Expertise for your collection
Provenance research, appraisals and thoughtful placement for collectors and institutions.
Provenance research
Understanding a work begins with its history. Kapoor Galleries assists collectors and institutions with research into the ownership, publication and exhibition histories of Indian, Himalayan and Southeast Asian art.
We bring together auction catalogues, archival material, collection records, photographs and scholarly references to develop a documented account of a work’s past. Confirmed evidence is distinguished from attribution, interpretation and unresolved gaps.
Whether you are revisiting a family collection, considering an acquisition or preparing an object for placement, we can discuss the research questions, available records and scope of work with you.
Art appraisals
A considered appraisal starts with the object and the purpose of the valuation. We assist collectors, estates and institutions with appraisals of Indian, Himalayan and Southeast Asian art for insurance, estate planning, donation and collection management.
Our work considers the object’s attribution, condition, provenance, published references and relevant market evidence. The appropriate basis of value and the intended use are agreed at the outset.
To begin, share photographs, dimensions and any existing documentation, together with the reason for the appraisal. We will discuss the scope, any inspection requirements, fees and timing before work begins.
Which dimensions should I provide?
For a painting on paper, one pair of measurements may describe several different things:
Image: the area occupied by the composition.
Sheet: the full paper support, including its margins.
Frame: the outside dimensions of the framed work.
Please identify which measurements you are providing and give height before width, with the units clearly stated. If only the area visible through a mount can be measured, describe it as the visible opening rather than the full sheet. Mark approximate measurements accordingly.
There is no need to remove a work from its frame for an initial inquiry. Send the information already available, accompanied by photographs, and note any dimensions that remain unknown.
Cataloguing reference: Getty, Categories for the Description of Works of Art: Measurements.
Which photographs should I send?
Start with a clear view of the whole work and close-ups of visible signatures, inscriptions, labels or areas of concern. Include the reverse only if it is already safely accessible. Do not unframe, dismantle or move a heavy or fragile object for photographs.
Label images “full view,” “detail” or “reverse,” as appropriate. Add any existing records, such as previous catalogue entries, exhibition references or earlier photographs, and explain what you would like to learn. Note anything unknown. Existing photographs are welcome for an initial inquiry.
Museum, institutional & private placement
We help owners consider the next chapter for a work of art, with attention to its history, quality and the collection in which it may find a home.
For museum and institutional placement, we prepare object information, provenance and supporting references for consideration in relation to a collection’s interests. For private placement, we work with collectors to identify appropriate opportunities and arrange further discussion or viewing.
Consignment & collection advice
Our consignment service brings together evaluation, pricing, photography, cataloguing and presentation. We discuss the proposed route, terms and timetable with the owner before offering a work. Enquiries are handled discreetly, and any proposed acquisition or placement remains subject to the parties’ review and agreement.
Begin a conversation
Tell us about your artwork and what you would like to achieve. Photographs, dimensions and any provenance or previous catalogue references are a helpful starting point.
Email Sanjay Kapoor at sanjay@kapoors.com, or call +1 (212) 888-2257. Viewings and consultations are by appointment.