Old masters

For old masters, the price gap between a secure attribution and a probable attribution can reach a factor of ten, even a hundred. The sale catalogue wording follows a precise scale: "Rembrandt" (autograph), "attributed to" (probable), "workshop of" (under the master's direction), "school of", "follower of", "after".

OIMAP applies the same scale in its certificates. The expert's opinion states the wording retained, the reasons and the degree of certainty. A certificate favourable at the first levels requires a material examination, a comparative analysis and archival research.

Old masters have often passed through several centuries, wars and revolutions. Their provenance is therefore complex, with frequent gaps. The years 1933 to 1945 call for particular vigilance, because many works were looted.

Before any sale, the BIOP database is consulted. Works whose provenance has gaps between 1933 and 1945 undergo in-depth research and specific publication.

Almost all old masters have been restored, sometimes several times. The issue is not the absence of restoration, but its nature and its documentation. An old relining, a careful cleaning or a changed varnish are common and barely penalising; extensive overpainting or excessive cleaning greatly reduce value.

The conservation report precisely describes the condition of the paint layer and the retouched areas. It is the tool for dialogue between seller, buyer and insurer.