Free online art appraisal
A free online art appraisal is a first screen, not a guaranteed value. It helps identify the artwork, check real sales where available, and decide whether a professional appraisal makes sense.
Found artwork and want to know if it matters?
Upload photos. We identify the object, check real sales, and show the right appraisal path.
Use the free screenerArt appraisalsStart an appraisalOne clear answer
The best first answer is object type and risk: painting, print, watercolor, sculpture, listed artist, unknown artist, reproduction, decorative work, or a case needing authentication.
Auction records are market evidence, not a final appraisal. Condition, authenticity, provenance, size, medium, edition, subject, and demand can materially change value.
Photo checklist
- Photograph the full artwork, back, frame, signature, labels, medium, texture, damage, and scale.
- For prints, include edition, margins, paper, plate mark, blind stamp, and publisher details.
- For sculpture, include all sides, base, underside, marks, edition, material, and condition.
- Include receipts, provenance, gallery labels, certificates, prior appraisals, and artist notes.
What changes the answer
- Artist, authenticity, medium, condition, provenance, size, subject, and demand drive art value.
- Online triage is useful before selling, insuring, donating, storing, cleaning, or reframing.
- Formal reports are better for insurance, estate, donation, legal, or high-value sale decisions.
Auction evidence from Appraisily's database
Recent art records show why online appraisal starts with identification and market evidence, not a fixed guess. These are market examples, not promises for your artwork.
| Category | Sale | Date | Lot | Realized | What it shows |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High-value watercolor | Arader Galleries | May 2, 2026 | Indo-Chinese / Strait School original watercolor, Chempedak or Cempedak | USD 50,000 | Subject, school, rarity, condition, and provenance can make art appraisal-sensitive. |
| Oil on canvas | J. Garrett Auctioneers | May 2, 2026 | English Landscape Oil On Canvas Painting | USD 550 | Traditional paintings need artist, quality, condition, and demand context. |
| Bronze sculpture | Austin Auction Gallery | May 2, 2026 | After Auguste Paris, patinated bronze sculpture, 'La Chanson' | USD 475 | Sculpture attribution, material, and surface condition require careful review. |
Condition and authenticity cautions
Do not clean paintings, remove works from frames, polish sculpture, or alter signatures before documentation. Condition evidence matters.
Use a professional appraisal or authentication path when the artwork may be significant, has legal use, or depends on artist attribution.
When the free screener is enough
Use the free screener when you need first-pass identification, condition review, and market direction before selling, donating, reframing, cleaning, or ordering a formal appraisal.
When to get a professional appraisal
Use a professional appraisal for insurance, estate, donation, legal, or higher-value sale decisions. See the professional sample report.
Related guides
Art, painting, and signature guides, Art painting guides, Free art appraisal app, Free painting appraisal app, How to identify artist signatures, Value of old paintings, Art donation appraisal guide.
FAQ
Is a free online art appraisal a formal appraisal?
No. It is a first-pass identification and market triage. Use a professional appraisal for insurance, estate, donation, legal, or significant sale needs.
What art photos should I upload?
Full front, back, signature, labels, frame, medium details, condition, and scale. For prints and sculpture, include edition or marks.
Can online appraisal identify reproductions?
Often it can flag reproduction clues, but uncertain or high-value cases may need closer review.
Need a clearer art answer?
Upload photos. Appraisily identifies the artwork, checks real sales where available, and shows whether a free screen or professional report makes sense.
Start with the free screenerStart a professional appraisalSee a sample report