Is your garage sale find worth money? Watch an expert assess CTV News viewers' art, and give tips on how to tell
Whether you got it at a garage sale or it's a family heirloom, have you wondered what your art is worth?
Navigating the art world can be intimidating for beginners, but it can also be a good way to make money off of pieces you've outgrown.
But how do you know whether you'll actually earn anything?
We asked an expert – an art auctioneer – to evaluate pieces owned by CTV News viewers, and for tips on what owners should look for before trying to sell off their paintings and sculptures.
Rob Cowley, president of Cowley Abbott, was shown a Picasso-style sketch with what appeared to be the Spanish painter's signature at the bottom.
"It looks like it's what we call 'manner of Picasso,'" Cowley told CTV Morning Live Vancouver Thursday.
"That means the work is not by Pablo Picasso, but rather it's painted or created in the style of the artist. Oftentimes, works that are in the manner of the artist come after the artist's life has ended, and while they're often quite beautiful, they do have a limited value."
He said the value is more decorative, and pieces in the manner of an artist would be worth just a fraction of something by the artist themselves. He estimated the piece he was shown during the interview may get a winning bid of "somewhere in the low hundreds of dollars" at auction.
Cowley looked then at a bronze sculpture purportedly crafted by Polish-Canadian sculptor Esther Wertheimer, who he described as being highly celebrated and well-known.
He said her work has been sold through online auctions hosted by his company, and typically something like the bust seen on CTV Morning Live would be worth between $500 and $1,500.
Lastly, Cowley was shown a painting from early-20th-century Canadian artist William Topham.
When looking at value, subject matter is important, Cowley said, and the piece he viewed is what Topham was most known for.
"He was a landscape painter. He painted in Quebec as well as Eastern Canada," Cowley said.
Similar work sells for between $200 and $800, according to the auctioneer.
Cowley said it does happen that people aren't aware of the worth of the art in their homes.
Recently, he said, a piece created by David Bowie was found at a donation centre in Northern Ontario, and cost the owner $5. The auction is still going, but bidding is "north of $20,000."
"It does still happen from time to time," he said.
Cowley said it's best to consult with experts, but there may be some hints that something is worth more than it seems.
Things to look for include the artist's name or signature. He recommends looking online for what that signature looks like, as well as examples of the artist's other work, for a comparison.
Additionally, the medium matters: "If it's an original painting by the artist, that typically will have more value… than a reproduction."
He said his auction house offers free assessments for those who think they may have something of value.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Robert Pickton to remain in medically induced coma until later this week: police
Serial killer Robert Pickton will remain in a medically induced coma for at least the next few days following an attack in a Quebec prison Sunday, according to police spokesperson Hugues Beaulieu.
Charlie Colin, founding member of the pop-rock band Train, dies at 58
Charlie Colin, bassist and founding member of the American pop-rock band Train, best known for their early-aughts hits like 'Drops of Jupiter' and 'Meet Virginia,' has died. He was 58.
'Five feet nothing': Pickton's safety likely behind Quebec transfer, says ex-prison judge
When serial killer Robert Pickton was transferred from British Columbia's Kent Institution to a maximum security prison in Quebec about six years ago, correctional authorities gave no public explanation or confirmation at the time, citing privacy.
'I feel betrayed': Ottawa-area customers out thousands of dollars warn of bad faith contractor
A group of people from eastern Ontario and western Quebec is issuing a warning about Dennis Walker and his company Vue Windows.
Fancy pigeon outfitted in custom diaper has free rein in B.C. family home
When Chrissy Chin volunteered to take in a fancy pigeon abandoned on a park bench, she never imagined she would one day be ordering custom-made diapers for the bird – who lives in her house and has become a member of the family.
'We'll need all hands on deck': Details emerge after deadly boat crash near Kingston
Police say they have wrapped up their on-scene investigation into a deadly boat crash in eastern Ontario as details of the incident begin to emerge.
WestJet planning new fare category for travellers willing to forgo carry-on bag
WestJet Airlines plans to launch a new cheaper fare category that would be available to travellers willing to fly without a carry-on bag.
5 dead and at least 35 hurt in Iowa tornado: officials
Five people died and at least 35 were hurt as powerful tornadoes ripped through Iowa Tuesday, with one carving a path of destruction through the town of Greenfield, officials said.
Woman found dead in Lake Ontario in 2017 matches identity of missing person in Switzerland
Genetic genealogy has helped Toronto police identify a woman who was found dead in Lake Ontario in 2017.