It's pretty amazing how much junk people can accumulate over the years. When a parent or grandparent passes away, it's up to the children to clean out the homes and determine what items are valuable, what items have sentimental value, and what things should be tossed right in the dumpster. Things can become really complicated when it comes to any pieces of art that may be left in the attic. The world of art is very tricky. Some pieces can be worthless, while others are worth a ton of money. Being able to determine the more valuable pieces will allow you to organize the items and then get a proper art resale value from an antique art value appraisal.

Original Works & Reprints

One of the keys in determining whether an image is worth money or not is to see if the art is a original or a reprint. Many famous pieces of art have been reprinted so that people could decorate their home with them. Upon close examination, you may be able to see if the work is printed or if the art is applied directly to the canvas. By using a magnifying glass, you may be able to see small dots that were created as a part of the printing process. It's also a good idea to examine the frame for any stickers or indications of the originality. If you feel like the image is original, you can have it appraised for the full value.

Family Creations

Parents and grandparents love to keep the proud work that their kids have created. In some cases, these impressive pieces of art may actually look professional. This is why it's a good idea to examine any signatures or writing that may appear on the canvas. You will be able to tell if it is a family name that is written on the painting. If it is, then the painting likely has sentimental value but will not be worth any money.

Image Searches

Before packing up a painting for appraisal, it's a good idea to complete a quick online search to determine if the painting is famous or featured in some type of database. By taking a picture of the painting, you can drag and drop the image file directly into a search tool bar. Similar images will appear, allowing you to see more information on the painting. If you are able to obtain a name and artist, then you will have the ability to get the art properly appraised by a professional and can set up a meeting.

You grandma's attic may have a lot of junk, but it could also hold a very valuable piece of art that could be worth a ton of money.