Mesha By Remi Bourquin

For collectors and appraisers, a titled work like Mesha by Remi Bourquin presents both an opportunity and a challenge. The opportunity lies in clarifying authorship, medium, and market position to unlock accurate valuation. The challenge is that niche or contemporary artists often have limited publicly consolidated records, making due diligence essential. This guide distills a disciplined appraisal approach tailored to Mesha—transferable to similar works—while sticking to verifiable, object-based evidence.

Start With the Object: What “Mesha” Must Tell You

Before searching records, extract every possible fact from the piece itself. Your appraised value will only be as sound as this groundwork.

• Title and inscription conventions

  • Confirm the exact title as it appears on the work, verso inscription, certificate, or gallery label: “Mesha,” “MESHA,” or a variant. Note language and spelling; discrepancies can indicate a later retitling or a dealer’s inventory title rather than the artist’s.
  • Record any secondary titling, series name, or catalog number.

• Medium and support

  • Painting: Identify binder (oil, acrylic, casein) and ground (canvas, linen, panel). Look for brushwork, impasto, craquelure patterns, and ground color peeking at edges.
  • Sculpture: Determine material (bronze, resin, stone, wood). For bronze, note foundry mark, patina type, and casting method indicators (chasing, gating remnants).
  • Works on paper: Check paper type (wove vs laid), watermarks, deckle edges, and whether it’s a unique work or a print.
  • Printmaking: Distinguish etching, lithography, serigraphy, woodcut, linocut, or giclée. Optical cues include plate marks (intaglio), dot gain/rosette patterns (offset), and ink sit-up on screenprints.

• Signature and marks

  • Find signature location: recto/verso, within the matrix or in pencil in the margin (prints). Note the spelling: Remi, Rémi, R. Bourquin, full name, or monogram. Consistency of hand and placement across an artist’s oeuvre is often reliable.
  • Record dates near the signature, edition numbers (e.g., 7/50), AP/PP/BAT annotations, and any studio stamps.

• Dimensions

  • Measure image size and overall size. For sculpture, record height x width x depth, and weight if practical. Note whether measurements include frame or base.

• Labels and documentation

  • Photograph all labels: gallery, exhibition, shipping, and conservation tags. These anchor provenance and provide contact names and inventory numbers to verify.

• Subject and context

  • Jot objective descriptors: abstraction vs figuration; palette; motifs; stylistic influences. If the content references ancient inscription or Near Eastern archaeology, “Mesha” may allude to the Moabite king or the Mesha Stele; otherwise it could be a personal or invented name. Treat this as a hypothesis until supported by primary texts (artist statement, catalog entry).

From this object profile, you can design your research plan.

Building the Artist Record: Remi Bourquin Research Avenues

When an artist’s market is niche or regionally concentrated, primary sources and triangulation become crucial. For Remi Bourquin:

• Start with primary documents

  • Certificates of authenticity (COA) issued by the artist or representing gallery. Verify date of issue, signatory, embossed seals, and paper stock.
  • Gallery invoices and consignment agreements. Look for dates, titles, and medium that match the work.
  • Exhibition checklists or catalogs where Mesha is listed by title, medium, date, and dimensions.

• Cross-reference signatures and inscriptions

  • Assemble images of authenticated Bourquin signatures, if available, from earlier sold works or gallery archives. Compare letterforms, slant, pressure, and typical placement.

• Institutional and dealer verification

  • Contact past or current representing galleries or estates for stock book entries. Provide your high-resolution photos and your object card; ask for a confirmation of title and date.

• Public sales records

  • Compile verified auction results for works by Remi Bourquin. Segment by medium (painting vs print vs sculpture), size brackets, and date ranges. Document hammer prices and total with premium when relevant; note currency and sale date.

• Workshop, foundry, or printer data (if applicable)

  • For bronze: identify the foundry (e.g., a stamp or inscription). Confirm whether the edition was completed and what the total edition size was, including artist’s proofs.
  • For prints: identify the printer/publisher (chop marks, blind stamps) and whether Mesha was issued as a signed and numbered edition or an open edition.

Keep personal notes anchored to sources, not memory. Every claim in your appraisal should be traceable to an image, document, or conversation log.

Authentication, Red Flags, and Edition Logic

Authentication for contemporary or lesser-documented artists often hinges on internal coherence and edition logic rather than a formal catalogue raisonné.

• Internal coherence checks

  • Signature/date harmony: Dates on the recto should align with stylistic development and known career timelines. A suspiciously early or late date compared to materials used (e.g., modern acrylic mediums on a date predating their common use) warrants scrutiny.
  • Material alignment: If the artist is known primarily for prints, a “painting” without provenance may be more questionable; conversely, a unique work that echoes a known print composition may be a study or a reproduction.

• Edition integrity (prints and bronze)

  • Verify the edition fraction against documented edition sizes: outlying numbers (e.g., 74/70) are immediate red flags.
  • Check for consistent inking, registration, and hand-signature in pencil for original prints. Giclée reproductions often lack plate marks and exhibit uniform dot patterns under magnification.

• Foundry and printer stamps

  • Confirm the foundry stamp is correct for the artist and period. Mismatch of foundry and date is a common sign of aftercasts.
  • For lithographs/serigraphs, verify printer chop marks. Legitimate editions nearly always retain them.

• COAs and paperwork

  • A certificate is supportive, not definitive. Treat generic COAs without a serial number, image, or detailed description as weak evidence.

If any red flag persists after reasonable inquiry, consider a formal opinion from a qualified specialist in the artist’s market segment or medium.

Condition: Risks, Reporting, and Impact on Value

Condition is often the single largest variable in valuation once authenticity is established.

• Paintings

  • Look for structural issues: cupping, tenting, interlayer cleavage, and canvas deformation. UV examination can reveal overpaint and varnish adjustments. Professional conservation reports should list interventions with dates.
  • Frames: original or period-appropriate frames may carry ancillary value; replacements should be noted.

• Works on paper and prints

  • Light exposure: check for overall discoloration, mat burn, or differential fading beneath old mats. Assess paper pH and brittleness.
  • Mounting: dry-mounting diminishes value for collectible prints; hinge-mounting with conservation materials is preferable.

• Sculpture

  • Bronze: assess patina wear, corrosion (bronze disease), and structural repairs. Original patination is often prized; later repatination should be disclosed.
  • Stone/wood: inspect for cracks, fills, and previous reinforcement. Environmental histories (humidity swings) matter.

• Photography

  • If Mesha is a photograph, confirm process (gelatin silver, chromogenic, inkjet pigment) and editioning. Color shifts and surface abrasions are typical concerns.

Always attach a condition summary with images to your appraisal, flagging issues that materially affect marketability.

Valuation: Establishing a Defensible Number

A defensible value triangulates between comparable sales, replacement cost, and current demand.

• Define the value premise

  • Fair Market Value (FMV): price between willing buyer and seller, both informed, no compulsion, typical of secondary market.
  • Retail Replacement Value (RRV): current cost to replace with a comparable item from the most relevant retail source, used in insurance.
  • Marketable Cash Value (MCV): FMV less estimated costs to sell; sometimes used in estates.

• Comparables selection

  • Match like-for-like: medium, size, date, subject matter, and edition size. A 30 x 40 cm acrylic on canvas is not a comp for a small etching.
  • Sale venue parity: compare auction with auction, retail with retail. Adjust for buyer’s premium in auction comps.

• Adjustments

  • Condition: discounts for restoration, fading, or losses; premiums for exceptional preservation.
  • Provenance: exhibition history, publication in catalogues, or collection of note can support a premium.
  • Currency and timing: convert currencies using the exchange rate at the sale date and consider market drift since then.

• Narrative justification

  • Summarize the rationale, citing specific comps and adjustments. A clear narrative converts data into an appraisal that withstands scrutiny.

Interpreting the Title “Mesha” Without Overreaching

Titles can guide interpretation and market reception, but appraisers should avoid speculative narratives.

• Neutral description
  • Describe what is objectively present—figures, forms, palette, technique—before assigning meaning to the title.
• Supported interpretation
  • Only attach historical or thematic readings to the title if backed by an artist statement, exhibition text, or scholarly citation.
• Market impact
  • Works with iconic or recurring titles within an artist’s oeuvre may carry stronger demand; verify whether Bourquin revisited “Mesha” in multiple media or sizes.

Practical Checklist: Mesha by Remi Bourquin

• Record full title, inscriptions, and any alternate titles from labels.
• Identify medium, support, and technique; confirm with magnification and raking light.
• Photograph signature, edition numbers, stamps, labels, and the entire work (recto/verso).
• Measure image and overall dimensions; note framed/unframed.
• Compile provenance documents: invoices, COAs, emails, shipping records.
• Verify edition integrity (if applicable): fraction, total size, AP/PP/BAT counts, printer/foundry marks.
• Conduct condition review; obtain a conservator’s report for material issues.
• Assemble at least three strong comparables aligned in medium, size, and date.
• Define value premise (FMV/RRV) and write adjustments rationale.
• Store all findings in a dated appraisal file with source citations.

Presenting and Protecting Value

• Documentation retention
  • Keep a digital dossier: high-resolution images, PDFs of paperwork, and a written condition log. Cloud backups and printed copies both help.
• Framing and display
  • Use UV-filtering glazing for works on paper and photographs. Maintain stable humidity and temperature. Avoid direct light.
• Insurance and inventory
  • If insured, update the schedule after major market changes or conservation treatment. Use a consistent inventory numbering system.
• Exit strategy
  • For potential sale, identify the best-fit venue (auction, dealer, private). Presentation (framing, documentation) can shift outcomes within a rational range.

Sample Appraisal Summary Template (Fill-In)

• Artist: Remi Bourquin
• Title: Mesha
• Date: [insert]
• Medium/Support: [insert]
• Dimensions: [insert]
• Signature/Marks: [insert]
• Edition/Foundry: [insert]
• Provenance: [insert]
• Exhibition/Publications: [insert]
• Condition Summary: [insert]
• Value Premise: [FMV/RRV]
• Comparable Sales: [list 3–5 with dates, venues, results]
• Concluded Value: [currency and number]
• Appraiser Notes: [insert]

FAQ

Q: I have a COA for Mesha. Is that enough to establish authenticity? A: It’s supportive but not sufficient by itself. Pair it with signature analysis, material examination, and provenance verification. Strong appraisals are evidence stacks, not single documents.

Q: How can I tell if my Mesha is an original print or a digital reproduction? A: View under 10x magnification. Original intaglio prints show plate impressions and ink in recesses; serigraphs have layered, sit-up ink. Uniform dot patterns or CMYK rosettes often indicate digital/offset reproduction.

Q: What if the edition number on my piece doesn’t match known edition sizes? A: Treat it as a red flag. Reconfirm with the printer/publisher or artist’s representative. Edition inconsistencies can materially reduce value or invalidate attribution.

Q: Does framing affect value? A: Yes. Museum-quality, reversible framing protects condition and can be a selling point. Non-archival mats, dry-mounting, or unsuitable frames can harm both condition and price.

By approaching Mesha by Remi Bourquin with disciplined object study, corroborated records, and careful market analysis, you’ll produce an appraisal that not only stands up to scrutiny but also maximizes the work’s market potential.