What would I say to my collector 20 years ago

Image courtesy of Julia May.

Lessons learned from many years of work with collectors.

Have you ever wanted to go back in time and do something differently? Unfortunately, time machines do not exist. But we can learn from the past and make informed decisions for the future when it comes to our art collections!

Artwork Archive met with Courtney Ahlstrom Christie and Sarah Rieder, two raters and co-editors , which work with collections of all sizes and types. We asked them to share best practices that will help art collectors through all stages of their collecting. That's what they had to say. 

Choose original works, not long-run reproductions.

Original, one-of-a-kind works, such as paintings, tend to rank higher than reproductions produced in large numbers. When you buy a painting, you are adding a unique work to your art collection instead of a print that could be part of many other collections. 

If you're buying a print, it's a good idea to select a print that was part of a run of 300 prints or less to help combat future depreciation due to the abundance of inventory (we've both seen run sizes in the thousands in our work).

Define your collection goals and evaluate your collection regularly.

It's helpful to define what you want from your collection, and if the answer just makes you happy, we support it!

Articulating your collection goals, whether it's collecting important pieces in a particular genre or creating an archive on a particular historical theme, helps bring clarity to future purchases. professional appraisers and on your collection journey.

Each collection benefits from a disciplined approach to collecting and a clear mission that guides new purchases. 

Be curious about your collecting approach and be open to mixing different artists.

If building a collection that functions like an asset is important to you, many of the same investment principles apply, especially maintaining a diversified portfolio that doesn't become imbalanced. 

How might this look in relation to an art collection? You may want to consider studying both established and emerging artists when building your collection and be careful not to weigh the bulk of your collection per artist. 

Keep all documentation and documents related to your purchases.

The paperwork associated with owning works of art is becoming increasingly important. This chain of control, known as lineage, is most reliable when supported by actual evidence. 

Therefore, we recommend that collectors keep copies of bills of sale or any other documentation related to the legal right to a work of art and the history of exhibitions. 

Online art collection management systems, for example, help you keep your collection in hand and stay organized. 

It is one thing to collect documents, but they are of little use if they are forgotten in a box of junk. It is important to have the information in a secure place that you will remember years from now, such as a cloud database. Systems such as  allow you to save these sources as attachments to an object record. Learn more about ways to document art in the blog post.

Keep inventory.

After you collect all the documents, do not forget to catalog the detailed information about each item in the collection. The inventory should describe the artwork so that another person less familiar with the artwork can easily identify it based on the information provided, even without a photograph. Examples of information that should be included in the description are: manufacturer/performer, title, medium/materials, date of creation, region, signatures/marks, origin, subject matter, condition, etc. 

We know that sometimes inherited or purchased works of art come with little information about their origin or even the creator, so do your best - the more comprehensive the catalog, the better. 

Again, we recommend using a system like , Which the helps you keep everything organized in one place - with multiple images and documents. 

Do you need professional help cataloging your collection? Then think to assist you in building and maintaining a stock collection. 

Whether you catalog your collection yourself or hire a professional, a cloud-based database such as  helps everyone keep important information in one place and easily accessible in case you need to share it for insurance, accounting, estate planning, etc. 

Take care of your art. 

As appraisers, we really hate to see works of art that have suffered from poor storage practices, and condition issues also reduce value. 

Taking care of your art is an important duty of a collector. Best practices include hanging art in areas out of direct sunlight and avoiding excessive humidity or temperature fluctuations with appropriate climate control. 

If you're already working with an appraiser, they can help you assess whether your art collection would benefit from changes to your current storage practices. They can also refer you to a highly qualified art restorer if certain pieces of art are needed. .

Evaluate your art at regular intervals.

Our clients are often surprised to find that most insurance companies recommend having for their art collection every 3-5 years. This allows coverage to follow market changes that have occurred since the last update and ensure that you receive sufficient compensation in an insurance settlement at . 

In particular, aspiring contemporary artists may experience rapid growth in their market, so regular score updates help protect you from under-insurance. If you've been working with the same estimator for a long time, updates usually cost less because the estimator is already familiar with your collection.

Stay up to date with news from the art world.

By reading publications from the art world (such as the Artwork Archive blog and our magazine, ) can help you learn about new artists and keep up to date with the upcoming changes in the art market, as well as help you hone your artistic preferences. 

Staying up to date with the art world can also help you avoid risky purchases from dubious places, scandalous places, or artists who are often counterfeited.

Be careful with certificates of authenticity.

In theory, a Certificate of Authenticity (COA) is a document that certifies the authenticity of a work. However, there are no rules on how to issue certificates of authenticity, allowing anyone to create their own version.

Although the certificate of authenticity is intended to guarantee the buyer the authenticity of the artwork, you must be very careful. These types of documents are only as good as the source. So while a reputable gallery or recognized expert is a guarantee worth having, most certificates of authenticity have little to no value. 

Instead, we recommend that you keep your purchase receipts and as detailed a description of the artwork as possible.

Some specifics to ask for at the time of purchase include the artist's name, title, date, material, signature, size, provenance, etc. Be sure to get these details in writing! And always remember to consider the source of the information before believing the facts given.

Interact with emerging artists and your local art community. 

We believe that part of the fun of collecting art is building the community it creates. Whichever level you feel most comfortable at, there are opportunities to practice fine arts locally. This could be as simple as membership to a nearby art museum and attending their events, or attending exhibitions by artists represented by galleries. The benefit of meeting contemporary artists is that you can acquire new talent while it's still available.

You can find emerging artists at . Search by environment, location and price.  

Another way is to volunteer with non-profit organizations and spread the benefits of an art-filled life through civic projects. Your journey into the arts community can truly be a "choose your own adventure" scenario. Such interaction will delight your senses and deepen your aesthetic experience while helping culture flourish in your own backyard.

Heed the old adage and "buy what you like".

The feelings that a work of art can evoke should not be taken lightly. When it comes to collecting, we highly recommend a philosophy where the emotional connection is more important than the financial one. If you choose art based on personal taste, your subsequent enjoyment is likely to last for years to come - an important characteristic when considering shopping as a long-term investment. 

Unless your work is stored in a warehouse, artwork is indeed a very personal commodity that lives with you. Wouldn't it be better for you to constantly contemplate art that pleases your eyes and excites your imagination?

Another benefit we have noticed as evaluators is that themes naturally show up in a collection owned by someone who has followed personal taste rather than chasing the latest trends. After all, no one can truly predict the external factors that will affect the market decades from now, but only you know what your heart desires. 

Thank yourself twenty years from now and create an online art collection management system. . 

About the authors:  

Courtney Ahlstrom Christie - owner . Her Atlanta-based firm helps clients in the American Southeast appraise fine and decorative arts. She is a certified member of the International Society of Appraisers with the label "Private Client Service" and an accredited member of the American Association of Appraisers. Courtney can be found online at

Sara Rieder, ISA CAPP, owner and co-editor of the magazine. Sarah is the creator of the online course. She is a certified member of the International Society of Appraisers with the label "Private Client Service" and an accredited member of the American Association of Appraisers. Sarah can be found online at and contacted directly at .

Courtney and Sarah are co-editors Worthwhile Magazine™, available online at