As a college student I visited swap meets as a study breaks. Once I thought I saw a round metal medallion, bas relief sculpture by Charles Russell in an individual’s case. I didn’t have $100 cash, but the check cashing business charged $6 to make it possible. Nervous about my purchase, my thumb started to dig at the bottom of the medallion. It seemed waxy in its texture. What looked like bronze was pot metal coated with a bronze colored wax.
My expectation was about selling the Russell medallion for a lot more than $100. Realizing that a pot metal reproduction would not yield that result, I immediately headed back to the seller in tears. I had spent money I could ill afford to lose. Fortunately, the “gentleman” realized that he would simply wait a little while longer until another “amateur art smarty” would take the bait–so I received the $100 back, resulting in a $6 learning curve.
A real gentleman recently explained that he and his wife are purchasing art that they enjoy looking at and that will add color to their home. They are expecting art to enhance their home and therefore, their lives.
Some people would like to combine both expectations by matching art that may increase in value with art that truly gives them pleasure to look at.
One funny, but true story had to do with my father’s friendship with a man who traded art with other artists more than 50 years ago in France. Dad visited his friend’s home to find good early paintings by Salvador Dali turned toward the wall in a hallway. His friend came to realize the importance and consequently, the value of Mr. Dali’s work–but could not stomach looking at the work.
Whatever your intentions are, be clear about them, so if you choose to ask someone for advice, they can match their advice with your true art expectations.
Corinne Cain of www.SavvyCollector.com