AUSTRALIAN ART - SIGNED OR UNSIGNED ?

I have been informed over the years by different art dealers that it's only Australian art collectors and dealers that have concerns, when they are considering to bid on an unsigned art work in auction, attributed by the auction company to a noted artist.

Apposed to buying a signed work by that same artist,

overseas collectors and dealers think completely differently when it comes too buying unsigned art work.

International collectors and dealers are not concerned at all when buying unsigned art by noted artists.

My point is overseas collectors or dealers will back their knowledge and professional judgement when buying an unsigned painting by noted artists ?

So my question is this, is an unsigned painting by a noted artist not worth the same money as a signed painting, painted by the same artist ?

I would beg to differ, and my opinion is this, that an unsigned painting is no different to a signed painting, painted by the same artist.

As long as it's a finished painting opposed to an unfinished painting and the only fault you may find with the painting as a personal point of view is it's not signed.

Example; what is your point of view with this scenario, a ''Picasso'' is offered for auction and this particular painting is not signed ? but looks like a ''Picasso.''

And mark my words there are plenty around the world authentic ''Picasso's'' and many FAKE ''Picasso's'' but can you tell the difference, is the question, I'm just using ''Picasso'' as an example.

There has been many good artist's over the years that have not signed their paintings for one reason or another.

And the auction house in this case, does not have the expertise to say it is ''Picasso'' or not a ''Picasso'' ?

But the auction company will be offering the painting for sale regardless, who do you think determines the value of that unsigned work ''Picasso'' well as in the past and will do in the future, the expert collectors and art dealers who have a knowledge when buying and selling and collecting works painted by ''Picasso'' who are experts in their given field are the people who determine whether the painting is right or wrong, REAL OR FAKE.

The value of a signed painting compared to unsigned painting depends on a few things, which is the quality of the work, the subject or location of that work, the size of the work is also a factor in evaluating the unsigned work, when comparing the two painting, signed and unsigned.

Another factor relating to the value of an unsigned painting is if the Auction Company or art dealer who has it up for sale, attributes the unsigned work to the correct artist ?

This post is for you the viewer too make some judgements about some of the paintings that I have uploaded, and lets see how you go with attributing the correct artist to the correct painting.

Lets pretend all the paintings I have uploaded are unsigned, and your task is to name the Artists ?

Do you think you can, the four paintings I will upload will not show any signatures, so you will need to have some idea who the artist is in the first place, to have any chance of putting a name to the paintings.

leave your comments or your guess to whom you think these paintings are painted by down the bottom of the post and I will reply, you can be anonymous.

Go on have a go, test yourself

Kind regards Lester

KNOX CITY LIBRARY - VIDEO

This video will give you the viewer, some idea how I conduct the Antique Roadshow Seminar for Libraries Inner Melbourne and Country Victoria.

My Antique evaluation talk is a two hour evaluation session for Library patrons, my experience spans 30 years in the Antique trade.

The evaluation talk has no hidden agenda's, what I mean by that statement is I do not try to buy items from Library patrons.

I am payed a flat fee by the Library to talk about the Antique trade in general, telling Library patrons how to research their Antique's or Collectibles, and some interesting insider stories.

I show the library patrons the best way to sell their particular Antiques, the reason I explain to the Library patron, how and where to sell there Antique bedroom chair opposed to giving details how and where to sell their sterling silver America's Cup is because the two Antique items are completely different Antiques.

You will need to consider Auction Companies are not all the same, some can auction furniture better than they can sell sterling silver and others can auction paintings better than they can sell china.

There are many different ways of selling Antiques ? like a Antique Auction, Garage sale, the News paper or the Trading post, selling out right to an Antique dealer.

Some Antique items sell better sending them over seas, some items sell better in a Collectible Auction, some items sell better in a weekly Auction.

Example; Its possible that you would not sell your Picasso painting at the same Auction Company, as you sell your bedroom chair ? and its likely you would not sell your sterling silver America's Cup in the same Auction Company as your 3 piece lounge suite ?

My point is there are many different ways of selling, depending on what the Antique item is that your trying to sell ?

We also touch on how to research Antiques and Collectibles, there are many ways to research your particular Antique.

I can evaluate most Antique items the Library patron bring to the evaluation session, in most cases I can tell the patron about the age and the value, the best way to sell, that's if your wanting to sell your item in the future.

I also explain a process how you can research your Antique item, so you do not get caught selling cheaply, to dishonest people in the Antique trade, who are happy to rip you off.

Who will, and are happy to tell you anything, so they can buy your item as cheaply as possible.

Be very careful of any valuer or dealer even a representative of any Antique Auction Company who will say, this item you have is worth $2000 dollars and in the same breath wants to buy it, at the value he or she has just placed on it ?

A REAL CONFLICT OF INTEREST FOR ANY VALUER TOO VALUE ANY ANTIQUE AND THEN WANTING TO BUY THAT ITEM, ON HIS OR HER OWN EVALUATION.

ALARM BELLS SHOULD BE RINGING BY THIS TIME IF ANY VALUER OR REPRESENTATIVE TRY'S TO BUY FROM YOU BEFORE GOING TO AUCTION.

Lester Devere - Email me at AntiqueRoadshow@hotmail.com