Pricing Of Art Investments

Obviously, the price paid for an art investment is key to determining its current value and its profitability in the future. Many small details surrounding a piece can either add to the value or detract from it. Art investments should provide a profit after they are resold. So, knowing pricing terms is key to determining how much an investor can expect to recoup.

There are certainly many keys things to remember when trying to calculate future profit of an art investment. Buying the work of a well known artist, referred to in the industry as 'established artists' can mean shelling out more money as an investment. Famous artist's work is usually well worth the money but most beginning art investor aren't able to access notable pieces.

Another factor that affects art investment pricing is the quality or condition in which a piece is bought. If the condition of the piece acquired is near perfect, than the price the artwork commands will be much higher. That means even pieces that have been restored or varnished for protection can lose a lot of value.

The period in an artist's life that a piece of art was created also matters greatly in the pricing of art investments. Artists, like other people in other walks of life, have very successful and productive periods. They also have timeframes where their work and artistic style lags. Most certainly, a thriving artist's work is more sought after than the work of an artist who's struggling or unknown.

Included in the historical background of a piece of art is the lineage of owners it had. Ownership of art investments, or provenance, is the tracking and documentation of a piece's previous owner(s). When the chain of ownership is broken, or a clear owner record isn't known, that lowers the value of the artwork.

Many galleries, auction houses and other sellers of art charge fees to the seller, and the buyer in the case of auction houses, to pass on business cost and make revenue. The administrative costs that are assessed to a price of an art investment are include the restoration, storing, hanging and all other cost related to caring for and handling the artwork. As with other retail industries, markups are simply a way to makeup losses in production and generate profits.

Art buyers have the upper hand when it relates to pricing relating to unknown artists. The market is full of young, hopeful artists with talent. Unless those artists have distinguished themselves and proven their sale records, it's pretty hard for an artist to demand a certain amount. Classic pieces that are created by the 'masters' command a lot more money and fuel the market in general.

Pricing in art investment is not a stasis thing. If sellers, or buyers, aren't willing to negotiate a price that's reasonable for industry standards, chances are the price isn't right. Staying abreast of real market values can prevent an art investor from paying inflated pricing for an art investment.