Blog
On the ArtRate.art blog, we write about the real market value of works of art, antiques, and collectible objects. Not about wishful prices. Not about sensations. We analyze the auction, private, and dealer markets, showing what truly determines an object s value: provenance, condition, rarity, authenticity, and the current market context. This is a place for those who want to understand valuation mechanisms, rather than rely on assumptions, myths, or isolated auction records. Facts. Comparisons. Experience. No simplifications. No marketing promises.
The Same Artist, the Same Technique, a Fivefold Difference in Price – What Truly Determines Valuation, and What Is Only an Illusion
At first glance, it seems absurd: two paintings by the same artist, executed in the same technique and created almost simultaneously, achieve prices on the market that differ fivefold. For owners of works of art and antiques, such a phenomenon is not only frustrating but often incomprehensible. What, then, truly guides the market? What genuinely
Three Markets, One Object: Auction, Dealer, and Private Sale – Which One Truly Reflects Value?
One of the most common mistakes made by owners of antiques and works of art is the belief that there is only one market and that price is objective. In reality, at least three parallel markets exist for the same object: the auction market, the dealer market, and the private market. Each operates according to
The Auction Market vs. Private Sale
How Prices, Risks, and Responsibility Differ In the art and antiques market, the sale of an object may take place through different channels. The two most commonly compared are the auction market and private sale. Although both lead to a transaction, they differ in the way prices are formed, the level of risk involved, the
How Art and Antiques Are Really Valued
Valuing a work of art or an antique is not about assigning a quick price or comparing a single photograph with a similar object found online. It is an analytical process that combines historical knowledge, market expertise, and an assessment of the object’s physical condition. A properly conducted valuation always follows several key stages. Below
Valuation and Expert Opinion
How They Differ and When Each Makes Sense In the art and antiques market, the terms valuation and expert opinion are often used interchangeably.In practice, however, they refer to two different types of assessments, with different scope, purpose, and formal consequences. Understanding this distinction is crucial both for object owners and for those using professional
Why the Price of an Artwork Is Almost Never ItsTrue Value
In the art and antiques market, one question returns constantly: “How much is it worth?” It seems simple. One only needs to check auction results, sales platforms, or similar objects available online. In practice, however, the price we see rarely reflects the actual market value of an object. After forty years of analysing the auction