The
most common questions I am asked are:
'What
is my Sara Moon worth?'
The answer to this one is two-fold ...
The 'Commercial Value'.
The answer
to this question can only come from the like of the auction houses mentioned
above, because in the end, the answer has to be 'What someone is prepared
to pay for it.'The art of Sara Moon was published firstly by Red Baron and later by Verkerke/Scandecor. Red Baron would have classed themselves a commercial fine art print house and Verkerke/Scandecor a 'poster & print' house who specialise in highly commercial, low-cost high-volume imagery with huge distribution. To the best of my knowledge, no one has ever come forward
with an original work and this does not surprise me as I understand many early works were probably destroyed when Red Baron went up in flames and that all other works are still in Bidjan's (Sara Moon's) posession.A
number of galleries did package Sara Moon
works in an up-market format, with labels showing reference numbers
and the like on the back. If you own such an example, my best advice
would be DON'T
take it out of its original frame. Works marked this
way are relatively rare and with the sustained interest in this artist,
such framing can only help its value.That said, and if you do wish
to sell, it will probably mean finding a local buyer - glass does not
travel well and so the cost of protective board and its added weight
for shipping will will either erode any profit or reflect heavily in
the asking price. If you can't find a local buyer now and the print
does not appeal to you personally, pack it up and hide it away a while,
what you'll get for it now will not settle any mortgage and who knows
what the future holds.
The 'Aesthetic Value'
(A personal
view) When I look at all the works signed Sara Moon within these galleries
- and that's every work I am aware of - I would say that there are a
number that are totally unworthy of the name. Then there are those I
would have said had there place at their time - and then there are those
that are utterly, heart-stoppingly, stunning!For
me, true artistic 'value' can only be judged by what something brings
to your innermost senses. Such 'value' has no commercial measure; attempting
to attach one is diametrically opposed to the very purpose of any true
artworks existence. To the creator of such works the art itself is far
more important than any payment received for creating it. And for me
as a 'viewer', I can derive as much pleasure from a well taken photograph
brought to me free via a magazine in some doctors waiting room, as I
could ever get from viewing (or owning - whatever that means) the Monalisa!LOOK
at your Sara Moon. What does it DO for you? If the answer is 'little
or nothing' sell it if you can, for what you can get - but know, even
if you cannot get a bean for it, that it may well have real 'worth'
to some fellow human being - don't destroy it - please find it a worthy
home and let it live on.
If
the image stirs you, keep it. Such feelings are hard come by.
'My Sara Moon is signed; does this make it more valuable?'
Yes, of course, but take a close look at the signature with a magnifying glass. If it is made up of dots, then it is the reproduction of the artists signature as it appears on the orginal work. Therefore, technically, your print is NOT signed. You will probably need either a high magnification standard glass for this or a stitch-counter glass as these dots are very tiny - usually 600 of them per inch.
So, what artworks HAVE been sgned?
There was a limited edition 'dateless calendar' produced in 2005 which was signed 'Sara Moon' by the artist as 'x' number of 500. In actual fact, ony 100 of these were ever produced, making this item a major collectors item. You can purchase one of these, here.
Most other genuinely signed prints have been signed in the artists actual name, 'Bijan'. These are also extremely rare. Particularly those vinatage prints released from the artists own archive stock, where they had been safely stored for between 30 and 40 years, and signed during 2009/10. These are available, here.
'Where can I purchase Works by Sara Moon?
The level of interest
in Sara Moon works is such that I have never known a moment in years
when there have not been Sara Moon works for sale at the various ebay
websites. Do check the "View items from International Sellers"section to increase your search - Some are of the view that any item for
sales on one ebay site, is automatically for sale on all of them. This
is not so as some sellers will only sell and ship to their home country,
so there may be works available on your 'local' site, that are not available
elsewhere and vice-versa
Please do be wary of cheap home-grown replica prints for sale on these sites; the quality is usually poor and their sale is, in fact, illegal. Suspect listings can be reported be clicking here. Please quote the site and the listing reference number. Such listing can often be permanently removed this way.
There are genuine signed, archive prints available from this Web site, here.
There are genuine ORIGINAL ARTWORKS available, here.
And authorised re-prints and calendars etc, are available from RED BUBBLE, here.
Beyond
that, the 850 or so members of The
Sara Moon Group do swap and trade from time to time. Access is by
free membership and contribution to group activity is not compulsory. |