Numerous sellers at eBay use the
designation “attributed to” and think thereby to have no
responsibility towards less gifted buyers. But this append has only
validity when it comes from an art expert. Otherwise the designation “attributed
to” one can compare with confidences tricks aroused from the seller’s
mind with the purpose of cheating the buyer who might or might not know
much about art.
When a painting by professionals has the append “attributed to”, it
means that the picture in question might come from the inscribed person.
But very few attributed pictures coming from eBay can do this. Here the
designation is used uncritical, if not uninhibited and at random, and,
worst of all, by non-experts.
Important
note about the issue “attributed” (the same as “ascribed to”:
Attributions
are, in the nature of the case, only offered for artworks whose
authorship is not otherwise already clearly marked or signalled. A
signed painting is never "attributed", it is either
considered genuine, or it is not. The signature itself forms the
"attribution". And in the case of an artwork bearing what
appears to be the artist's signature, only two judgments are
possible: 1) that the signed artwork is genuine and therefore cannot be
attributed, or 2) that the signed artwork is a fake and therefore cannot
be attributed either to the artist whose name it bears.
Below you will find generally used statements from
the worlds leading auction houses.
Sotheby’s:
Attributed to:
“In our opinion probably a work by the artist”.
Christie’s:
Attributed to:
“In our qualified opinion a work of the period of the artist which may
be in whole or part the work of the artist”.
Read also Alan Bamberger’s deepened explanation about the expression:
“attributed to”
http://www.artbusiness.com/atribart.html
Bamberger is an art consultant, advisor, author, and independent
appraiser specializing in research, appraisal, and all business and
market aspects of original works of art, artist manuscript materials,
art-related documents, and art reference books. He has been selling art
since 1979 and rare and scholarly art reference books since 1982, and
has been consulting and appraising for artists, galleries, businesses,
organizations and collectors since 1985.
Bamberger has written about the art business since 1983 in a number of
the most known art magazines and professional papers.
© www.artfakes.dk 2005
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