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Grayson Perry, one of the most vibrant contemporary British artists, has a distinctive presence in the fine art market with his intricate prints and editions. As an art collector, understanding the dynamics of selling art, particularly for Perry's work, is crucial for successful art investment. This comprehensive seller's guide is the ideal foundation for navigating the Perry market, from art authentication and appraisal to timing your sale right. Drawing on insights from MyArtBroker’s Perry market experts, this guide is designed to offer valuable, data-driven insights for all collectors.
With its unique blend of political, social, and autobiographical commentary, Perry’s work has piqued the interest of contemporary art collectors worldwide. Perry’s market is stable, showing an average annual growth rate of 8% over the past five years.
The pricing of Perry's prints and editions can vary significantly depending on several factors. A key determiner is the edition number; lower numbers of an edition often command higher prices. Additionally, the series that the work hails from can greatly impact the value. For instance, works from Perry's popular series such as The Vanity of Small Differences and his renowned map prints have consistently fetched higher prices at auctions. In the past year, the average price paid for a Grayson Perry print at auction stands at £18,505.
The most sought-after works, of course, fetch the highest prices. For example, Perry's highest record-price currently belongs to Map Of An Englishman, which hammered for £120,000 at Sotheby's in 2024, a testament to Perry's increasing desirability amongst collectors. In fact, this particular print occupies the top four record prices achieved by Perry at auction, followed by Map Of Days, which achieved a hammer price of £60,000 at Phillips in 2021. These map-based works perfectly encapsulates Perry's whimsical approach to art, and his subversion of the age-old art of cartography to dissect the British psyche.
It's crucial to remember that every artwork is unique, and its value may differ depending on its provenance, condition, and current market trends. An art appraisal is a necessary step for accurate pricing.
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Authenticating a Grayson Perry print is a critical step in the selling process, ensuring that the artwork you own is genuine. Perry’s prints typically bear his signature, often found on the lower-right corner of the print. Alongside his signature, the edition number can be found on the lower-left corner, denoting the print's place in the limited series.
A vital component in the authentication process is the Certificate of Authenticity (CoA), often provided by the gallery that originally sold the artwork. A large portion of Perry's print portfolio has been created with the publisher Paragon Press, who will typically provide documentation to support the authenticity of the prints they sell on the primary market. This documentation serves as proof of the artwork's origin and authenticity, so you should ensure you have one before taking your print to the market. Without it, the value of your print may be adversely affected.
Moreover, Perry's work often includes a visual element that distinguishes his style: intricate, detailed maps, and complex tapestry-like designs. His use of typography is another unique characteristic to watch out for. However, do bear in mind that while these features are helpful in identifying Perry’s work, they do not substitute the need for professional art authentication, especially given the complexity of the contemporary art market.
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The condition of your print can significantly impact its value on the art market. A print in excellent condition, with vibrant colours, no fading, and free from tears, stains, or creases is more likely to fetch a higher price. Signs of good upkeep include stable and undamaged paper, absence of discolouration, and an intact margin around the artwork.
Conversely, signs of wear such as foxing (brown age spots), sunlight damage, or any form of restoration can potentially lower the value of the print. As a seller, it's essential to ensure that your artwork is well-preserved to maximise its value upon sale.
As a Perry seller, your options for selling are bountiful. Perry’s prints are sure to be in demand, but it’s still a good idea to consider your sales strategy. An important part of this is where you sell.
The major auction houses—Sotheby’s, Christie’s, and Phillips—hold prestigious positions in the art market. For sellers of Perry prints, these auction houses can be advantageous as they provide a theatrical setting, have the capability to drive up reserve prices above estimates, and possess the resources to effectively market artworks to potential buyers. However, it's important to note the seller's fees, which can be as high as 25% and are deducted from the final sale proceeds. Additionally, auction house sales operate on tight schedules and typically feature only one or two editions of the same print in a single auction, potentially leading to a backlog of works and lengthy waiting periods for your print to be included in a sale, during which time the market value may fluctuate.
To learn more about selling avenues read our guide Auction v Private Sale in the Art Market.
Choosing to sell Perry prints through a broker is also a viable option. Collaborating with a broker offers a more personalised approach compared to an auction house, allowing for deeper engagement and dialogue. Brokers provide guidance and support at every step of the selling process, leveraging their extensive experience in navigating art market dynamics. They typically have a well-established network of buyers and sellers, facilitating connections between your print and potential buyers.
Online marketplaces such as eBay and Etsy offer a platform for directly selling Perry artwork to buyers, providing independent convenience. However, selling through these platforms requires meticulous attention to listing descriptions, pricing, condition checks, and shipping logistics. It's important to note that selling on eBay and Etsy carries a higher risk of encountering forgeries and scams, as these platforms lack the rigorous verification processes and expertise found in specialised art marketplaces or auctions. Therefore, when determining the best time to sell your Perry print, it's advisable to avoid marketplaces lacking verified art market pedigree to ensure a smooth transaction process. Additionally, selling on these platforms entails independently managing the sale process and handling potential buyer negotiations.
Platforms like MyArtBroker offer a convenient and efficient way to reach a global audience. With our disruptive technology, we provide our collectors with access to the only dedicated print market index in the world, ensuring you have all the insights you need to get the best deal.
MyArtBroker offers a unique service by connecting clients with dedicated personal brokers, ensuring secure transactions through our online platform. Our specialists excel at finding direct buyers for consigned Perry prints via our live trading floor. Users within our network can express interest in specific Perry prints and multiples, whether they're looking to sell or buy. Our team is approachable, passionate, and provides regular updates on the art market and artists. We guide sellers through a seamless transaction process, offering fair market valuations and free advice on timing, leveraging our extensive market knowledge.
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With a strong emphasis on enhancing transparency within the art market, MyArtBroker prioritises both this aspect and security throughout every art transaction. Our rigorous due diligence process ensures the authentication and verification of artwork provenance, leveraging our in-house expertise and collaborating with external professionals as necessary. This approach significantly reduces the risk of dealing with counterfeit or stolen art. Additionally, we mitigate the risks associated with public auctions. While public sales may seem appealing, unsold prints can negatively impact an artist's market. Private sales eliminate this risk and offer faster liquidity for your artwork compared to rigid auction schedules that dictate when your work can be sold.
Our team of specialists offers bespoke services to procure rare and special edition prints, catering to both seasoned collectors and newcomers to the market. As part of our standard practice, we provide complimentary valuations and charge no seller's fees, setting us apart from other private brokers and traditional auction houses. By minimising overhead costs, we allocate resources towards digital innovation and targeted marketing strategies within our network and house magazine.
When it comes to selling artwork, achieving the best price depends on accessing a niche market with an established collector community. If you're looking to sell a print, turning to a specialist in the print market, like MyArtBroker, yields superior results compared to approaching an auction house, which caters to broader categories of artwork.
In the digital era, online marketplaces are becoming increasingly attractive options for buying and selling art, not only for their convenience but also for the sense of community they offer. Utilising our live trading floor, we empower our collector network, revolutionising art investment and trading in the digital age. By providing instantaneous market data and insights from global collectors, we determine value with a focus on convenience, accessibility, and unparalleled transparency and security for our vast user base, which spans tens of thousands.
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Beyond our live trading floor, MyArtBroker's MyPortfolio serves as a collection management tool, enabling collectors to curate and monitor their Perry print collections while tracking their value in real-time. This feature provides access to our print market database, intricately linked to our proprietary algorithm, SingularityX. This algorithm meticulously evaluates public auction and private sales data to ascertain real-time valuations of individual prints, considering factors like condition, colour, and other elements influencing value.
Read What Powers MyArtBroker's Technology? In Conversation With Stuart Jamieson, Financial Quant to learn more about our algorithm.
In today's ever-evolving digital art market, emerging art tech tools play a crucial role. For example, integrating Grayson Perry prints into the MyPortfolio dashboard on our website offers users invaluable insights into unique sales opportunities and real-time market performance, streamlining the sales process effortlessly. Our innovative technology has transformed art portfolio management, enhancing accessibility and providing users with data-driven insights for informed decision-making.