Guide

Artists, signatures and attributions

Learning to read a signature — and above all the level of certainty you are entitled to claim. A directory of over 3,000 artists and painters (signatures, price levels) is in preparation.

In vintage and design, an artist’s or designer’s name changes the price — provided the attribution is honest. Too many listings write “attributed to” simply to charge more. We do the opposite: we state what is seen, what is inferred and what is unknown.

Directory in preparationOver 3,000 artists and painters: signatures, levels of attribution, price benchmarks. This page sets out the method first — the directory will follow.

Three levels never to be confused

  1. Signed / stamped — a mark, stamp or signature legible on the object itself.
  2. Attributable — strong stylistic evidence, without definitive proof.
  3. In the manner of / style — a market resemblance, not a personal attribution.
On a Vintage Expert recordIf the stamp is not visible in the photo, it is listed as unknown. We do not invent a Wegner for a green mid-century sofa.

Designers you will meet often

Watches & brands

Same logic: a Rolex Submariner is not “inferred” from a pocket watch with a Roman dial. The brand is read on the object — or it stays a weak hypothesis.

Decorative artists & manufactories

Lalique, Daum, Sèvres, Limoges, Vallauris — the manufactory counts as much as the name. An unmarked piece stays an unmarked piece, with a range based on style, not on a signature.

Full method: how to appraise. Sales channels: where to sell.

Put an attribution to the test

Scan an object: the record separates what is read, what is inferred and what is unknown.

Try it Our method