How to Purchase Fine Art
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Rachel_Spohn]Rachel Spohn
You are finally at the stage in life where you can move from merely appreciating art to being able to purchase it for your home. But if you don't have much experience buying this luxury item, it can be a daunting task to find where, when, and how to buy. Here are a few guidelines for purchasing fine art that will have you soon on your way to buying like an expert.
When you are first considering a purchase, it is important to be as objective as possible. Make sure you get what you pay for by learning as much as you can about how the artistic market works and by gathering as much information as possible about the particular style, period, or artist you are interested in. Luckily, you have two ways of going about this pre-buying research. One method is to research the artist's significance and output in exhibition catalogues, books, and reviews by national and local critics. The second research method involves looking through available sale records in major public libraries and art galleries to determine how much the artist's work has gone for in the past.
Buying comes in all shapes and sizes; for instance you can choose to buy online, at an auction, or through a dealer. If it is your first time, your best bet is to find a gallery dealer. When buying through a gallery dealer, there are some key elements to consider before making a purchase.
The first is quality. A piece's quality is half subjective and half based on the artist's track record and his or her area within the artists' body of work that the piece is from. Another important element, rarity, can have an effect on quality. The rarity of a particular work is judged by the artist's output and availability.
A second consideration is condition. When it comes to determining value, a work's condition is a central factor, yet is often overlooked when a purchase is considered. To what extent has the work been cleaned, lined, and restored? A good dealer should be able to answer these questions and convey, in clear and understandable terms, the work's condition.
Third, authenticity. All qualified dealers will guarantee the authenticity of his or her merchandise in writing. One way of going about establishing authenticity is a work's exhibition history and provenance. (Provenance is a record of known ownership of a piece, in a lot of cases going back to the artist.) It is important to remember that authentic works can come with little or no provenance.
A final piece to the purchasing puzzle is the difference between dealer guarantees and auction "guarantees." A reputable dealer backs up your purchase, whereas an auction house is limited by "buyer beware" guidelines. It is important to understand that your protection is limited when buying at an auction.
Ferrell's Gallery ( http://ferrellsartgallery.com) brings Louisiana fine art within your reach with exquisite, guaranteed offerings. Rachel Spohn is a freelance writer.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Rachel_Spohn http://EzineArticles.com/?How-to-Purchase-Fine-Art&id=1859862