Two people work on an orange cylinder
Care Information

Appraisals and Identification of Artwork

The Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art WSU staff members, as employees of a State Supported organization, cannot, by law, provide written or verbal monetary appraisals or identification of artworks. To obtain an appraisal value for an artwork, consult the American Society of Appraisers (ASA) to find appraisers in your region or check the yellow pages for art dealers, galleries and consultants.

Keeping current values of your artwork for insurance purposes is advisable. Preparing the pertinent information about artist, title, date of work [if given], medium, dimensions, and marks will assist in the process. Having a good quality image of the work with details of the signature is helpful. The internet can be used to locate similar objects at galleries for sale, and sometimes provide important documentation about an object.

Conservation

The rule of thumb for the conservation and the mounting of artwork is not to do something that can’t be reversed. The American Institute for Conservation of Historic and Artistic Works (AIC) provides a referral service and brochure titled Guidelines for Selecting a Conservator. Conservation and proper framing and matting of artworks is an excellent investment in your art. AIC lists professionals in your area.

Caring for Your Collection

There are many simple rules for living with and caring for your art and heirlooms. These online resources connect you to methods and archival materials used to properly store artworks.

American Institute for Conservation of Historic and Artistic Works (AIC)

Proper care of your family heirlooms and art work will ensure that they are around for future generations to enjoy.

Canadian Conservation Institute (CCI)

Textile Care Guidelines

Information about caring for textiles, per the Textile Museum.


Appraisers

American Society of Appraisers (ASA)

Appraisers Association of America


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All information and material posted on this website are subject to copyrights owned by the Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art WSU (JSMA) and other individuals or entities. Any reproduction, retransmission, republication, or other use of all or part of any document found on this site is expressly prohibited, unless prior written permission has been granted by JSMA or the appropriate copyright owner. All other rights reserved.

The names, logos, trademarks, and service marks of JSMA that appear on this site may not be used in any advertising, publicity, promotion, or in any other manner implying JSMA’s endorsement, sponsorship of, or affiliation with any product or service, without JSMA’s prior express written permission.

Although JSMA’s website includes links to other Internet sites, JSMA takes no responsibility for the content or information contained on those other sites, nor does it exert any editorial or other control over those other sites.

JSMA’s website exists to provide information and services to JSMA’s members and to the museum profession at large, in keeping with JSMA’s mission and its status as a 501 (c) (3) nonprofit, tax-exempt organization. In the preparation of the information contained on these web pages, JSMA has endeavored to make that information as accurate and current as possible. However, inadvertent errors can occur. Therefore, the information on the JSMA website is provided “as is,” without any guarantee or warranty of any kind, expressed or implied.

museum staff and 3 students with white gloves observe a Warhol print on a table.
Museum staff and a group of students observe a 1967 print by artist Andy Warhol, titled Paris Review Poster