Here's What You Need to Know Before Shopping for Art at Estate Sales, According to Experts
While the economy may not exactly be in ship shape right now, the art market is even stronger than pre-pandemic levels. According to The Art Basel and UBS Global Art Market Report 2023, the U.S. has shown the most robust recovery of any country with its highest level to date—a whopping $30.2 billion. While this is exciting news for creatives and gallerists, it can make the art world seem even more daunting for new or aspiring collectors who are just developing their tastes. However, galleries and high-end design shops aren't the only places to score incredible pieces.
Estate sales can be gold mines for art collectors of all kinds. Designer David Fraizer says they can be great resources for finding affordable pieces compared to other avenues—even antique stores. However, it's not as simple as showing up and leaving with a gorgeous work of art, and Fraizer says the estate sale circuit can actually get very competitive and crowded. We've tapped a handful of designers, shop owners, and even the CEO of a high-end auction house to share their best advice for art shopping at estate sales to ensure you find the next great addition to your budding art collection.
Peruse Your Home Prior to Shopping
"I think estate sales are some of the best places to find art," says New York-based designer Leslie Banker. "When I'm shopping estate sales for clients, I look for small pieces and little prints I can hang in a hallway or on a small empty wall. Those are the final touches that will make a place feel finished."
Architect Cathy Purple Cherry advises preparing to shop an estate sale by taking inventory of each space in your home where pieces may go. She says it may be helpful to take photos of the rooms as well to help you best envision an art work in a given space.
"This will equip you with an understanding of the scale of pieces that will work and which color tones you're looking for, ensuring that you're not arbitrarily evaluating pieces that may not work in your space," Purple Cherry says.
Seek Out a Blend of Movements and Periods
Several of our design experts mentioned the importance of eclecticism when it comes to building your art collection. Alex Papachristidis says that an elegant mix of modern and antique pieces never goes out of style.
"I personally love to pair contemporary art with 18th- and 19th-century antiques in my interiors," he says. "It's the contrast that makes things exciting."
The team at Oxford Design Studio says that European Old Master paintings are great items to look out for when shopping estate sales, as well as antique stores and auction houses. She says they not only elevate any space but will mix well with more contemporary photography or works on paper you already have on the walls.
Don't Get Tripped Up By Framing
Whose eye isn't drawn to a gorgeous gilt frame in a sea of treasures? However, Melanie Millner of The Design Atelier says to be wary of assuming a piece's value based on its framing. She says that the frame can often be worth more than the artwork itself, so it's best to let your dollar be led by pieces that are meaningful to you.
"You can also flip artwork over to examine the professionalism of the framing," says Purple Cherry. "If the framing is papered and sealed, that usually means it came from a quality framing shop, which is often indicative that it may be a more valuable or significant piece."
On the other side of the coin, designer Melanie Gowen says that if a piece stands out to you and its framing isn't in the best condition, you can always get it reframed or cleaned up to restore the work to its former glory.
"Sometimes you do have to look past the state of the art at estate sales and imagine a piece's potential," says Gowen.
Be on the Lookout for Maritime Antiques
If it's a trend you're looking to bring into your home for less or you're collecting art for its resale value, Gowen has noticed a huge market for maritime antiques right now, especially on Nantucket.
"Estate sales are a great way to get statement pieces like classic clipper ship paintings for a great price," she says. Plus, a soothing seascape never goes out of style!
Scoop Up Photography While You Can
Laura Doyle, CEO of Doyle Auction House, advises aspiring collectors snag great photography whenever they come across it at an estate sale while prices are low.
"The age of iPhones and Photoshop has made digital photography so accessible that the market is still figuring out what impact it will have on collectible photographs," she says. "There are a lot of buying opportunities in that genre right now."
As Papachristidis said, "It's contrast that makes things exciting," and a bit of thoughtfully framed photography may be just the thing your formal living room or guest bedroom needs to elevate and enliven the space.
Do Your Homework
As with just about anything, it's always best to be prepared, and that's especially the case at a highly anticipated estate sale in your area. Even more so if you've road tripped!
"Do your best to research the location and timing of an estate sale ahead of time," says designer and shop owner Caitlin Wilson. "It’s common for shoppers to arrive before the sale opens in order to be as close to first in line. Try scoping out listings ahead of time online in order to be as efficient as possible when browsing the sale."
It may also be worth looking into the artists and the respected movements or periods they represent beforehand. One of Wilson's favorite online tools is AskArt, which can help you determine the authenticity of the pieces and offers some background on the artist.
Don't Disregard Prints
Tori Jones, of the eponymous home goods shop on Block Island, says that an estate sale can be a great place to snatch up a pretty print that may be more accessible than other works. She advises looking for prints that were part of a limited edition, that means they will be of higher quality and value. She loves working with a trusted framer to bring these pieces to life with antique or vintage frames that will make your pieces pop.
"Pricing at estate sales is typically far better than auctions or markets, so, if you see something you love, go for it!" says Jones. "The vast majority of merchandise at these sales is one of a kind—here today and gone tomorrow."
Always, Always Buy What You Love
At the end of the day, value becomes relative if you don't like the piece or see it finding a place in your home. While estate sales can be frenzied and competitive, Higgins says you're missing the point if you aren't having any fun.
"Estate sales are a wonderful place to find well-priced oil paintings, pencil sketches, etchings, prints, or series of prints," says designer Roger Higgins. "The most important thing, however, is simply to buy what you love and enjoy the hunt. You may end up with a treasure!"
The Oxford Design Studio team says that while the art market can be overwhelming and mysterious, especially to new or aspiring collectors, you can never go wrong with buying a piece that evokes a cherished memory, place, or feeling. Plus, Doyle says that nostalgia is a big driver of trends in the art world and just may leave you with an impressive collection in the decades to come.
"Collecting is a journey, and one you should enjoy," says Doyle. "You will develop your eye and taste over time, building your knowledge and instinct for value. Let your collection tell a story."
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