How we value

What we look at

• What it is

  Which culture made it, when and where, and what it was for. We say what we think it is and how sure we are.

• The quality of the making

  A sure hand shows: in the painting, the carving, the casting. The best pieces of a type sit far above the routine ones.

• Condition

  Intact and original is worth most. Repairs, restoration and replaced parts matter, so we ask you to tell us what you know and we describe what we see.

• Rarity and subject

  Whether many like it survive. A Colima dog is a familiar type; a dog in an unusual pose, with a scene on it or in a rare material is not, and the offer reflects that.

• Size and presence

  A large piece is usually worth more than a small one of the same type, though a fine small piece can outweigh a plain large one.

• History

  Earlier collections, old dealer labels, published catalogues and past auction records all add to a piece. A piece with no history is not turned away; it is judged on what it is.

• The market

  What comparable pieces have really sold for, at auction and through dealers, and how recently. We look this up piece by piece and tell you what we found.

What your reply holds

Every reply holds these, so you can see how we reached it.

1. What it is, in plain words: culture, period and place, and how sure we are.
2. What we see: the condition, and any repair we can make out from your photographs.
3. What we compared: comparable pieces that have sold, with the house, the date and the price.
4. The offer: one amount for the piece or the group, or piece by piece if you prefer, and how long it stands.
5. How you are paid: by bank transfer the same day you accept, before anything ships. We take care of the shipping.
6. What we cannot take, and why.

How an offer reaches you

We write the offer down with the reasoning behind it: what we think the piece is, how we judge its condition and what comparable pieces have sold for. If we cannot take a piece, we say so and say why.

You are free to compare our offer with any other, and to ask us how we reached it. If you can show us that we have missed something, such as an earlier collection or a published record, we look again.

Your reply is in writing within two working days of your message. If it needs more from you, it says what, and when to expect the offer.

To accept an offer, reply and say yes in writing: we pay by bank transfer the same day, before anything ships, and we take care of the shipping. Nothing is paid before you say yes.