Expert: Ben Mahmoud - 2/1/2008

Question
Would like to know the value of these four works of art by Eugene Pechaubes. They were purchased in France just after WW II by an Uncle at a museum in Paris. Eugene Pechaubes was selling his work and he signed his signature just below his signature. I attached the art work to this e-mail.

Answer
I am sorry that your image did not come through.  I would have liked to see the works.  You can send me an e-mail with the attachments to bmahmoud@niu.edu.

I was able to determine that there are results from 20 auctions in 2006.  The prices ranged from 700 Euros to 3500 Euros.  An 8.5" x 10.5" work could be valued at about $2500, but not much higher than that unless it is a stunning piece.

There are several auction houses in the U.S. that would help you determine the value of the works, and would be happy to put them on the auction block for you.  Of course, there would be a commission on the sale.

If you live in a large city, you might call the art museums to see if they have days where the public can bring in works for appraisals.

The Eliot Mazur Galllery in New York City handles Pechaubes' work.  They surely can give you a definitive appraisal of the work.  And I am sure they would be happy to take it on consignment.  But before you turn the work over to an auction house (such as Christies) or the Mazur Gallery,  you should ascertain the percentages of their commissions.  I have the sense that the auction house commission would be less.

The address of the Mazur Gallery is 1050 Second Avenue, NY, Ny 10022.  Their e-mail address is maze8868@aol.com.  When you contact them, you should provide the size of the work, and the condition of the painting.

Christies has a presence in a number of cities.  In the US they are New York and Los Angeles.  They also have houses in London, Geneva, etc..  Their New York address is 20 Rockefeller Plaza, NY, NY 10020.
Their phone number is 212.636.2000.

I hope this is of some help to you.

Ben Mahmoud