Researching an Item's Provenance Helps Establish Value
You may have heard the word "provenance" used when appraisers examine the items people bring to television appraisal shows or pickers hunt for treasures to resell in garages and barns, but have you considered the provenance of some of your own possessions?To clarify, provenance refers to the history and ownership of an item and is extremely important in establishing value.ISEB-ITILV3FUnfortunately, verbal family lore doesn't count as actual evidence of provenance and rarely influences value. What's needed is proper documentation of where and how an item was acquired as well as who may have previously owned it.Keep in mind that certificates of authenticity should not be taken as iron-clad proof for any claims made about an item.They can be and frequently are forged.Written history, photographs and physical evidence, as well as relying on reputable dealers for any valuable items you're considering buying, is a good place to start.
Here are some steps you should take to document the provenance of any family heirlooms you intend to pass down to future generations:
Keep the item with any receipt and original box or case you may have.If there are any old photos that show the itemISEB-SWTINT1, keep them with the item and note who is in the photo.Ask any older family members if they remember the item and how it came into the family.
Record as much history as possible about the item.Birth records and family bibles can be useful in researching dates, times and places when items could have come into the family.
Make use of the internet as a research tool.For example, if you have a piece of signed pottery with the signature clearly visible, enter the artist's name in a search engine.My husband did this recently and found out an old bowl he had bought for a few dollars many years ago was made by a well-known artist and similar works by this artist now sell for hundreds of dollars.
Finding out the provenance of your family treasures can be a rewarding experience that provides a bridge toBH0-002 past generations.It's up to you to provide the evidence that will become the provenance of items you own today.After all, they are tomorrow's heirlooms.
Here are some steps you should take to document the provenance of any family heirlooms you intend to pass down to future generations:
Keep the item with any receipt and original box or case you may have.If there are any old photos that show the itemISEB-SWTINT1, keep them with the item and note who is in the photo.Ask any older family members if they remember the item and how it came into the family.
Record as much history as possible about the item.Birth records and family bibles can be useful in researching dates, times and places when items could have come into the family.
Make use of the internet as a research tool.For example, if you have a piece of signed pottery with the signature clearly visible, enter the artist's name in a search engine.My husband did this recently and found out an old bowl he had bought for a few dollars many years ago was made by a well-known artist and similar works by this artist now sell for hundreds of dollars.
Finding out the provenance of your family treasures can be a rewarding experience that provides a bridge toBH0-002 past generations.It's up to you to provide the evidence that will become the provenance of items you own today.After all, they are tomorrow's heirlooms.
|
|
