How to Read a Condition Report Before You Bid

Every Gavelmark lot carries a condition report — the honest account of what the work has lived through. Learning its language protects both your wallet and the art.

Start with the support: canvas, panel or paper. Reports note tears, dents, warping or acid burn, then move to the paint layer — craquelure (age cracks) is normal, while flaking paint needs a conservator. Inpainting means a restorer retouched small losses; scattered, stable inpainting is common, but large repainted areas should give you pause.

Finally, study the frame, the back of the work and the provenance chain. Ask for ultraviolet photographs when in doubt — old restorations glow under UV light. Our specialists answer every condition question before the sale, free of charge.