Museum & Gardens
Philbrook cannot authenticate, appraise, or evaluate works of art. We can, however, offer some direction to get you started researching the works in your own collection. First, start with the internet. If you know the name of the artist, you can search auction databases like AskArt or ArtNet for comparable prices and biographical information, as well as find galleries that may specialize in your artist or type of artwork. For basic biographical information on artists, you may wish to search the Union List of Artist Names Online (ULAN). If you need assistance identifying an artist or gaining an official statement of value for insurance or donation purposes, it is advised that you contact a certified appraiser in your area or request a referral to a regional specialist through a national appraisal organization. Three such organizations are:
Other recommendations include contacting galleries that represent the artist or auction houses such as Christie’s, Sotheby’s, Skinner Auctioneers & Appraisers, Bonhams & Butterfields, or Leslie Hindman Auctioneers. Philbrook cannot guarantee that appraisals obtained through these sources are accurate or reflect the continuously changing market for individual works of art.