Expert: Frank Leeding - 5/24/2009

Question
Hi! I got this work of art by Norman Rockwell. Its a flat ceramic print in a wooden frame. The print itself its 5" by 12". It has a cretifiate of authenticity, it says: norman Rockwell America. this is to certify that Norman Rockwell's America is an authentic original created exclusively for this framed porcelain . it is further certified that this work was issued in limited edition by the Franklin Gallery and will never be issued again in any other form. Its also signed with pen by the vice president of the gallery.Any information. Thank you

Answer
These art works are like the coin sets, figurines, and even star
trek jewelry thar are issued by places like the Franklin Mint.
They are simply works of art (often produced in limited quantities
but there is no guarantee that they won't create a new issue later).

They are collectible in the same sense that anything is collectable.
My mother has innumerable Barbie dolls, antique plates, etc.

I would say that if you like the work, ENJOY it! :)

If you are collecting, then care must be taken to store it
away - as with all "production collectibles", it takes
several years (if not decades) for the works to accumulate
any real value. If you plan to use a "rent a locker", then
by all means get one of the climate controlled ones. I have
my "art studio" in one and it's not much more than a
glorified garage - i'm sure between the carpenter ants
and the crickets my painints are slowly being eaten - they
do come around and spray Goddess only knows what chemicals
-- are the crickets worse of the chemicals? Pray for us
Rachel Carson.

In dealing with things like coins, be
careful of phrases like "100% genuine silver" - usually
it is electroplated or guilded with an extremely thin
layer of silver. It used to be the fad in the 1950's
(following WW II) for a couple to have their baby's
first pair of baby shoes bronzed.

Again, there's a mass market out there: Refer to Andy
Warhol and the concept of the art factory - he didn't
invent it, but was the first modernist to understand
how much further things had come since Marcel Duchamp
took a Mona Lisa calendar and drew his famous moustache
and goatee on her.  

It's probably a nice work, and would sell well. But,
again these things are (like Star Trek (yes, i'm a
trekie) original series plastic glasses from a burger
chain -- beauty and market value are in the eye and
bill-fold of the beholder,

- frank
(share and enjoy!)