An Original Artwork By Richard Kessler American 20thc

When you encounter an “original artwork by Richard Kessler (American, 20thc)” on a back label, auction listing, or inherited piece, you’re seeing a common cataloging convention for artists whose work appears on the market but whose published biography is limited or localized. This guide explains how to assess an artwork attributed to Richard Kessler—including identification, condition, provenance, and valuation—so you can approach an appraisal or sale with confidence.

Who Was “Richard Kessler”? Sorting Out Attributions

Auction houses and dealers often use the phrasing “American, 20thc” when the artist worked primarily in the United States during the 1900s but lacks a widely documented birth/death date or national reputation. “Richard Kessler” is a relatively common name, and multiple artists, designers, and illustrators with similar names have worked in the U.S. over the last century. That means:

• Not all “Richard Kessler” signatures refer to the same person.
• Attributions may be based on a signature match, a gallery label, a family story, or stylistic similarity rather than hard documentary proof.
• Regional artists—particularly mid-century painters or printmakers—often circulated locally with scant national press but steady sales through community galleries and art associations.

Your goal is to verify which Richard Kessler you have (if a single identity can be established), or—if that’s not possible—to build a robust dossier around the object itself: medium, date range, provenance, exhibition history, and condition. That dossier drives value even when the artist’s biography is sparse.

Common signature variants you may encounter:

• “Richard Kessler,” written in full, often lower right in paint or pencil.
• “R. Kessler” or “Rich. Kessler,” sometimes with a year, e.g., “’58,” “1962,” or “’74.”
• A compact “R Kessler” monogram on prints or watercolors.

Compare the signature’s character on your piece (pressure, stroke order, slant, lift points) against any known examples attached to the same source (e.g., a gallery label or prior sale). Inconsistencies don’t always mean misattribution, but they warrant closer scrutiny.

First-Pass Identification: Medium, Signature, and Subject

Before diving into databases and calls to dealers, examine the object closely. Precise identification of medium and support will narrow the date range and guide valuation.

• Oil vs. acrylic: Acrylic paints became common from the late 1940s onward; a clearly acrylic surface labeled “1932” deserves a second look. Oil often shows broader brush impasto; acrylic may have a more plastic, even surface.
• Canvas, panel, or paper:
  • Canvas with tacks rather than staples generally suggests pre-1950s stretching (staples became standard later).
  • Hardboard/Masonite panels were popular from the 1920s onward; brand stamps on the reverse can date the support.
  • Watercolor paper may carry watermarks (Arches, Whatman, etc.). Use transmitted light to locate a watermark.
• Varnish: Older natural resins yellow with age; newer synthetic varnishes remain clearer. A signature under the varnish is more likely original to the painting’s execution.
• Signature location: Most mid-century American signatures appear lower right, with occasional left-placement to balance composition. A signature added over aged varnish, floating conspicuously on top, can indicate a later addition.
• Subject and style cues:
  • Regional realism (harbors, barns, New England streetscapes).
  • Mid-century modern abstraction (gestural, color-field, geometric).
  • Figurative studio scenes or portrait studies.
  • Commercial illustration techniques (board, gouache, evidence of transfer lines).

Note measurements. For oils, the unframed size (stretcher-to-stretcher) is standard. For works on paper, list the sheet size and the image/plate size if applicable.

Photograph:

• Full front image, straight on.
• Signature detail.
• Reverse of canvas or panel (including labels and inscriptions).
• Frame joinery and backboard.
• Any condition issues (craquelure, abrasions, foxing, losses).

Provenance and Documentation: What Matters Most

With lesser-documented artists, provenance often carries more weight than a short artist biography. Assemble a paper trail from any of these sources:

• Gallery labels: Regional galleries frequently supplied printed labels with artist name, title, and price. Keep frames with original labels whenever possible.
• Exhibition tags: Juried shows, art association exhibitions, and college galleries sometimes stamped or numbered works; these marks can be traced.
• Collector and estate records: Bills of sale, insurance schedules, and exhibition programs—even photocopies—strengthen the chain of ownership.
• Artist inscriptions: On the reverse, look for titles, dates, medium notations, or studio addresses. Pencil notations on watercolor margins are common.
• Local press: Newspaper clippings can establish that a “Richard Kessler” exhibited in a particular town and year. Regional libraries and historical societies are invaluable for this.
• Appraiser notes: Prior appraisals, even if outdated, provide a starting point and may include comparable sales.

Keep everything together. A modest painting with airtight documentation often outperforms a similar work with no provenance in the marketplace.

Condition and Conservation Considerations

Condition heavily influences value, especially for mid-century works where color and surface are integral to appeal.

• Paintings:

  • Craquelure: Fine age-appropriate cracking is acceptable; tenting, lifting, or cupping threatens paint loss and reduces value.
  • Overpaint: UV examination can reveal restorations. Skillful inpainting is acceptable, but extensive overpaint diminishes desirability.
  • Relining: Not a deal-breaker, but disclose it. Relined canvases may read as flatter in raking light.
  • Surface grime: Nicotine staining and sooty deposits can mute colors; professional cleaning may significantly improve presentation.

• Works on paper:

  • Foxing: Brown spots indicate mold/metal impurities; treatable by a paper conservator.
  • Toning: Acidic mats cause a rectangular “burn.” Re-matting with archival materials is recommended.
  • Tape stains and hinges: Old pressure-sensitive tapes migrate; a conservator can often remove residues.
  • Fading: Dyes and some inks fade; if colors are notably weak, value suffers.

• Frames:

  • Original frames with gallery plaques or period profiles help value. Avoid aggressive “updates” that erase evidence.
  • Loose corners, gesso losses, and over-painting are common but fixable. Stabilize before shipping.

Always photograph condition accurately. Resist DIY cleaning; even mild solvents can bloom varnishes or lift friable media like gouache and pastel.

Market Overview and Valuation Approach

The market for 20th-century American regional painters is broad and varied. For a name like Richard Kessler, where multiple identities may exist and scholarship is thin, the pricing tends to follow the object rather than the biography.

Factors that move the needle:

• Quality: Strong composition, confident brushwork, harmonious color, and compelling subject matter.
• Scale: Mid-size to large works often outperform small studies.
• Medium: Oils typically bring more than works on paper; finished watercolors/gouaches can approach oil prices when exceptional.
• Date: Mid-century works (c. 1945–1975) are active collecting areas; early modern or WPA-era subjects can add interest.
• Provenance: Works with exhibition history or documented gallery representation sell better.
• Condition: Clean, original-surface pieces set the benchmarks.
• Comparables: Regional auction results, gallery sales, and estate dispersals of similar caliber.

Indicative price bands you may encounter in the secondary market for a competent, regionally active 20th-century American artist with limited national profile:

• Small works on paper or studies: approximately $100–$400.
• Mid-size watercolors/gouaches with good subject and condition: approximately $300–$1,200.
• Oils/acrylics on canvas or panel (16 x 20 in. to 24 x 30 in.) of solid quality: approximately $500–$2,500.
• Exceptional works with strong provenance or notable exhibition history: potentially higher.

These are broad guideposts; your piece can fall outside them based on the specific identity of the artist, market timing, and the strength of the work.

Where to sell:

• Regional auction houses experienced with mid-century American art.
• Specialty online auctions focusing on modern and contemporary regional schools.
• Local galleries that represent estates or mid-century material.

For insurance, request a replacement value from a qualified appraiser, which will be higher than typical auction estimates (retail replacement vs. fair market value).

How to Present Your Piece for Appraisal or Sale

Good documentation and images help professionals price accurately and attract bidders.

• Provide measurements and medium (e.g., “Oil on canvas, 24 x 30 in.; signed lower right; titled and dated on reverse”).
• Include front/back photography, signature details, frame, and any labels.
• Summarize provenance in bullet form with dates and names.
• Note condition transparently: “Minor surface grime; no apparent losses; frame with corner wear.”
• Offer a reasoned date range if no date is present (support materials, style, and varnish cues).
• Avoid speculative claims (“from a museum collection”) unless you have documents.

If you suspect your Richard Kessler correlates to a specific, documented artist (for example, consistent signatures across multiple labeled works from the same gallery), bundle those comparables with your submission to an appraiser or auction specialist.

Practical Checklist: Attributed to Richard Kessler (American, 20thc)

• Confirm medium and support; note brand stamps, watermarks, or panel marks.
• Photograph front, back, signature, labels, and condition issues in daylight.
• Record exact measurements (image and sheet/stretcher sizes).
• Transcribe all inscriptions and numbers, including on frame and backing.
• Evaluate signature under raking light; look for paint layer coherence (not atop aged varnish).
• Date the work by materials (staples vs. tacks, acrylic vs. oil, board type, paper watermark).
• Compile provenance: bills of sale, labels, exhibition programs, correspondence.
• Research regional auction results for similar works by “Richard Kessler” and stylistic peers.
• Seek a conservator’s opinion before cleaning; estimate conservation costs vs. likely value.
• Choose selling venue aligned to the piece: regional auction, online specialty sale, or gallery.

FAQ

Q: How can I tell if the signature is original to the painting? A: View the signature under magnification and raking light. Original signatures are integrated with the paint layer and typically sit beneath any final varnish. A signature floating on top of aged varnish, or executed in a materially different medium than the surrounding paint, may have been added later.

Q: Should I clean the artwork before getting it appraised? A: No. Surface intervention can alter value and complicate condition assessment. Provide clear photos to an appraiser first; if cleaning is advisable, a paper or paintings conservator can propose a treatment that preserves the original surface.

Q: What if there are multiple artists named Richard Kessler? A: That’s common with mid-century American names. Focus on the object: consistent signatures across related works, labels from the same gallery, and documented exhibition history can tie your piece to a specific individual. If the identity remains uncertain, a carefully documented “American, 20thc” attribution is standard and acceptable in the market.

Q: Will reframing increase the value? A: Keep the original frame if it’s period-appropriate or carries labels. If the frame is damaged or stylistically mismatched, a sympathetic period-style frame can improve presentation and saleability, but it rarely transforms value. Always retain any original plaques or inscriptions.

Q: Where can I find comparables for pricing? A: Look at regional auction catalogs and past sale archives for mid-century American works with similar medium, size, quality, and subject. When possible, match signature style and provenance context. Present several recent comps—not just the highest—to anchor realistic expectations.

By approaching an “Original Artwork by Richard Kessler (American, 20thc)” methodically—verifying materials, documenting provenance, assessing condition, and aligning with the right sales venue—you give the piece its best chance for an accurate appraisal and a successful result in the market.