Antique American art appraisal, online
That inherited landscape or portrait you have been wondering about may be a piece of American art history, or a well-loved copy, and the difference matters. Our team researches it thoroughly and returns a plain-English value report in three days.
Structured research, reviewed for clarity
We begin by reading the work itself, its signature, medium, period, and any marks on the stretcher or verso, then compare it against real sales records for similar American works rather than asking prices. We weigh condition, originality, and any provenance you can share, and return a plain-English report with an estimated value range and the reasoning behind it. Every report is reviewed by our team before it reaches you.
What affects the value of antique American art
The value of an American painting or drawing rarely comes down to a single thing. Our team weighs several factors together, because a strong signature means little if the condition is poor, and a modest name can still draw real interest when the period and subject are right.
Artist, period & movement
Attribution is the biggest lever. A Hudson River School landscape, an American Impressionist scene, an Ashcan street view, or a mid-century Abstract Expressionist canvas each sit in different markets, and a work tied to a documented artist and a recognized movement carries more weight than an unsigned piece in the style of one.
Condition & originality
Original, untouched surfaces are prized. Overcleaning, relining, heavy overpaint, or a later frame can all pull value down, while a canvas that keeps its original stretcher, tacking edges, and varnish is far more desirable. We note what is original and what has been restored.
Comparable sales
We base our range on what comparable American works have actually sold for at auction and through dealers, recent hammer prices and private sales, not the hopeful figures listed on marketplace sites.
Signed, attributed, or school of? Why it changes everything
In American art the wording of an attribution carries a great deal. A firmly signed and documented work, a piece attributed to an artist, and one merely in the manner of a school can differ enormously in value even when they look alike on the wall. Reading the signature, the labels, and the period materials is where much of our research goes, and pinning down a firm attribution is exactly the careful work we do for you rather than something to guess at from a single phone photo.
Inherited an American art collection?
If you have come into a group of paintings, prints, or drawings, from a family home, an estate, or a lifetime of collecting, you do not need to sort the important pieces from the decorative ones on your own. Start by sending us clear photographs of the works and any labels, receipts, or exhibition notes you have, and our team will research each one and tell you where the value sits. You can submit your item to begin.
A few reports we've delivered
Illustrative: signed 19th-century Hudson River School river valley oil on canvas, period gilt frame
$6,000 – $18,000
Illustrative: early 20th-century American Impressionist garden scene, signed lower right, original stretcher
$4,000 – $12,000
Illustrative: mid-19th-century itinerant folk portrait of a child, oil on panel, unsigned
$2,500 – $9,000
Illustrative: early 20th-century Western frontier subject signed lithograph, framed
$300 – $1,500Estimated ranges shown to guide research — not official appraisals for insurance, tax, or legal use. Illustrative examples.
Questions, answered honestly
How old does something have to be to be an antique?
As a rule of thumb, an antique is generally at least 100 years old. Items roughly 20–99 years old are usually called “vintage,” and the line shifts by category — but age alone never sets value. A 60-year-old designer piece can be worth far more than a century-old everyday object.
What affects the value of my item?
Value comes from a combination of factors: who made it, its age and rarity, condition, originality, provenance (its documented history), and — most of all — what comparable pieces have actually sold for recently. Our research weighs each of these to produce an estimated range.
I’ve inherited a collection — what do I do?
Start with the pieces you’re most curious about, or the ones you suspect are most valuable. Submit them individually, or for more than ten items use our white-glove service and we’ll research the whole batch together at a tailored rate.
Is this an official appraisal?
No. Every report is a thorough, researched estimate to guide your research — not an official appraisal for insurance, tax, or legal purposes. For those uses you’ll want a certified appraiser, and our report is a great, fast first step before that.
How accurate is a researched value report?
Our research is based on real comparable sales and a structured assessment of condition, era, and maker. It’s designed to give you a credible, well-researched estimate quickly. Like any estimate it isn’t a guarantee of sale price, which is why we always give a range rather than a single number.
“I had a vase from my grandmother and no idea where to start. The report was detailed, fast, and honest about the range.”
“Three days, a fair price, and a genuinely useful breakdown of comparable sales. Far better than waiting weeks.”
“Loved that it was upfront about being an estimate. It gave me exactly what I needed before talking to an auction house.”
Illustrative examples shown during launch — verified customer reviews will replace these as reports are delivered.
Find out what your american art is worth
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