The Accumulation of history.

Solomon Saprid.  " TIKBALANG"  

                                                                    " TIKBALANG"                                                                 
                                                                      Solomon Saprid.
                                                                    Watercolor on paper.
                                                                        20 ins x 15 ins
                                                                              1990

The Collectors Collection. 

 We have discussed, documentation, legacy and cataloging of your art collection. Now I would like to discuss the subject of the accumulation of the history of each and every art piece in your collection

I was involved in a discussion with a very eminent art authority and he was talking about the              “ Accumulation of History” of each work of art within a collection.

This eminent gentleman talked about how many collectors seem to loose sight of the continuing need to build added value into their collections, by recording all their knowledge of their collections and continuing to search for evidence to further establish the providence of their paintings. 

He pointed out that this is really an on going need within any collection.

He was very vocal about getting artists to authenticate paintings again, even if there was an earlier authentication of the painting, making sure that the Artist clearly acknowledges the painting as theirs.

I listened to a story of a major collection of an artist held by an institution that was donated by the artist when he was alive. It seems that after he passed away, years later family members of the artist decided to discredit the paintings held by this institution even though the paintings were donated by the Artist. 

Unfortunately the Institution accepted the paintings from the Artist in good faith without getting the artist to authenticate the works donated, believing like all of us do that everyone knows where they came from. 

Time can be cruel. 

Once the family disowned the paintings then the paintings came under question and were seen by many as fakes as they believed that the family would not say this if it was not true.

Relying on family members of past artists to authenticate works, is at its best wrought with difficulties?

So my dear collectors, do not wait until it is to late, please make sure you get all your work authenticated and as I said in my blog on Documentation, no article pertaining to the sale of your painting is to trivial, everything is important and needs to be collected and recorded. Keep everything and if possible get it signed and dated by the artist, photos, sales receipts, Gallery title cards and get the Gallery you purchased it from to sign and date everything.

Your collection is worth the time it will take to do these things to protect it into the future and all I want is that you do not experience what that Institution experienced and that you have protected your self against unforeseen negative circumstances.

I have collectors tell me that they know where everything comes from and they remember it all. That may be true but as we get older we do tend to forget some things or if worse was to happen and we were struck down with illness or death that memory could be lost forever, do not consider the worst scenario but consider what is best for your collection into the future.

Accumulate the history of each work, also write out in your own words how and where you purchased the painting and those people by name who were involved in the sale to you. No piece of information is to be ignored, all you are doing is building a very strong wall of protection for your collection and strong providence for each painting which will refute any questions about your paintings in the future.

I recommend to the truly diligent collectors that they keep a journal of their collection and tell the story of each purchase when you bought it while your memory is clear and exact.

Collectors always remember a hand shake is nice but hard documentation is best.

Get signatures, get dates and get stories about each piece of your art.

The Accumulation of history with your art collection is so very important, remember the saying,         " when to much information about an individual piece of art is not enough."

Happy collecting.

Mark E. Shellshear.
Art Consultant.
markshellshear@gmail.com

                                                                      " SYZYGY "
                                                                    Vaughn Lumibao
                                                  acrylic/coloured pencils on carved wood.
                                                                       36 ins x 24 ins.