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If you plan to sell an old painting, start by asking an auction house or art specialist with relevant expertise for a presale estimate. You can often begin with photographs and the information you already have; a formal written appraisal or authentication paperwork is not necessarily required. First decide what you need the valuation for, then compare specialists, sale options, and the fees that affect what you would actually receive.
Choose the right kind of valuation first
A presale estimate and a formal appraisal serve different purposes. A presale estimate is a specialist’s opinion to help plan a possible sale. It is not a guaranteed selling price or a promise that the painting will sell. Christie’s explains that its auction estimates are opinions, not predictions or guarantees of actual sale price: Request an Auction Estimate.
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If your immediate question is whether and how to sell, ask a suitable auction house or dealer for an estimate before commissioning a report. Sotheby’s says a formal written appraisal is not required to request a presale auction estimate: Valuations. Christie’s likewise says prior appraisal or authentication paperwork is not required for its initial estimate review.
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1Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches2Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems3Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteA formal appraisal is a separate professional report for a defined purpose, such as insurance, estate, legal, tax, or donation use. Requirements depend on the purpose and jurisdiction, so explain the intended use when contacting an appraiser. The FAIR appraisal guide describes a report that identifies the artwork, covers medium and condition, explains attribution and valuation method, and states a value conclusion for a particular use: Painting & Fine Art Appraisal Guide.
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Prepare the painting’s information and photographs
Collect what you can without cleaning, dismantling, or altering the work. A clear, accurate submission helps a specialist decide whether the painting merits further review and what they need next.
- Photograph the front and back, the frame, and any labels, inscriptions, stamps, or signatures. Include visible damage, but do not move or dismantle the painting to reach it.
- Record the dimensions and medium if known. Note any visible condition issues rather than attempting repairs.
- Gather receipts, correspondence, exhibition records, catalogues, and previous appraisals, if available.
- Write down how the painting came into your possession. Separate documented facts from family history, recollection, or belief.
Sotheby’s describes a submission process based on images and information: How to Sell a Painting with Sotheby’s. Grisebach’s estimate request asks about exhibition history and says its estimates draw in part on comparisons with sale results: Request an Estimate. Ask each specialist what images and details they need; submission requirements vary.
Contact specialists who fit the painting
Send the same basic description and images to more than one appropriate specialist if you are comparing options. Look for experience with the painting’s likely period, geography, medium, and artist category. Ask whether the initial view can be based on photographs and whether an in-person inspection is advisable.
If a particular artist is suggested, explain what supports that attribution and what is uncertain. A signature by itself does not establish authorship. Ask the specialist what catalogue wording the estimate assumes—for example, “by,” “attributed to,” “studio of,” or “circle of”—and whether additional research may affect the assessment.
An estimate inquiry can also help identify a suitable selling route. Sotheby’s says its specialists may discuss auction, private sale, or online options, and may recommend another venue if a work is not suitable for its auction. Before signing exclusive consignment terms, consider whether another specialist or venue is worth consulting.
Keep authentication separate from the initial estimate
Do not assume you need to buy an authentication certificate before requesting a sale estimate. Christie’s says authentication paperwork is not required for its initial review; that does not make authenticity irrelevant to eventual cataloguing or sale. Ask the prospective selling specialist whether further authentication or provenance research is relevant, who would need to conduct it, and whether the specialist would rely on the resulting work before paying an outside provider.
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Keep claims about authorship, ownership history, and provenance tied to documents where possible. If something is an unverified family account or your own interpretation, label it that way instead of presenting it as established fact.
Compare the sale terms, not just the estimate
Estimate ranges from different venues are useful only when you understand their assumptions and the costs and conditions attached to each route. Ask for the following in writing:
- The estimate range and whether it depends on a particular attribution, condition assessment, or in-person inspection.
- The proposed route—auction, private sale, online sale, or referral elsewhere—and the likely timing.
- Any reserve policy, seller commission, catalogue or photography charges, and other agreed fees.
- Who is responsible for transport and insurance, what withdrawal terms apply, and when proceeds are paid.
- What happens if the painting does not sell and whether the agreement limits your ability to offer it elsewhere.
Compare likely net proceeds after commission and agreed charges, not only the headline estimate. Dorotheum states that proceeds are the highest bid less sales commission and agreed fees such as catalogue costs: Selling. That is a provider-specific description, not a fee schedule for other houses. No general commission rate or appraisal fee should be assumed; request current terms from each provider.
When to pay for a formal appraisal
Commission a written appraisal when you need a report for a defined non-sale purpose, or when you have a specific reason to obtain an independent valuation apart from a venue’s sale estimate. Before agreeing, verify the appraiser’s experience with the relevant type of work, the report’s intended-use suitability, how the fee is calculated, and whether the appraiser is independent of a possible sale venue.
For a sale decision alone, first find out whether a relevant auction house or dealer can assess the painting from your submission. A formal report may be useful in other circumstances, but it is not automatically a prerequisite to asking what a painting might bring at sale.
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