Advice on collecting woodcarvings

[mwilleson]

Rick may be the expert and I'm hoping he chimes in, but I would appreciate thoughts from anyone who collects woodcarvings.

I would like to start collecting woodcarvings and would like to develop a "quality" collection, but have not yet defined what "quality" means. Granted, one can take the approach to buy whatever interests you and catches your eye, but I would like to apply some knowledge as well.

I would like to build a collection that interests me, but also has some value, so here are a few questions:

1) Those of you who collect, do you collect themes (i.e. western, caricature, hobo, etc) or do you collect artists (i.e. Trygg, etc)? There is probably different answers here, just curious...

2) Are there carvings that are considered more collectible? Trygg, Janel, Enlow, etc. are obvious answers, but is there a broader answer?

3) Which is more important - carving age or carving artist?

4) Where do you find the carvings you purchase? eBay is an obvious answer, but there must be other places.

5) Is there a way to determine value other than to say something is worth what someone will pay for it? Are there general guidelines? Any websites that discuss value?

6) How about for "popular" carvers such as Trygg or Janel? If there is a Trygg carving on eBay for $100 is the a source to determine if your overpaying or underpaying the market?

7) Any other thoughts in general on collecting woodcarvings?

Thanks!

[Lynn O. Doughty]

I could suggest a good place to start!

[Colin-Partridge]

My advise is simple if you like it and are going to enjoy it then purchase it. I have a number of carvings that I have purchased though the years and they vary from Woodspirits, Santas, Native Art, etc. I have carvings by Deborah Call, Teri Embrey, Dave Francis, to name a few of them on this board. If I like it I buy it not for its value but because it catches my eye
Colin

[Hi_Ho_Sliver]

I would suggest if you want to collect great woodcarvings, to go to the great woodcarving shows, and there are many, many of them! Cowboy

[wade clark]

Mike,
The truth is, as you said, anything is worth whatever you can get out of it. But some things are worth more to us personally than we could ever hope to get out of them. Bidding at an Auction or on ebay, you're only paying one bid higher than someone else's opinion of value. If you like it buy it!
To my knowledge there are no woodcarvings being sold at Christies or Southeby's (I believe they only consider articles they think will bring $1,500.00 and up) and there are no regular wood carving auctions. I have carvings that I wouldn't sell for $10,000.00. The good news for me is that no one would pay that for them, so they're safe, they're mine!
I had a carving I paid $15 for at Auction that everyone wanted me to put a price on, so I did...$500.00. Someone said they couldn't live without it; I lost my carving and still grieve over it, should have put $5,000.
Collect what you like, put your own personal value on it. I'd say, if you're looking for an investment consider real estate. Your reward collecting carvings happens every time you look at them!
Wade

[rick-in-seattle]

That is a lot of good questions, but too many to answer at once.

Pricing Guidelines for some of the older carvers:

Emil Janel - $2000.00 - 3500.00
H.S. (Andy) Anderson - $500.00 - $1200.00
H. Rosell - $80.00 - $350.00
C.J. or C.O. Trygg $60.00 - $400.00
Lars Trygg $30.00 - $200.00
Hannah - $10.00 - $60.00
Caron - $5.00 - $35.00

This is for individual carvings, groupings are higher.


I suggest you collect what you like, and the finest you can afford. Hannah and Caron would be good carvings to collect if you like them, they are still undervalued.

There is a lot of responsibility to collecting carvings. You never actually own them, you are paying for the right to care for them until they are collected by another caretaker.

Caring for old wooden carvings requires some knowledge in sculpture preservation if you wish to maintain their integrity.

Very old carvings are often a hard shell containing a soft punky interior. Repairs can be tricky and must be done well to protect your investment.

New carvings are a good investment, Harold Enlow's carvings are still underpriced, Phil Bishop produces very collectable carvings at reasonable prices.
I try to purchase directly from the artist if possible. Avoid having the carvings signed to you, it will reduce their value substantially.

[mwilleson]

Thanks Rick, that's the kind of info I was looking for.

I think part of the collecting adventure is learning about the carvers. Some names are more familiar than others.

Can you recommend any sources (books, websites, etc) for learning more about these carvers? I had not even heard of Caron before.

Is there a source where Enlow's carvings are available for purchase?

[woodtrapper]

I met an african woodcarver last year at one of our local fall festivals.I did purchase an elephant head carved out of rosewood.When I asked what tools he used and he replied a hammer and a chisel and that was it.How do you carve soapstone or ebony without good carving tools.So I do keep my eye out for certain african carvings like animals and chess sets.

[rick-in-seattle]

Mike,
The best place to learn about collecting carvings is on EBay.
You don't have to buy to learn.

[mwilleson]

Originally Posted by rick-in-seattle

Hannah and Caron would be good carvings to collect if you like them, they are still undervalued.

So who were / are Hannah and Caron. Other than that they appear to be from Canada, I have been able to find little else about them.

I'm not even sure if they are alive and in what range of years they produced carvings.

Sorry for being uninformed, I'm am just becoming interested in learning about other carvers and their work. In addition to learning about "pricing", I would also like to learn more about the carvers.