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A Veranda report featuring auctioneer Bene Raia and Lost Art Salon co-founder Rob Delamater offers practical advice for buying antique and vintage art. Their recommendations include shopping with reputable dealers, examining works in person, asking about history and return policies, and choosing art for personal appeal rather than expected investment returns.
A Veranda report on shopping for antique and vintage art recommends that buyers inspect works in person, ask dealers about a piece’s background and return policy, and set a budget before negotiating. Auctioneer and appraiser Bene Raia and Lost Art Salon co-founder Rob Delamater say buyers should focus on whether a work appeals to them, rather than treating a purchase as a likely investment.
Raia describes antique art as generally more than 100 years old, while vintage art is typically around 50 years old. Those are broad age descriptions in the report, not a guarantee of a work’s authenticity, maker or value. Buyers interested in a particular artist or a collectible piece are advised to research the seller and look for reputable galleries or antique stores, including by checking reviews and asking knowledgeable friends for recommendations.
Seeing art in person can help buyers assess details that photographs may not convey. Raia says to look at how the medium sits on paper, board or canvas and examine its depth. Delamater also advises considering the frame, since a piece in a frame the buyer likes could avoid the expense of reframing. Before purchasing, buyers can ask who made the work, what is known about its history and provenance, how the seller acquired it, and whether returns are allowed.
The report also recommends practical checks: measure the space where the art will go, and confirm that a painting can be hung safely. Raia says a heavy work may require a wall that can support it or a professional to hang it. Buyers should set a budget and, if several works appeal to them, ask for a price for the group. Delamater advises making that request politely, rather than pressuring a seller to reduce a price.
Buying Art Beyond the Price Tag
The advice matters because a buyer may have to judge a work’s condition, seller information and fit for a home at the same time. In-person inspection gives shoppers a chance to assess the material and presentation directly, while questions about provenance and returns can clarify what the seller knows and what protections are available. The report does not establish that any particular purchase is authentic or financially sound; those judgments depend on the work and the evidence available.
Raia’s central advice is to buy for personal enjoyment rather than a promised return. That approach can help shoppers avoid stretching a budget based on speculation, while still leaving room to save for a work they particularly want. A suitable frame, available wall space and safe hanging arrangements also affect the total cost and practicality of a purchase.
antique and vintage art appraisal guide
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How Experts Define Older Art
The report distinguishes antique from vintage by approximate age: antique works are generally more than a century old, while vintage works are commonly around 50 years old. These terms give buyers a starting point for discussion, but they do not by themselves verify authorship, condition or market value.
Delamater says the attraction of antique art can include the sense of history associated with an object and its previous owners. Raia points to more immediate reasons people respond to a work, such as its color, size, subject, genre or medium. The report presents these as personal preferences rather than a standard formula for choosing art.
““You have to look at the way the medium falls on the paper, board, or canvas. You have to look at the depth, which you don’t get from looking at a screen.””
— Bene Raia, auctioneer and appraiser at Raia Auctioneers
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What a Seller May Not Know
The supplied report offers general shopping guidance, not authentication findings about specific works or sellers. It does not say how buyers should independently verify an attribution, assess conservation needs or determine fair market value. A dealer’s account of a work’s history and provenance may be limited, so the available documentation and the seller’s return policy remain important questions for each purchase.
The age descriptions are approximate, and the report provides no pricing data or guarantee that antique or vintage art will appreciate. Whether a work fits a home also depends on its dimensions, weight and the buyer’s hanging arrangements. Those details cannot be settled without examining the particular piece and space.
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Checks to Make Before Buying
For a prospective purchase, the next steps are specific to the work: inspect it in person where possible, ask the seller about the artist and provenance, and clarify the return policy before paying. Buyers should measure the intended space, account for framing or installation costs, and confirm that the wall can safely support a heavy painting. If professional hanging is needed, Raia advises arranging it.
Shoppers considering several items can ask for a combined price after choosing the works they want, while keeping negotiations courteous. The report gives no follow-up event or market forecast; its guidance is intended to help buyers make informed decisions as they shop.
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Key Questions
How does the report distinguish antique art from vintage art?
It describes antique art as generally more than 100 years old and vintage art as typically around 50 years old. These are broad descriptions and do not establish authenticity or value.
What should I ask a dealer before buying?
Ask who the artist is, what is known about the work’s history and provenance, how the seller acquired it, and whether the shop offers a return policy.
Why inspect art in person?
Raia says that in-person viewing lets buyers examine how the medium sits on its surface and assess depth—details that may be difficult to judge from a screen image.
Should I buy antique art as an investment?
Raia advises buyers to focus on whether they enjoy the work rather than expecting an investment return. The report offers no evidence or guarantee that a particular piece will gain value.
What should I check before hanging a painting?
Measure the intended space and check that the wall can support the painting’s weight. Raia recommends using a professional hanger if needed.
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