When David J. Goldberg appraised the contents of New Orleans home recently, the family was delighted to learn that one of their paintings was valuable enough to go to auction in New York at Bonhams. The international auction house will present the work of art by Italian artist Enrico Henri Coleman (1846 – 1911).

The value of the painting falls into a range The Appraisal Group sees frequently. While the star paintings generate big headlines, it is the moderately priced paintings that frequently turn around a family’s situation. In this case, Mr. Goldberg spotted the painting on a routine appraisal.

The beautifully rendered watercolor has all the subtleties of an oil paint. It shows a rider on a white horse leading a pack of horses along a road edged with a stone fence. Set in hilly country, the watercolor, which is typical of the artist, resonates with power and movement. Its pre-sale value is $3,000-$5,000. Interested buyers can contact Madalina Lazen at Bonhams.

One of the advantages to working with The Appraisal Group is their reach. This is the third painting we have posted this month that will be sold in the spring of 2016. Each has gone to a different auction gallery. While you may suspect, or know for sure, that you have a work of art that is valuable, you would be hard pressed to know which auction gallery to send it to or, perhaps, even how to go about identifying the one that would be able to sell your property for the best prices.

Of course, you are under no obligation to sell once you know the fair market value of your collection. You may need a valuation for insurance purposes or to know the value of a legacy gift. There are many reasons for an appraisal. Before you make any decisions on selling or gifting or insuring, be sure you know what you have. For a complimentary consultation, contact The Appraisal Group today.