Fine Art Insurance: Investing in Fine Art
For the past few years, the economy has been trickling into an unfortunate depression. Many people from all socioeconomic classes are frantic to find different avenues to flourish in. Many have turned to collectibles, hoping to get a good return in their investment. Although collectibles have always been notable and prosperous assets, it is no longer the same as it was before. Unlike most unstable markets, such as gold, sports memorabilia, and fine jewelry; fine art is proving to be rather profitable investment. Fine art collectors both new and experienced should not carelessly go into the industry without a few tips on choosing the right investment. Regardless of the consistent profitability, purchasing the wrong art piece can easily turn this into a bad investment. Here are a few tips ensure a good investment.
Firstly, spend a substantial amount of time researching and educating yourself; look through art magazines and art history books. You may also want to hire an art consultant that is both knowledgeable of the industry and understands your artistic preferences. Secondly, visit as many art galleries, art museums, and art expos as possible. Once you have acquired sufficient knowledge of the industry as well, you can start to feel the pulse of new, up and coming artists. Next, start “window shopping.” While you certainly want to look for pieces that you love, also take into consideration of the types of pieces with a good return in your investment. During this economy, it is reasonable to be selfish with your money, as many of these pieces can range from $10,000 to $250,000.
The best investments are original pieces from notable, well established artists. Whether you plan to sell the artwork in the future, original pieces will always have value. In order to avoid purchasing reproductions, assess and confirm that the piece is original.
How to evaluate the authenticity of a fine art piece:
- Signatures- Search for the artist’s birth/death dates.
- Hand-signed and numbered
- Certificates of Authenticity
- Aside from original pieces from notable artists, oil paintings also have a good return in an investment. However, there are paintings that hold more value than others.
How to evaluate a fine art valuable oil painting:
- Portraits
- Attractive women in dresses
- Age- the kind of canvass and nails used may indicate the age of the artwork
Regardless of the “type” of artwork you purchase, ensure that it is off good quality. Quality includes color saturation and condition and the differences in this may substantially increase/decrease the price.
If you are an owner of fine art, we’d like to discuss how to protect your investment for the next generation and beyond. Please call us today for fine art insurance at 203.265.0996, email us, or return the form on this page.