How to Find Out if Thrift Store Art Is Valuable

Concluding week, I kicked off a brand new blog series, The ABC'south of Gathering,withA is for Art, a post full of tons of inspiration on how to decorate with gathered (vintage, thrifted, establish) art.

>> Catch up on information technology here if y'all missed it!

But I decided I couldn't let the subject residual at that place. Hopefully after finishing that post, you were all fired up to go gathering and search out unique art for your ain home! Then information technology only made sense to follow upwardly that mail with some applied tips on where and how to discover vintage art…

Personally, my tiny upkeep has and then-far dictated that my vintage art finds come from local austerity stores. I have a cupboard full of pieces that I've brought home for a few dollars each, just waiting for their moment to shine!

I'll be honest – they aren't all gems. Sometimes I don't make great judgment calls and bring a piece domicile simply to go, "What was I thinking?!" Thankfully, I've normally only spent the price of a fancy cup of coffee, so I don't trounce myself upward over it likewise much, and I tin only turn around a donate the piece back to the thrift shop after.

Then as y'all can imagine, I've grown a little more discerning over fourth dimension, although it'south however hard to stand in the middle of a thrift store and make snap sentence calls.

These are some of the things I go over with myself when I've snatched upwardly a slice of art and I'm trying to make a decision.

Vintage Fine art Shopping Tips:

Not all vintage art is adept – just similar not all skilful art is vintage.

Is it an original? I just dearest buying original art, not that there'south anything wrong with prints. It'southward just that if it's an original painting, I'chiliad much more likely to pull the trigger. To determine if information technology's an original, Itouch the surface (accept y'all ever been fooled by those vintage "paintings" with fake brushstrokes?) andget upwardly close (like, inches abroad looking for tell-tale printing dots.)

Avert "signature incomprehension." Okay, so information technology has a signature – whether it'south an original oil painting, watercolor, signed and numbered impress. Don't get and so excited over that penciled or painted name that you forget other considerations like, "Is information technology actuallygood?" and "Practise I even like it?"

Google the artist. Sometimes I feel a piddling cocky conscious, hugging a slice of fine art to my breast while I stand in the middle of an aisle and pull out my telephone, but a quick Internet search on the creative person's signature tin assistance you lot make up one's mind whether y'all've institute something really special or not. Honestly, this is a step I typically doafter I've found, fallen in love with a piece, and brought information technology habitation. (Remember myForrest Moses lithograph story?)

Practice an "beyond the room test."If you feel you can safely set the piece down (gotta sentinel out for austerity-find-snatchers, yo!), lean it upward confronting every bit empty a backdrop as yous tin can find and take several steps astern. Sometimes a piffling distance (literally) can help you lot decide how you really feel about the piece. Can you visualize it in your home?

Remember, thrift store lighting & settings are usually unflattering. I remind myself of this fact when shopping for apparel, too! Throw a corking piece of fine art in a pile of junk and it might not leap out to you initially – that's why I recommend a blank background for the "beyond the room exam."

The flourescent lighting in many thrift stores is likewise pretty awful for making judgement calls. Endeavor carrying your fine art to a window and so you tin can view in natural calorie-free! So many times, I'll feel just "so then" most a detect at the austerity store, but when I get information technology dwelling house and view it in a unlike setting, I autumn in dearest.

When in doubt, text a friend. Yep, I definitely do this! Only last week I texted Cassie a picture of a painting I was debating over and her feedback helped me decidenot to pull the trigger.

Just ultimately,listen. Whether the piece y'all discover is technically good, past a known artist, old equally dirt… What really matters is that information technology speaks to you. I've ended up altruistic back pieces I bought simply considering they had a signature, or were originals, because they just didn't fit my vibe. And then unless you are shopping to resell, who cares if the creative person was well known or if something like is $200 on Etsy? All that matters is whether the art yous just found makes your heart sing!

My favorite found fine art, based on Botticelli'southward Nascence of Venus – read more here. I don't know anything about this piece, and her face up is a little distorted/disproportionate, merely I madly beloved it!

Now. As I mentioned, I've found all my vintage art at local thrift stores throughout the Dallas-Fort Worth area.

A) I live in an surface area with many thrift stores within driving distance
B) I live nearly some older, established neighborhoods that tend to donate absurd, old things to these thrift stores
C) I have the time and inclination to visit multiple austerity stores regularly (usually weekly, often twice a week) and I enjoy earthworks through many unexceptional pieces to find a diamond in the rough.

All the same, I realize that my situation/location/interests might be vastly unlike than yours. I can't just say, "Hey, you likewise can take these same results – yous just need to visit thrift stores more often!"

Sources:

The practiced news is that thrift stores are only one of many sources for finding promising vintage fine art! Here are some other places well worth a visit in your quest for the perfect piece of art.

(Today's postal service may contain chapter links. If y'all make a purchase through one of these links, information technology doesn't cost you any more than and helps keep The Gathered Abode running. Read more near affiliate links hither.)

shopgoodwill.com.Have you ever visited Goodwill's online sale site? Some of the best Goodwill donations don't actually make it onto the flooring of your local shop – they go pulled aside and photographed for online sale. You tin can browse over 3,400 art listings hither,or search for items from stores in your area (where y'all might exist able to choice up your purchase, instead of paying for aircraft) right here. It's an sale format, so last auction prices tin exist unpredictable.

Antique stores, vintage shops. These volition most likely offer a much more than curated option of art than the bargain bin at a thrift store, merely naturally, what y'all save in time and try, yous'll make up for with a higher price, since you're getting the do good of the dealer'due south experience, effort, and eye.

Flea markets. Confession: I've never been, although I'd love to visit some of the ones Emily Henderson frequents! Look prices to vary widely based on location and vendor, but in full general I would conceptualize paying higher than austerity store prices, lower than vintage retail locations.

Craigslist. I oasis't made an art buy via Craigslist yet, but I have run across some wonderful pieces in my browsing! (I'1000 still lamenting a vintage giraffe oil painting I pined over for weeks but never pulled the trigger on.) Some searches to try: "oil painting", "original art", "vintage art."

Etsy. Oh Etsy. A budget destination? Not always. Just definitely i of the best places to store for vintage fine art. I could (and recently did) spend hours just browsing the vintage oil paintings section! You don't even need to go out your couch, although you lot'll probably demand to pay aircraft. You lot'll discover prices that range anywhere from Goodwill to 1st Dibs, aka$ – $$$$+. But if you're staring at a blank wall and want some gorgeous fine art NOW, yous can't beat Etsy'southwardenormous selection + curation (27,000+ in the "vintage painting" category.)

eBay. eBay really has even more than listings than Etsy (34,000+ for the search "vintage painting"). I personally observe the navigation on eBay a little daunting, but it looks like in that location are definitely some practiced deals to be had if you're willing to devote some time to digging.

Chairish.com. Call up of it as a swanky vintage shop: all the pieces on Chairish are tightly curated, so as you lot tin can expect, the prices reflect that. Withal, you can store from vintage dealers beyond the nation, who take put in the hours scouring estate sales so you don't have to. You can banking company on hopping on and finding something special!

Another lengthy post, I know! Can you tell I'one thousand passionate about my vintage art?! Melody in tomorrow fori more "A is for Fine art" mail – I've pulled together some of my favorite online vintage fine art finds and I'm then excited to share them with you!