Sample Appraisal: Walter E. Baum Pennsylvania Landscape
Appraisal ID: 11304
Appraised On: Aug 28, 2006
Market Value: $ 8,000.00
Replacement Value: $ 12,500.00
APPRAISER COMMENTS:
Walter Emerson Baum was born in Sellersville, PA in 1884. He made
his artistic mark as an artist, but he also served as a museum director,
teacher, and critic. He studied at the PAFA, and with W. T. Trego,
1920; and received an Honorable Degree., H.L.D., from Lehigh Univ.in
1946. His work was exhibited in many venues, including the PAFA annuals,
1914-54 (1925, Sesnan gold med.); at other PAFA exhibitions, receiving
prizes in 1939, 1951. He was a member of many art associations and
alliances such as ANA; PAFA; Phila. A. All.; Phila., WC Cl.; AAPL; Am.
Color Pr. Soc.; AWCS; A. Lg. Am.; Phila. AC;
Work: PAFA; Pa. State Col.; Tuskagee Inst.; Allentown Mus.; TMA; NAD;
PMA; Franklin D. Roosevelt Coll.; Schwenkfelder Mus., Pennsburg, PA;
Syracuse Univ.; Reading Public Mus., PA
Baum is considered the “father of art in the Lehigh Valley,” and during
the 1930s-40s he helped found the Lehigh Art Alliance, and was director
of the Allentown Mus. Art, director of his own Baum Sch. of Art, and art
critic for the Phila. Evening Bulletin.
His work is frequently sold at various auction houses and galleries:
:Winter Landscape,” sold by DuMouchelles, 11 Aug. 2006, lot #2080, at
$4,250. Alderfer Auction sold several of this artist’s paintings on 6
June 2006 at $2,000 each; and sold “Bucks County, Winter” on that same
date at $27,500. We considered the similarities and differences of these
and other Baum paintings recently sold, including size, artistic merit,
theme, medium, and framing, and the following is our value opinion:
Item/Title: “Road To Vera Cruz”
Date/Period of Manufacture: 19th century-20th century
Condition: excellent condition
Manufacturer/Artist/Author: Walter Emerson Baum
Dimensions (HxWxD): 16″ x 20″ (Framed 22 1/2″ x 26 1/2″)
Inscription: Signed lower right
History/Provenance: This work has a label from the
Newman Galleries of Philadelphia with a price of $9,500 from about ten
years ago. The painting also has the original label on it from Walter
Baum which gives the title of the work and an original price of $4,950
when the artist was selling the painting. There is additional writing on
the reverse which says “Bought by David E. Baum and Julie B. Baum (Mrs.
Pitcairn)” and on the reverse it also says “Property of William “Chuck”
Kline.” This painting comes to me from a private collection where it
has been for many years, and is fresh to the market.
DISCLAIMER
This online appraisal report is an appraisal expert’s opinion of
value based on market comparable research of the item description and
images supplied by our customer. No further guarantee of authenticity,
genuineness, attribution or authorship is represented.
Current Fair Market Value is the price agreed on between a
willing buyer and seller, neither being required to act, and both having
reasonable knowledge of the facts.
Replacement Value is the price in terms of money that would be
required to replace the property in question with another of similar
age, quality, origin, appearance, provenance and condition, within a
reasonable length of time in an appropriate market.