Materials tell you where to look
Oil on canvas ages differently from works on paper or mixed media. Knowing the medium tells you which flaws are routine — craquelure in a 19th-century oil, for instance — and which demand questions, like foxing on a recent watercolour.
Restoration is information, not alarm
A documented, professional restoration often stabilises a work for generations. What matters is disclosure: where, when, by whom, and how extensive. Undocumented overpainting is the red flag; an honest lined canvas is simply history.
“Ask what was done, when, and by whom. An honest repair is part of the work's story — a hidden one is a risk.”
Framing, glazing, and the final 10%
Check whether frames are included, whether works on paper are glazed with museum glass, and who pays for reframing. These details decide the true cost of hanging the work — and our specialists confirm them in writing before every sale.
Every Bidhaven lot carries a specialist condition note, and full reports are available on request. Start with the rooms closing this week.