I believe I own an original etching of Geo Law esq. of New York of a
Clipper Bark Tall ship (Grapscoat) How would I find if their is a
value on the picture?

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Request for Question Clarification by rico-ga on 09 Sep 2002 05:46 PDT

Hi whyme,

A few questions that may help me or another Researcher answer your
question...

- I'm assuming that you meant to write, "an original etching *by* Geo.
Law esq...." Is that correct?

- That the Clipper-barque's name is "Grapscoat"? Is that the correct
spelling?

- Are you looking for appraisers in your area which can help establish
authenticity and value? I should note that in most cases, you'll get a
much better answer than a web researcher can provide, as details such
as condition play a large role on an item's value. If so, could you
give your general geographic area.

- And finally (yes, there is a finally :-)), as much further detail as
you can provide on the etching (date? how did you obtain it? details
of the etching?) is always helpful.

regards,

rico

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Clarification of Question by whyme-ga on 09 Sep 2002 07:07 PDT

Yes that's true, an original etching by G. Law
I Hope the spelling is correct, (may be GRAPESCOAT) Not at home to
verfy spelling.
Very old etching can tell by the age of the paper and drawing.Has been
in the family for many many years.

Have not found a date, It is incased in a glass  frame and I don't
want to disturb it if I have the choice. Date may be on back???

Actual etching is a side view of the ship with people on the deck with
the American Flag on fantail and smaller tall ship in background to
the left. It has no visable background, just open water.

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Request for Question Clarification by rico-ga on 09 Sep 2002 07:40 PDT

Thanks for the information. I'll take a look for what I can find on
the Web.  Again, however, you'll probably get better information
bringing it to an expert appraiser for an eyeball examination. Would
you be interested in such contact info, and if so, could you give your
general location and/or how far you're willing to travel. That is,
something like I'd prefer an appraiser in NYC but I'd be willing to
take the etching to CT for an appraisal if necessary.

rico

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Clarification of Question by whyme-ga on 09 Sep 2002 10:46 PDT

I live and work just outside Washington D.C.
I would have a problem with the etching leaving my hands. I would be
willing to meet with an appraiser perferrably in home, but will travel
with in whats resonable. Please forgive this next verbage, but I don't
know you.
If you know someone in this area who knows Art and Heir looms it would
be greatly appriciated

No problem with your not knowing me, whyme :-) Your telling me the
Washington, D.C. gives me enough info to help you find an appraiser.

First, I've been doing some checking on the Web and sending off emails
to various resources to see if I can get any information. So far, I've
had no luck in locating anything on the Web concerning an artist with
the name "G." "Geo." or "George Law."  as a marine or other artist.
I've found several references to different "George Law"s. There's a
"wealthy New York businessman", probably alive from the late 1700s to
mid-1800s, who was appears to have been active in the marine industry.

Interestingly, there was also a steam ship called the "George Law"
owned by the United States Mail Steamship Company sailing from New
York to Aspinwall in the 1850s that was later renamed as the infamous
"Central America" (the subject of "Ship of Gold, In The Deep Blue
Sea", by Gary Kinder) when George Law, who had been a director of the
company at the time of her construction, was no longer connected with
it. Given your subject matter, it does make me wonder whether this
"George Law" was also an amateur artist.

Not to harp on it, your best way of determining value is by showing it
to an appraiser. I went to the American Society of Appraisers site and
pulled the following information for you on appraisers in the
Washington, D.C. area. Some indicate that they might do in-home
appraisals, although my impression was that that was normally for full
estate/property appraisals, rather than single items. A call to one or
more of them might give you enough information to decide whether
bringing the teching to one of their galleries would be worthwhile.

Note I've broken these down in specific "speciality" categories.
Please note especially my comment on Weschler below.

Specialty: Antiques & Decorative Arts 

Richard F. Driscoll, ASA 
Accredited Senior Appraiser 
2450 Virginia Ave NW Ste E310
Washington, DC  20037-2653
Phone: (202) 293-2323 
Email: driscoll.appraiszer@verizon.net 

L. Gail Stanley, AM 
Accredited Member 
2510 Virginia Ave NW
Washington, DC  20037-1904
Phone: (202) 338-3433 
Email: gstanley@erols.com 

William P. Weschler, Jr., ASA 
Accredited Senior Appraiser 
905 E St NW
Washington, DC  20004-2006
Phone: (202) 628-1281

Note: Mr. Weschler's Web site states, "...OPEN APPRAISAL DAY
As a courtesy to our customers, Weschler's offers Free Appraisal Day
the first Thursday of the month during business hours. No appointments
are needed, and specialists are on hand to offer verbal auction-value
estimates of items you think may have value."

_______________

Personal Property/Fine Arts 

Ted Cooper, ASA 
Accredited Senior Appraiser 
Adams Davidson Galleries 
2727 29th St NW Ste 504
Washington, DC  20008-5545
Phone: (202) 965-3800 
Email: cooper@adgal.com 

Jean-Pierre M. de Andino, ASA 
Accredited Senior Appraiser 
de Andino Fine Arts 
2450 Virginia Ave NW
Washington, DC  20037
Phone: (202) 861-0638 
Email: profinart@hotmail.com 

Karen Holtzman, ASA 
Accredited Senior Appraiser 
6432 31st Place, NW
Washington, DC  20015-2350
Phone: (202) 966-5877 
Email: kholtzman@earthlink.net 

Linda Lichtenberg Kaplan, ASA 
Accredited Senior Appraiser 
2154 Wyoming Ave NW
Washington, DC  20008-3906
Phone: (202) 234-0309 
Email: lkapl@aol.com 

As I said, I'll post anything I happen receive from the other
resources I've contacted. Best of luck with the appraisal!

Search strategy: "George Law" artist "New York"; "George Law" artist
"New York"; "George Law " etching (various combinations of "G Law"
Geo. Law" and "George Law"; art appraisers Washington, D.C.

regards,

rico

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Clarification of Answer by rico-ga on 11 Sep 2002 07:58 PDT

For what it's worth, I've heard back from one of my sources, who is
one of the nation's leading authorities on marine art, who noted, "I
can't find any listing for a George Law in any of my source books. I'd
be happy to take a look at it, but it is most likely not of great
value."

It also occured to me that "Geo." could possibly stand for "Geoffrey"
rather than "George", but research on that variation of the name was
also fruitless.

regards,

rico

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Request for Answer Clarification by whyme-ga on 11 Sep 2002 10:36 PDT

I can"t believe that this not a a etching or painting that is not of
some value,I have been told from family that this was a purchase years
and years ago that this was totaly a value.
I have checked on the spelling and the ships name was GRAPESHOT and
Geo Law ESQ was in fact a person of position.
Yes I agree that his name is not a household name, but he is a part of
history.

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Clarification of Answer by rico-ga on 11 Sep 2002 11:30 PDT

Well, here's an Aha! moment :-, which goes to show why providing
detail is so important.  With your additional information, what I
think you have have, whyme, is a lithograph of The "Celebrated Clipper
Bark GRAPESHOT Belonging to Geo. Law, Esq. N.Y." by N. Currier (of
Currier & Ives fame).  A framed copy sold at auction last year for
$150.00.  See...

http://www.blackwoodauction.com/October3/

for the auction report and...

http://www.blackwoodauction.com/October3/100301/005.html

for a photo of the print.

See also...

http://www.geocities.com/scurrier/restorg.htm

for a restoration project featuring the print.  Also note the
differences beween the two. The auctioned print was in much better
condition.

Please understand that this is not an opinion on the value of your
copy, nor was my earlier comment meant to be.  I just report my
research.  For all I know, you may have the original, or they may be
something else about what you have that would make it highly
collectible. I think now between the list of appraisers I've supplied,
as well as this additional information, you should be easily able to
get a value placed on your print.  Best of luck!

regards,

rico

Search Strategy: "Grapeshot" clipper; Grapeshot clipper N. Currier

For an excellent discussion of care of framed old prints and how to
open them, see bethc's answer to this question -

https://answers.google.com/answers/main?cmd=threadview&id=58973

-K~