Whether you research on your own or prepare a consignment, hammer records are lesson one. The method is simple; the channels must be right, and the trap must be recognised.
Channel 1: auction houses' own result archives
International and local houses publish searchable result databases by category, period and keyword, usually with prices and condition notes. Authoritative, well illustrated — but each covers only its own sales, so cross-checking is necessary.
Channel 2: market databases
Aggregators such as Artron and Artprice compile years of records and let you trace price curves by artist, form or sale — ideal for reading the long-term trend of a category rather than a single number.
Channel 3: printed catalogues and museum publications
Paper catalogues of landmark sales and museum exhibitions remain the best reference for forms and decoration. On a serious collector's shelf they are worth as much as the objects.
One trap: asking is not hammering
- Articles quoting “list prices” or “asking prices” prove nothing if the lot never sold.
- Any claim of value without a sale date, venue and hammer price should be doubted.
- Check whether a quoted price includes buyer's premium — the gap can reach twenty per cent.
If you cannot find comparables yourself, hand the photos and clues to professionals. Submit via Consign, or browse our Insights column for regular market notes across categories.
