How to Spot Valuable Art at Thrift Stores

The Scream by Edvard Munch

Common sense tips for spotting valuable art at thrift stores, flea markets, garage sales and other odd places!

• Look for pieces created by recognizable artists by familiarizing yourself with their works and signatures 
• Look for prints that are part of limited edition runs (numbers on them that indicate how many copies exist and which copy you have)
• Stick to larger pieces (generally more popular with the buying public) as opposed to smaller prints and paintings
• Look for paintings, prints and photographs with high-quality framing jobs (often an indication of a valuable piece)
• Look for the artist’s signature on the front or back of the piece. A painting that doesn’t have a signature is most likely, but not always, a print or facsimile.
• Utilize a magnifying glass to check for printers dots. (an indication that you are looking at a repro or laser printing)
• Check oil paintings to be sure they have texture (surface paint waves, brush strokes and or bumps)
• Check frames (front and back) for indications of age (sometimes the frame will yield more information about authenticity than the work itself)
• Take a photo of the piece/signature and upload it into Google Images (reverse image searches at https://reverse.photos) and see what you can discover

​Never forget that discoveries of valuable art in thrift stores, flea markets and even garage sales by savvy and sharp-eyed pickers have yielded thousands and even millions of dollars!