Featured Can anyone help with this? Our estate liquidators wanted it like crazy

Discussion in 'Art' started by Bryan Kafka, Nov 20, 2017.

  1. Bryan Kafka

    Bryan Kafka Member

    They offered 500 then 1200... Very heavy, bronze. Does anyone know the artist or how valuable it may be?
     

    Attached Files:

  2. aaroncab

    aaroncab in veritate victoria

    What are the dimensions... can you post pictures from different angles - look closely for any signature or Foundry marks. If you find any marks take pictures of them and post them.
     
    Aquitaine, judy, Joshua Brown and 3 others like this.
  3. Figtree3

    Figtree3 What would you do if you weren't afraid?

    And please post the Full image instead of thumbnails. That is an option when you post a photo. Thanks!
     
    Aquitaine, judy, Joshua Brown and 3 others like this.
  4. komokwa

    komokwa The Truth is out there...!

    For items sold at estate sales, the estate liquidators usually set the prices, but most of them are not trained appraisers. That’s fine, as long as they know to call in reinforcements when they’re in over their heads. When liquidators don’t know the value of an item, they should consult a trained professional, rather than, say, doing some cursory research on eBay. Ideally, consumers should get items of perceived value appraised before hiring an estate liquidator, experts advise. (A good liquidator will refer clients to an appraiser for hard-to-price items, but don’t count on it, Zeman says.)

    If an item is truly worth something—think authentic Cartier or Tiffany—then it might be best to sell it at auction instead of at an estate sale. Estate-sale treasure hunters may appreciate it when liquidators undervalue an item, but the estate’s owners or their representatives typically want fair market value, and auction houses will likely do a better job of ensuring that they get it for rare items, appraisers say.

    "A liquidator should never be the first person who digs into the belongings of someone who’s no longer living—a family member or friend should always do a first pass."

    What to watch out for when it’s time to clear out a home

    “We’re thinking of snagging some of your goodies for ourselves.
    Some estate liquidators will buy items from an estate they’re selling. While this practice might seem harmless—even beneficial, since it helps to clear things out—it presents a potential conflict of interest, some experts say. Some feel a professional should not buy items that she prices, since her motivation to buy might motivate her to set the price low so she’ll pay less—or unreasonably high to drive off other potential buyers. She also shouldn’t hide desirable items during the sale so she can underpay for them when it’s over. Another no-no, according to some experts: paying workers with items from the sale.

    Some liquidators will offer clients a flat fee—say $2,000—for the entire contents of an estate. This might be a good option for people under extreme time pressure, or those with estates that are too small to justify holding their own sale. While there’s no hard and fast rule, some experts say estates worth less than $3,000 or $4,000 might not support their own tag sale. However, before accepting a lump sum offer, it’s a good idea to get a second opinion unless it’s absolutely clear there’s nothing of real value in the home, says Barry Gordon, founder of MaxSold, an online auction liquidation company.
     
  5. KingofThings

    KingofThings 'Illiteracy is a terrible thing to waist' - MHH

    Again?
    I keep putting this in your posts Bryan.....
    ~
    FULL IMAGE.jpg
     
  6. verybrad

    verybrad Well-Known Member

    Certainly has a good look but not enough information to tell anything. Should think there would be a signature on a quality bronze such as this. What provenance do you know?
     
  7. Lucille.b

    Lucille.b Well-Known Member

    Agree with all of above. Is this from your family's estate? If liquidators "want it bad" and quickly went from $500 to $1,200, I would be suspicious it is worth more than $1,200.

    Do include measurements, additional photos, any provenance you might have. And look over the piece with a fine tooth comb for any marks or signatures as has been suggested.

    You might include the city or town you are in (or near) -- perhaps there is a well known local artist that created this.
     
  8. Bryan Kafka

    Bryan Kafka Member

    The item is in NYC. ABOUT 2FT HIGH BY A FOOT across. My grandmother was well traveled. I'm not on site now but will be Friday IMG_20171120_194634.jpg
     
    Figtree3, judy, Joshua Brown and 2 others like this.
  9. johnnycb09

    johnnycb09 Well-Known Member

    Looks almost Henry Moore,Id research it carefully,its a special piece in my opinion. I cant believe there wouldnt be a mark.
     
    Houseful, judy, Joshua Brown and 3 others like this.
  10. Lucille.b

    Lucille.b Well-Known Member

    NYC? Well travelled? I would not sell one thing from your grandmother's estate without getting a 2nd opinion on value. As stated above, the person appraising/liquidating should not be doing any buying.

    I don't recognize the artist (but not an expert in art). I do recognize that something is fishy when an offer is made for $500, then quickly $1,200, never mind possible ethics issues that the appraiser/liquidator is asking to personally buy it. Keep researching, get a firm appraisal from a completely different and reputable NY appraiser on this piece.

    Sometimes art like this can be INCREDIBLY valuable. Not saying this piece necessarily is, but you want to know what you have before selling it.

    And ditto --Friday, check every square inch for any marks no matter how faint.

    Sort of has a 1930's or 1950's feel to me. I really like it.
     
    Last edited: Nov 21, 2017
  11. Bryan Kafka

    Bryan Kafka Member

    Situation is this:

    We have to be out by the 30th. It's an apartment in prime NYC territory. Central Park West. We went to an estate liquidators that buys everything for a flat fee, less the cost of trash and non valuable removal. They of course offered us pennies on the dollar. Just not sure what to do at this point. We are def keeping that statuem. But my grandma's house is littered with scluoturrs and art work...no idea of it's real value..
    For instance there is also this
    IMG_20171121_071241.jpg
     
  12. Bev aka thelmasstuff

    Bev aka thelmasstuff Colored pencil artist extraordinaire ;)

    You'd be crazy not to have someone come in to appraise those pieces. You would certainly be contrite if you later found they were worth a couple of million, no joke.
     
  13. Bev aka thelmasstuff

    Bev aka thelmasstuff Colored pencil artist extraordinaire ;)

    This is a Henry Moore sculpture in a park. Do you see the resemblance in style to yours?? images.jpg
     
  14. wildrose

    wildrose Well-Known Member

    Wow.. I don't know if you can afford it, but I would move it all into storage, since you have to be out by the 30th and then have the items appraised by a reputable person. I may be well worth it in the end game.
     
    Msalicia, cxgirl, LIbraryLady and 9 others like this.
  15. Figtree3

    Figtree3 What would you do if you weren't afraid?

    Good idea!
     
  16. plaid423

    plaid423 Active Member

    we had a rental here in Atlanta and the tenant died. we contacted the family who wanted nothing to do with his things, even though most of it was his mom and Dad's. his Mom was a local artist who traded art and bought art throughout her life and to the remaining family looked at it as worthless crap, despite our urging them to please come and get it, refused. They even sent us a letter from a lawyer releasing all of the things to us so we could clear out the house. Anyway, once we started going through things, we found amazing pieces from artists like Edward Moulthrop, a wood turner from GA who in the beginning of his career sold pieces for a few hundred if that, and now his pieces are worth thousands. My point is, you just don't know what you have and please take the time to really find out. I know the stress of having a time frame can make things overwhelming, but the pictures you posted show very beautiful and well crafted pieces, ones that I would not let go for 1200 to an estate liquidator. I get the feeling that your gut is telling you that these items are valuable. It would be a shame if they went to a liquidator and you later realized they were worth many times over what you got for them.
     
  17. Mill Cove Treasures

    Mill Cove Treasures Well-Known Member

    Rent a storage unit and do some research. I helped a friend who was offered $3500 for the contents of a family members home. Also wealthy and well traveled. She asked me to take a look and see if it was fair. The first room we went into was the dining room. I put 8 or 9 pieces on the dining room table and said, this pile is worth about $8000 so no, it isn't fair. In the end she ended up with close to $300,000. Definitely worth the price of storage and some effort.
     
  18. KingofThings

    KingofThings 'Illiteracy is a terrible thing to waist' - MHH

    You can probably go upstate NY or NJ and get a much better storage deal.
     
  19. komokwa

    komokwa The Truth is out there...!

    WoW......many questions here i don't think i want to hear the answers to.
    suffice it to say.....this should have been done by now....specially running into the holiday time...
    Not one of us here would scoff at getting a chance to pick a central park west apartment.

    Hire a mover...rent storage....get a NY art dealer to appraise everything.....
    Then go thru every book, purse, drawer, curtain, pocket, pillow, and find the treasures she stashed away from prying eyes.

    Davey will tell you .....this is his wheelhouse !

    Oh @daveydempsey .......any thoughts here ???
     
  20. Mill Cove Treasures

    Mill Cove Treasures Well-Known Member

Draft saved Draft deleted
Similar Threads: anyone help
Forum Title Date
Art Can anyone help with this? May 9, 2023
Art Can anyone help identify artist? Feb 24, 2023
Art Unknown Artist of Interesting Painting – Can Anyone Help? Feb 17, 2023
Art I wonder if anyone can help me with identifying an artist? Jul 15, 2022
Art Can Anyone help ID Artist ? Jun 19, 2022

Share This Page