Art & Decorative Arts We Buy
What We Buy
Art & Decorative Arts
We are interested in selected paintings and artwork, Orthodox icons and religious art, bronze sculpture, decorative objects, antique glass and crystal with artistic, historical or collector significance.
Quick Answer
If you have an old painting, icon, bronze sculpture, decorative object, glass or crystal piece that you may wish to sell, begin with clear photographs of the complete object, its reverse or base, signatures, marks, labels and any visible damage. Artist or maker, period, craftsmanship, rarity, condition, provenance and collector demand may all be relevant when determining whether an object is of interest.
Art & Decorative Arts We Consider
| Category | Examples | Important Clues |
|---|---|---|
| Paintings & Artwork | Oil paintings, watercolours, drawings, prints and other selected works of art | Artist, signature, medium, subject, reverse, labels, frame, provenance and condition |
| Orthodox Icons & Religious Art | Orthodox icons, devotional paintings and selected religious objects | Iconography, materials, inscriptions, construction, age, regional tradition and provenance |
| Bronze Sculpture | Figures, busts, animal subjects and decorative bronzes | Artist, signature, foundry mark, casting, patina, subject, base and provenance |
| Decorative Objects | Boxes, candlesticks, desk objects, small sculptures and interior pieces | Maker, materials, craftsmanship, construction, completeness, condition and age |
| Glass & Crystal | Art glass, cut crystal, vessels and decorative glass | Maker, signature, label, technique, cutting, colour, form and condition |
Paintings & Artwork
We consider antique and vintage paintings, oil paintings, watercolours, drawings, prints and other selected works of art by both known and unidentified artists.
A signature can provide an important clue, but a name alone should never determine attribution or value. The medium, artistic quality, subject, construction, reverse of the work, labels, inscriptions, frame, provenance, condition and previous restoration may all contribute to understanding a work correctly.
When photographing a painting, include the entire front and reverse, the signature, frame, labels, inscriptions and any areas of damage or restoration.
Orthodox Icons & Religious Art
We consider selected Orthodox icons, devotional paintings and religious objects with historical, artistic, regional or collector significance.
With religious art, potentially important evidence can include the iconographic subject, materials, construction, inscriptions, old labels, backing, frame, traces of historical use and documented provenance.
Regional traditions can also matter. Religious objects travelled extensively between communities, monasteries, families and regions, and their history should not be reduced to one visual characteristic alone.
do not remove old labels, inscriptions, backing material or original frames simply because they appear worn. They may contain useful information about the object’s history.
Bronze Sculpture
We are interested in selected antique and vintage bronze sculpture, including figures, busts, animal subjects and decorative bronzes.
When reviewing a bronze, useful features may include the artist’s signature, foundry mark, inscriptions, casting and finishing quality, dimensions, subject, base, surface, patina and provenance.
A bronze should not automatically be polished before review. An older surface or naturally developed patina may form part of the object’s history, and aggressive polishing can permanently change it.
Decorative Objects
Decorative arts cover a particularly broad range of objects. We consider selected boxes, candlesticks, desk accessories, small sculptures, interior objects and other pieces that may have historical, artistic or collector interest.
Because many decorative objects combine several materials and techniques, identification should consider the object as a whole. Maker, design, materials, construction, craftsmanship, original components, condition and provenance can all be relevant.
Keep original mounts, bases, fittings, keys, cases, labels and associated components with the object whenever possible. An apparently minor component may help establish completeness or provide useful evidence about its origin.
Glass & Crystal
We consider selected antique glass, vintage glass, cut crystal, decorative vessels and art glass.
Identification may depend on the combination of form, colour, manufacturing technique, cutting, engraving, weight, maker’s marks, engraved signatures, surviving labels and comparison with documented examples.
Condition is particularly important with glass. Chips, cracks, polishing, grinding, replaced stoppers and other alterations should be photographed clearly rather than concealed.
What Makes an Art or Decorative Object Interesting to Collectors?
No single characteristic determines collector interest. Depending on the object, important factors may include:
- artist, maker, workshop or manufacturer;
- period and approximate date;
- authenticity and originality;
- quality of design and craftsmanship;
- rarity or unusual subject;
- materials and manufacturing technique;
- signatures, marks, inscriptions and labels;
- condition and previous restoration;
- original frame, base, fittings or associated pieces;
- documented provenance;
- historical or cultural significance;
- current collector demand and relevant market evidence.
Provenance: Keep the Object Together with Its History
Old invoices, exhibition labels, photographs, letters, certificates, collection records and family documentation can sometimes help establish where an object came from and who previously owned it.
This documented ownership history is generally described as provenance. Provenance does not automatically make an object valuable, and family stories should not be treated as confirmed historical evidence without supporting documentation. Nevertheless, reliable provenance can be important when researching and understanding an object.
What Should You Photograph Before Contacting Us?
| Photograph | Why It Helps |
|---|---|
| Complete object | Shows overall form, proportions, composition and condition. |
| Reverse, underside or base | May reveal construction, labels, inscriptions, marks and repairs. |
| Signature or maker’s mark | Can assist research into an artist, maker, workshop or foundry. |
| Close-up details | Shows brushwork, casting, engraving, cutting and craftsmanship. |
| Damage or restoration | Condition can significantly influence collector interest. |
| Labels and documents | May provide evidence of provenance, ownership, exhibition or previous sale. |
Before Cleaning or Restoring
Avoid aggressive cleaning, polishing, repainting, revarnishing, removing labels or replacing old frames, bases and fittings before an object has been reviewed. Original surfaces, patina, inscriptions, labels and historic components may contain useful evidence and can be important to collectors.
Looking to Sell Art or Decorative Antiques?
Paintings, icons, bronze sculpture, glass and decorative objects form part of the wider range of
antiques and collections we consider buying
.
You can begin by sending clear photographs together with dimensions, marks, signatures and any known provenance.
Have a Painting, Icon, Bronze or Decorative Object?
Send photographs of the complete object, signatures or marks, the reverse or base, visible condition and any associated documentation.
Initial Photo Review · No Obligation · 35+ Years of Experience