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The best and easiest-to-understand book on how to buy, sell, evaluate, appraise, and collect art. Soft cover; 284 pages. By Alan S. Bamberger, noted art expert, author, and syndicated columnist.
Good overview about buying art, but too much genericReviewed by M.Bevilacqua, 2009-02-24
Good book for an overview about buying art. Actually the book is quite generic, so if you change the title it could be reprinted as 'The Art of Buying Cars' ... I would rather appreciate some specific example with known artists, real and known pieces of art and real prices. The examples are very generic, no names, no references so they seems to be almost invented to sustain the books theories. One more remark is about the excessive emphasis on art gallery dealers. The book is mostly written around them and at the very end you have the impression that buying art is almost impossible without good dealers, that probably is true but at the same time you ask yourself why you bought such book if a good dealer can be considered as an authority and an indisputable subject matter expert about art ... a synthesis of this book sounds like this: 'Buy the art you like from a reputable art gallery, try to bargain for a good price without upsetting the dealer and ask for the receipt ... '
excellent book for art collectors (or those who want to become
collectors).Reviewed by Elise (plt), 2008-01-06
This book is not only packed with information, but also is easy to
read, in case if some budding collectors are not familiar with the
complicated ways of the art world.And seasoned collectors can learn
new information also, for this book. As here is no description, nor
the possibility to search what is inside the book, let me tell you
more exactly what this book is about, what is The Art of Buying
Art.
The book is divided in four parts, plus eleven appendixes listing
valuable reference materials.The four parts are: Define ,Select,
Research and Buy.
The first parts are more directed toward a novice collector. Define
part is about the goals in buying art, how to define what you
like-which is very important if someone want to create a real
collection, instead of random bought series of art- and how to
enter the art world by discovering it, and original art vs.
reproduction. Dealing with your budget, and why art collecting is
not only for the rich ones is covered also. I don't list the
chapter sequentially, but you get the idea).
The Select part is how to deal with the opinions in the art world,
and how to take, analyze and and understand the info you get from
the art world people. Comparison shopping for art, dealing with
dealers,(how to interact, etc. and how to spot good dealers, whom
you can't trust,how to behave inside a gallery,how to buy directly
from artist, how to be a good costumer,and why it pays to be a good
costumer.How to buy on internet and how not to buy art.
The Research part is about how the provenance, physical
characteristics, condition of art, and importance of an artist
influences the value of art. One chapter how to locate and evaluate
the information about the artist, another also how to evaluate
physical characteristics of art, provenance chapter deals also, in
addition to provenance issues, how to create and maintain the files
of the collection. Damage chapter: how to spot damage, or damage
susceptible art, and how it can affect value.In addition there is a
chapter about forgeries,scams and misrepresentations.
This is about the criminals operating in the art world, and how to
avoid rip offs.
Buy part is about the economics of art, there is chapter about
facts regarding art and money, another about how to learn to
evaluate asking price, how to negotiate (etiquette of negotiation
is covered).Make the Buy is about documentation, payment,return and
exchange, finalizing the sale, and so on. Two chapters deal with
buying art at auctions, regular and internet auction. Those
chapters explain the differences between the regular auction houses
and internet bidding, how they differ from galleries, auction
basics, and common misconceptions,and how to avoid mistakes. There
is also a chapter how to built a collection.
Appendixes deal with auction records, price guides, appraiser
associations, auction houses, artist dictionaries, encyclopedias,
art periodicals, art dealers association, and other valuable
references.
I hope the review help you to see what to expect.I hope an
editorial review will be posted soon.
If you are just beginning to collect, or are thinking about
collecting, this book will not intimidate you, but properly
initiate, the language and explanations are very accessible.If you
are collecting already, it is a great resource how to do things
right. I recommend this book very highly. Don't forget to do
internet research on the author, he is a prolific writer and a gold
mine of information.
