How Not to Buy Stolen, Looted or Forged Art

  • Check with a stolen art database;
  • Ask about the provenance, then actively check it;
  • Look at the back of works, outside of their frames;
  • Ask about forensic testing;
  • Do not buy any antiquity that may have come from conflict zones, like Syria and Iraq 

Popular posts from this blog

Who Rightfully Owns Cultural Artifacts?

Image
In the movie Black Panther a black visitor confronts a white curator over African artifacts in a fictional British museum. "How do you think your ancestors got these?" the visitor asks. "You think they paid a fair price? Or did they take it — like they took everything else?" A similar discussion is happening in museums around the world over the volume of African art in their collections. According to UNESCO, 90% to 95% of sub-Saharan cultural artifacts are housed outside Africa. The question is, is it normal that such a large part of the African cultural heritage is in Europe or in Western museums? Many argue that it is not. They contend that the country of origin has the right to possess its own cultural artifacts and exhibit them in museums located in the homeland. Others claim international museums provide scientific research on these precious objects, along with a venue that allows more people to view them. Many directors from major international museums have decl…
Read more

New Dr. Seuss Book Teaches Children About Art

Image
"Dr. Seuss's Horse Museum," a manuscript discovered 21 years after the author's death, is expected to be released this fall. According to the publisher, it follows an "affable horse as he takes a group of students on a guided tour of an art museum." In a press release the publisher added that it will show how everyone sees the world through art differently, adding "there is no one right way to interpret the beauty we encounter every day." News flash: Be on the lookout for some familiar characters, such as the Cat in the Hat, Horton the Elephant and the Grinch, to make cameo appearances in this new book.
Read more

"What The World Needs Now-Is Love, Sweet Love"

Image
When I think of this musical refrain, one artist immediately comes to mind, aka “the Founder of the Happy Art Movement” - Romero Britto. I met the artist several years ago in Miami at a pop-up exhibition, and the impression he left has been long lasting. I find myself drawing upon the exuberance and optimism of his spirit and his art. More than ever, it is art that lifts us up and gives us hope, comfort, and strength to make it through these challenging times.

As a professional art appraiser, it is my job to analyze and interpret art market data. I closely observe trends with an eye toward where the art market is moving. From my perspective, the art of Romero Britto falls into a new genre of art which is the wave of the future of art collecting for a new generation of global collectors. But don’t just take my word for it – take a look at his robust roster of endorsers: Disney, Hasbro, Ferrari, Porsche, Dolce Gabbana, Carnival Cruise Line, Mattel, Coca-Cola, and the list goes on…

Art ana…
Read more