Expert: Ben Mahmoud - 4/15/2008

Question
I own a framed, serigraph of LeRoy Neiman's "Orange Sky Sailing".  It's an artist print (3/50), signed in pencil
on the lower right and numbered on the left.  It has an additional dedication and signature on the frame matting (not on the print!) to the company I used to work for (one of our execs convinced Neiman to add it).  It was given to
me by the president when the company was sold.  I'm now considering selling it and I'm wondering what the value would be and how to go about marketing it.  Since the frame
has the dedication on the matting, should I have it re-framed first?  Also, I don't have any paper work on it.  Would it be worth the money to have it appraised and does this help in a sale?

Here is a link to Neiman's site with a description:
http://www.leroyneiman.com/merchant.ihtml?pid=48&step=4


Thanks!

-Peter

Here is a link to Neiman's site with a description:
http://www.leroyneiman.com/merchant.ihtml?pid=48&step=4


Answer
The value of every artist's work is established by auction.  And these prices can go up or down depending on the interest in the artist.

Of course, you should have the work appraised.  I am not a professional appraiser, but I might be able to give you some sense of the value of the work.

Before I attempt that, I would not have the work reframed.  That notation may be important to a buyer.  And, after all, the buyer can have it reframed.  It would be costly for you to reframe the work, and I think that it would be unwise.

Your print is from a relatively small edition for Neiman.  This will add to the value of the work.  By the way, Neiman is still at the publication of this prints.  His latest is a Serigraph (silk-screen print) that is about 28 x 38.  It is an edition of 250, plus 58 artist's proofs.  I have not been able to find the price he is asking for the work.

His publisher is Knoedler Publishing Company.  This is a highly reputable firm.  I would guess that they might be able to tell you something of the current value of the print. They are located in Manhattan, and here is there phone number: (212)794-0571.

I have come across a serigraph that Neiman did in 1992.  The text reads that the retail price is $16,000, but they are offering it for $7,500.

As for the sale of the work, I can think of two major art auction houses that are very reputable:  Sothebey's and Christie's.  It would be a very simply thing to call them, and ask if they would be interested in placing your work on auction.  They can give you an estimation of the expected sales price.  Of course, they will charge a commission, and I do not know what that is.

Here are their phone numbers:

Sotheby's:  1334 York Avenue at 72nd St. New York 10021                                   Tel: (212) 606-7000

Christie's: (NYC)20 Rockefeller Plaza is located at 49th Street between 5th and 6th Avenues.  The telephone number for the "sport art" people is Tel: 212 636 2084.  I think that division of Christie's might be more interested in your print than some other division.  However, I am sure that should you contact them, they will be very helpful.  Again, these are highly reputable institutions, and you can be quite comfortable with them.

So, I hope that I have been of some help to you. Good luck.

Regards, Ben Mahmoud