. It is approximately 18 by 22 and it is in great shape. I have attached some pics. Would you be a buyer? If not, can you direct me to an interested party?

Thank you kindly,


Ed, this is how I do it.

I can appraise paintings by use of images from emails in most cases. Yours are excellent.
I have a pretty good handle on which artists' works exist as prints or giclees, having studied this market since its birth 15 years ago.

**********************************

Each highwaymen artist has his own market, with values depending on a multitude of factors, most obviously the scene itself, elements within it, and size.

And although every painting is unique, there exists a lot of repetition.

There are several prices or values for each piece based on many factors.

A liquid price, which means I write a check to you and we're done.
If you choose this option, I return the appraisal fees. This requires physical inspection.
A fair wholesale asking price which is a little higher than what I would pay .
A fair retail price, higher still. What I would expect the market to bear.
What you could expect at auction minus commissions.
And the high retail insurance value I use for the certificates.

Upon payment, I give you these numbers and create the certificates.

There are willing buyers at fair wholesale. Fortunately I know a few.
Retail buyers are more difficult to find. And they are both fickle and picky.
However, there are probably a hundred buyers out there for something with the Harold Newton signature due to his fame on a national level and due to the promotion of getting him listed in various art references.
The two books about him don't hurt, either.

****************************************
My specialized knowledge has value.

I found out many years ago that if I give a free appraisal, I'll usually see the painting on eBay within a week and not even get a word of thanks.

Having a keen sense of the obvious, I found that annoying.
So, I adjusted my thinking.

I charge a flat fee of $ 100.00 per painting for appraisals which include a certificate of authenticity, an example of which is on the first website below.

This is a fraction of what you can pay for an appraisal by someone who is accredited by some group with initials, but unfamiliar with the market itself.

More detailed info on how I appraise things can be found in this newspaper article.

http://www.antiqueshoppefl.com/articles/sept10/newton0910.htm

Some people think I'm fair, some don't.

regards and happy holidays.

BOB

**************************************************

As an addendum, at least I got a fair response, as I'm posting below.

Free appraisals are worth what you pay for them. That's what offers really are.
I have no use for internet bidding wars.

I also believe that passing his information on to others has value.
So, I guess I'll have to turn that request down.

Bob,

Thanks for the reply. I am not in a position to pay money, I need money. That is why I am willing to part with the painting. If you are willing to make me an offer, I am all ears. If not, please pass my information on to others.

Thank you for your time.

Investment quality highwaymen art

There is highwaymen art.......................

and there is investment quality highwaymen art.

If you can't tell the difference, call me. I can tell.


I read this TCPalm to keep up with highwaymen news, and was surprised to find this article.

Boil it down, the wealthy are investing in art and the major houses that handle the high end stuff are thriving. Eventually this will trickle down to our little market, regional Florida art, and sales will perk up. This will push prices back upward, which will wake up the sheep, and they will invest more causing more price increases. The cycle will trend upwards again.

When will that happen ? When ?

Gain some confidence, people. Buy a damn Harold Newton.
You'll be glad you did. But don't just buy what I call "an autograph", a plain blah one. You gotta step up to the plate and buy a NICE one.

Here's the article:


By Marilyn Bauer
TCPalm
Posted November 18, 2010 at 12:08 p.m
As the first of the fall auctions in impressionist, contemporary and modern art commenced in New York, a group of about 20 Treasure Coast investors met at the Elliott Museum in Stuart for an educational presentation on entering what has proved to be a rapidly recovering art market.
With only weeks until the start of Art Basel Miami Beach — the famed international contemporary art show — the presentation by highly credentialed art consultant E. Sarah Paul registered as perfect timing. Paul will be back in town to give advice on what's hot and what's not just a few days before Art Basel begins, as a guest of UBS Financial Services, sponsors of the art as investment presentation.
"It's not unlike what The Lyric Theatre does when they bring an artist to town and have them do a program in the schools," said Craig D. Price, senior vice president with UBS. "I would like to emulate that model."
Price charmed the mostly female audience with his assessment on why to buy art now: "The government is pumping money into the economy in the hopes of stimulating inflation," Price said. "An asset that benefits from inflation is art, as well as gold and silver."
In other words, art is a great place to park one's wealth while waiting out the recession. (emphasis is mine, don't want you to miss it)
The art market has soared 39 percent in volume over last year, according to the Wall Street Journal. In addition, the New York auctions, which have not finished as of the writing of this column, are expected to sell 2,266 works equaling $1 billion.
The market increase has to do with significant de-accessioning of works by important collectors and newly minted millions from the BRIC countries (Brazil, Rio, India, China) interested in buying art at the New York auctions, thus inflating prices.
Paul, the 32-year-old founder of the developing website artcaste.com, is a well-educated innovator with experience in building important collections. She provided information for every level of collector, stressing research and legwork before making a purchase.
UBS took Paul's show to the Norton Museum of Art in West Palm Beach with plans to continue the invitation-only lunches through April.
Price is a class act dedicated to community building and enthusiastically promotes culture as a way of improving our standard of living.
"The idea for the luncheon was to give those who were collecting art in our community the chance to hear from an expert and to solidify a deeper connection to the arts locally," Price said.
Price sees great opportunity for collectors right here at home suggesting the work of landscape painter Cristina de la Vega, who was honored by the state, as a place to start.
Marilyn Bauer is a columnist for Scripps Treasure Coast Newspapers. This column reflects her views. Follow her blog at tcpalm.com/bauer.

highwaymen art appraisals at Florida antique shows

I do a lot of them.
I bring a CD player to the shows.
$35.00 at Walmart. They break, you buy a new one.

I like to play some soothing Stevie Ray while I'm doing appraisals to sooth the edgy anticipation of the customers.

Especially this one: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H7ZPMScX9-k

When the show opens, usually at nine a.m., here's the one I like to blast at full loudness.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NVphs8eP6c4&feature=related

I've done this at a Pete Clapp show when I was set up on the stage, overlooking a smallish room, probably 40 dealers with booths. Nice place just off 95 near Melbourne. Viera.

Some of the stodgy old farts gave me dirty looks, you know the ones who only listen to Barry Manilow and deal in delicate fancy glass and "very special" rare tea cups.

Mostly I got smiles, though, even though it was probably annoying more than anything else.

I knew it would be annoying, but I did it anyway, because I like attention at these shows.

Didn't get to play it all the way through, Pete came huffing and puffing up one of the aisles frantically motioning for me to turn it down.

highwaymen appraise and evaluate

Here's a quickie to either amuse or offend.

Ocala National Forest photograph.

My only question is, "Why ?"

Armadillo crossing ? We had like a plague of them one year here at the homestead in New Port Richey. New holes every day.

My kids were teens then, so, of course, they called them Armadildos.

I didn't hate it.