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Antiques and art · Valuation in Lisbon

Antiques and Art Valuation

An antique is not weighed — it is read. By its maker's mark, its period, its condition and the hand that made it. That is the work we do before we give you a figure.
The valuation

Two identical chairs can be worth thirty euros or three thousand, and the difference is not visible: it lies in the workshop that made them, the year they were made and everything that has happened to them since. That is why so much furniture leaves a home for less than it is worth — nobody had the time to look at it piece by piece. We do, and we show you where we looked.

How it works

From the first photograph to the value, in four steps

Collection of antiques gathered for valuation — silverware, porcelain, paintings and books
01

Photograph what you have

Photographs of the whole and of the marks — the underside of porcelain, the back of paintings, the labels on furniture. That is where almost all the information lies.
02

Authorship and period

We look for the maker, the period and the school. A factory mark, a hallmark or a signature in the right place can change a piece's value by several orders of magnitude.
03

Condition and market

We assess condition, restorations and missing parts, and compare against real sale and auction results for equivalent pieces.
04

The report, and the decision

You receive in writing what you have, what it is worth and why. From there you can sell, keep, insure or share among heirs — the choice is yours.
What we value

From a single piece to an entire collection

Antique furniture valuation — carved wooden cabinet and chair

Antique Furniture

Period pieces, in fine woods and fine cabinetmaking.
Silver and metalware valuation — candlestick and antique silver pieces

Silver and Metalware

Tableware, candlesticks and decorative objects.
Painting and art valuation — oil painting in a gilded frame

Painting and Art

Oils, watercolours, prints and sculpture.
Porcelain and faience valuation — antique decorated vase and plates

Porcelain and Faience

Services, vases, azulejo tiles and ceramics.
Valuation of mantel and wall clocks — mantel clock with pendulum

Clocks

Pendulum, table and wall clocks.
Books and collections valuation — antique leather-bound books

Books and Collections

First editions, coins and stamps.
Why Vintage LX

The assurance of a house with a name

01

Who signs the attribution

Valuations that require expertise go to independent experts, who sign what they say. You receive a document with a name on it, not an over-the-counter opinion.
02

We look at the whole house

A collection is valued as a whole: what is worth little on its own can be worth a great deal beside the right piece. That is why we prefer to see everything before putting forward any figures.
03

We do not buy what we value

When the valuation is for dividing an estate or for insurance, we stay out of the purchase. With no conflict of interest, no value is talked down.
Frequently asked questions

Common questions about antiques and art valuation

How do I know whether a piece is antique or a reproduction?

By the signs of how it was made — lathe marks, wood joints, wear consistent with use, the type of glaze. Photographs of the underside and the joints almost always tell us enough.

Is it worth restoring before selling?

Hardly ever. A poor restoration takes away more value than the damage it repairs, and some buyers prefer the piece untouched. Ask us before having anything repaired.

How do you value an unsigned painting?

By the school, the support, the frame and above all the back — gallery labels and exhibition stamps are worth as much as a signature. Where authorship is in doubt, we refer it for expert appraisal.

Do you value for estate division and for insurance?

Yes. In those cases the valuation is carried out by an independent expert and delivered in writing, with market value and replacement value.

How long does it take?

The first reading from photographs is the same day. A written valuation with expert appraisal takes from three days to two weeks, depending on the piece and the expert.
Free first reading

Have a piece and don't know what it is worth?

Send us photographs — of the whole piece and of the marks. We will give you a first reading the very same day, without obligation.
Talk to usCall +351 923 335 824
First reading within 24h · Shop in Areeiro, Lisbon · Written expert appraisal when needed