Restoration: Do to or not to do?

One of the most common questions that I am asked has to do with the subject of restoration. Should a piece of furniture be refinished? Should a painting be touched up? Should silver be cleaned? What can I do with works on paper? Items age over time, and sometimes they age well and other times, not so well. Furniture is often nicked or scratched. Paintings often fade or get dirty. Silver and other metals tarnish. So, the answer to the question on restoration is always the same, “It depends!”

There are several factors to consider when making a restoration decision. The first situation often encountered is with unusable items; for example, furniture that is broken or porcelain that is chipped. Factors to consider include the value of the repaired piece, cost of repairs, and their sentimental value to you. If you love a piece and it is unusable in its current condition, then having it repaired is an easy decision.

But what about cosmetic repairs, like refinishing furniture or cleaning paintings? For period(original) hand crafted furniture, refinishing a piece of furniture can often negatively impact the value of the piece, especially if it is a signed piece. Often a varnished finish can be simply cleaned, and you avoid the risk of devaluing the piece by having it refinished. Newer machine made furniture presents another dilemma; if the finish is in less than desirable condition, refinishing it will probably add value. However, then you run into the issue of whether it is cost effective, i.e. will it cost more to refinish it than the item is worth?

Fine art should always be stabilized to prevent further damage. For example, a tear in the painting’s canvas should always be repaired. However, there are a lot of factors to consider before cleaning a painting. Is the painting merely dirty from age, or are their foreign substances on the canvas? Are you keeping the painting or are you planning to liquidate it? If you are planning to sell an original work of art, it is best to leave it un-cleaned and let the buyer make his or her own decisions. If you are keeping the painting and are unhappy with the dirt or the darkness of the painting, have it professionally cleaned. Never, never, never try to clean a work on canvas yourself. Leave that task to the experts, as it is easy to do more harm than good.

Paper conservators can do amazing things with works on paper; mold and mildew can be removed, and even tears can be repaired. Again, the question becomes an economics questions; is the item worth the cost of the repairs? For historically significant documents and for important photographs, restoration is always a good idea. But again, trust only an expert who specializes in paper restoration.

And before you go cleaning your silver, brass and copper items, make sure you know what you have and how cleaning impacts the value. I was working with a client a few years ago, and we were selling some of her sterling silver. She had the sterling silver pieces hand cleaned; afterwards they looked great and the value was enhanced with the light cleaning. However, she unknowingly had a silver and bronze Heinz art vase cleaned, destroying the bulk of the value. In a future blog post we will talk more about the care and cleaning of silver.

So, restore or not? It is a personal decision, but consider the above factors when making your decisions. Always use a professional unless you are trained on the type of repairs or restoration your item requires. If you are unsure about the impact of restoration on the value of an item, contact a qualified appraiser. Most credentialed appraisers will also have experts they can recommend for refinishing and/or for repairs. But most of all, make sure your antiques and collectibles are in a condition for you to use and live with. Antiques and art are meant to be used and loved!
Authentic Appraisal & Estate Services © 2010

Vicky Nash Shaw, ISA CAPP
Certified Antique and Art Appraiser

Durham Regent "roadshow" style appraisal fair was great success!

Following in the footsteps of the Raleigh Antiques Roadshow, the Durham Regent Retirement Community hosted an appraisal fair on August 4th. Open to both Regent residents and the local Durham community, the fair had a steady line of people for the three hour event. A wide array of items were valued; notable items included, a Springfield rifle, a Persian gold armor set, pair of period Windsor chairs, pair of mid-20th century Japanese presentation vases, German and English porcelain, and notable original oil paintings.

Becky Vollers, event coordinator reported "Our Durham Regent Retirement's) first appraisal fair was a wonderful and exciting experience. This event was filled with unforgettable memories.”

Antique and art appraiser Vicky Nash Shaw (blog author) was the featured appraiser. I provided valuations for about 40 customers and for about 150 items. Not only did I see some unusual treasures, but I heard some fabulous stories about the items. It was a fun appraisal event. Several individuals brought valuable treasures and collectibles which were unique and one of a kind…..many were items that need insurance appraisals for documentation in the event of a loss. Becky Vollers, event coordinator, also added “A special Thank You to Vicky Nash Shaw for her kindness and participation in this event.” The Durham Regent Community residents have a tradition of supporting the community, and proceeds from the appraisal fair benefited both school children and the local Ronald McDonald home. The retirement community is located on Pickett Road in Durham; the management office as well as Becky Vollers can be reached at 919 490-6224.

Local appraiser Vicky Nash Shaw can be reached at 919 474-6930 or through her website at www.TheAuthenticAppraisal.com.
©2009 Vicky Nash Shaw

Vicky Nash Shaw, ISA AM
Accredited Antique and Art Appraiser
Downsizing & Brokering Consultant

Art, Antiques and Hurriances!

When homeowners prepare for hurricanes, often their art and antiques get overlooked. The Miami CBS4 Affiliate ran an informative and public service article last week; the article was authored by their reporter Jorges Estavez. Here’s a portion of his report:

“When you are preparing for a hurricane, most of us have the basics, like boarding up the house, putting up shutters and stockpiling items like water, batteries, and canned food, down to a science. But there's still the issue of protecting your valuables, the ones you can't lock up like expensive furniture or antiques? Porcelain figurines, ornate chairs, priceless decorations, these are the items on a new kind of hurricane check list.

One woman, who asked to remain anonymous, told CBS4's Jorge Estevez she doesn't want you to make the same mistake she did with her stuff which got ruined after Hurricane Andrew. "My feeling was I really wanted to make sure that I knew what the appraisal value was, God forbid something should happen again," she said. Ever since, she has had everything appraised and thinks everyone else should too.

So make sure and ask yourself before a storm actually begins to head for South Florida, are my antiques checked? An appraisal can cost a couple of hundred dollars, but it could help you save thousands in the future.”To see the entire article, see: www.cbs4.com/local.valuables.antiques.appraisal.2.1109336.html.

Here in North Carolina, we are exposed to potential hurricane and wind damage, even in the areas of Raleigh, Durham and Chapel Hill. It is important to remember that although your homeowners’ insurance may be adequate, it is the responsibility of the homeowner to provide proof of existence and valuation of all art, antiques and collectibles. Insurance companies’ claim policies have different provisions. Without an insurance appraisal, many homeowners have limited options after their loss, and some insurance companies only allow for decorative replacement valuation for art and antiques unless adequate proof of real valuation exists prior to the damage or loss. Investment in an insurance appraisal for your original art, high end collectibles, and period furniture is always a wise choice, especially after you spend a lifetime acquiring your collection.

I provide my clients with two signed original copies of their appraisal: one to retain in their home and one to be retained either by an insurance agent or to be stored outside the home in a secure location. In addition, I retain copies of the appraisal and my notes for five years. So, if a loss occurs, clients will always have access to copies of their appraisal document which not only provides value, but also has detailed item descriptions and photographs. If items have significant historical provenance, I include that information within the appraisal, as provenance can greatly impact value. And, because I have viewed the items included in the appraisal, I am a valuable resource for homeowners who need to prove that items actually existed within their home! For more information on insurance appraisals, see the insurance appraisal section of my website: www.TheAuthenticAppraisal.com/appraisals.php#insurance.

Another good altnernative to insurance appraisals are home inventories, especially when prepared by a professional. Again, you not only have the inventory in a formal document, but your appraiser is your best advocate in the event of a loss.

Vicky Nash Shaw, ISA AM
Accredited Antique and Art Appraiser