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Kept & Rare

COLLECTING AREA 05 / 06

Art & Decorative Objects

Paintings, prints, ceramics, glass and silver often carry their most useful information on the back or underside: labels, stamps, inscriptions and construction details. A front view tells someone what the object looks like; the reverse often tells them what it is.

Often includes

  • Paintings, prints and works on paper
  • Ceramics, glass and silver
  • Pieces with provenance or restoration records

Examples are guidance for an inquiry, not a promise that an item will be accepted.

Ask about this area

§ 01

Identification clues

Where to look first. These details help someone understand what an object is before any conversation about it.

Front, reverse and base: where art is identified

Plate · SVG diagram

  1. A

    Whole work, in frameA

    The dashed box marks one possible signature location only.

  2. B

    Back of frameB

    Labels, if any, are often on the back; hanging wire shown.

  3. C

    Print marginC

    Edition number in pencil and a printer’s blind stamp.

  4. D

    Ceramic baseD

    Factory marks, where present, are often under the foot.

  5. E

    Silver marksE

    A row of small marks on spoon or tray.

  • A: Signatures, monograms and dates on the front
  • B: Gallery, framer, exhibition or auction labels on the back
  • C: Edition numbers and printer’s marks on prints
  • D: Factory marks, impressed stamps and pattern names on ceramics and glass
  • E: Hallmarks and maker’s marks on silver

Generic framed landscape, frame back, print, ceramic and silver. Marks and labels are blank shapes, not real makers. Not evidence of identity, grade or authenticity.

§ 02

Information worth recording

Checklist · for your notes or inquiry

  • Artist or maker as signed, or as attributed, using the exact wording you have
  • Medium if known: oil, watercolor, print, porcelain, glass and so on
  • Dimensions, with and without frame
  • Every label, stamp or inscription on the back or base
  • Condition: tears, flaking, foxing, chips, cracks, repairs and known restoration

Copy marks and numbers exactly as they appear, even if they are worn or you are unsure what they mean.

Keep facts, records and stories distinct

Observed

Copy exactly as seen

  • Signatures, monograms and dates on the front
  • Gallery, framer, exhibition or auction labels on the back
  • Edition numbers and printer’s marks on prints

Documented

Identify the existing record

  • Gallery or auction purchase receipts
  • Exhibition catalogs or labels
  • Conservation or restoration reports

Reported history

Name the source, not a certainty

  • Who told you the story?
  • What did they say, and roughly when?
  • Keep family recollections separate from records and visible details.

Not knowable from photos

Leave as open questions

  • A signature on a work is an observation, not proof of authorship.
  • Attribution is an opinion; "attributed to" and "in the style of" make different claims.
  • Undisclosed restoration may not be visible in photographs.
Prompts for your own notes, not fields to fill in here. A remembered story is reported history; a document records a claim, but does not by itself prove authenticity.

§ 03

Useful photo views

  1. A

    01Whole work, straight on, in frame

    Composition and overall condition

  2. B

    02Back of the frame or canvas

    Labels, stamps and inscriptions

  3. 03Signature close-up

    Placement and appearance of any signature

  4. D

    04Base or underside of objects

    Factory marks and maker’s stamps

  5. 05Damage under raking light

    Side lighting reveals cracks, flaking and repairs

Full guide to inquiry photographs

§ 04

Paperwork to gather

Share what already exists. Nothing needs to be created, and an inquiry does not require documents.

  • Gallery or auction purchase receipts
  • Exhibition catalogs or labels
  • Conservation or restoration reports
  • Letters from artists, dealers or previous owners

§ 05

Careful handling

  1. 01Carry framed works with two hands, one beneath; never by the top of the frame or the wire.
  2. 02Do not remove works from frames, or labels from backs.
  3. 03Do not clean paintings, ceramics or silver.
  4. 04Keep works on paper out of direct light and damp.
  5. 05Wrap ceramics and glass individually; never stack them inside one another.
Two hands, one beneath. Never by the wire.

Brass strokes mark what to avoid or where to look.

§ 06

What cannot be known from photos

§ 07

Common questions

The painting is signed. Does that mean it is by that artist?

Not necessarily. Record the signature exactly as it appears, along with any labels or paperwork, and let the description reflect what can be supported.

Should I have a painting cleaned before consigning?

No. Cleaning and restoration decisions should never be made in a hurry and are not needed to begin an inquiry.

Is a print worth less than a painting?

Value depends on many specific factors, not the medium alone. Kept & Rare does not quote values from an inquiry.

Next step

Have something in this area?

The inquiry opens with Art & Decorative Objects already selected. You can change it. A description is enough; photographs are optional.

Start an inquiryHow selling works

Guides

Guides for this area

GUIDE 03For everyoneReading condition and provenance informationHow to read a lot description carefully: what condition notes, attributions and ownership histories actually claim.Read GUIDE 02For ownersPhotographing objects for an inquiryClear, honest photographs with a phone: the views that help someone understand an object, and the habits that hide it.Read GUIDE 01For ownersPreparing an inherited collectionWhat to do, and what not to do, in the weeks after a collection becomes your responsibility.Read