COULD YOUR ARTWORK BE BY ALEXANDRA EKSTER?

Previously unknown works by important artists continue to emerge from private collections, estates, inheritances, and long-held family possessions. While authentic works by Alexandra Ekster may be rare, every work deserves to be evaluated on its own merits rather than dismissed simply because it is unfamiliar or undocumented.

If you believe your painting, drawing, gouache, theatrical design, or other work may be by Alexandra Ekster, obtaining an independent professional opinion is the appropriate first step.

We have specialized in the authentication of works attributed to Alexandra Ekster since 2002. We issue Certificates of Authenticity (COAs), Authentication Reports, appraisals, valuations, provenance reports, and provide buying, selling, brokerage, and investment advisory services for collectors, attorneys, insurers, financial institutions, estates, museums, and private clients worldwide.

Getting started is straightforward. Simply send us photographs of the work together with its dimensions and any information you have regarding its history or ownership. After reviewing the material, we will recommend the most appropriate course of action.

AUTHENTICATION

Is this an Alexandra Ekster?

From a single photograph of ordinary quality, we can often determine whether a work appears consistent with Alexandra Ekster’s work or whether it clearly does not. Ekster worked across painting, drawing, book illustration, theater and costume design, and her career encompassed Cubist, Futurist, Constructivist, and abstract tendencies, making the work’s medium, date, composition, and technical characteristics particularly important.

What services do you provide?

We provide authentication, certification, Certificates of Authenticity (COAs), Authentication Reports, appraisals and valuations, provenance research, private sales and brokerage, investment advice, and analytical art market research.

Is it possible to discover a previously unknown Alexandra Ekster today?

Yes. Ekster worked in several countries and across numerous artistic disciplines, including painting, works on paper, stage and costume design, illustration, and decorative projects. Works can survive with incomplete documentation, uncertain attribution, or histories disrupted by migration, war, and changes of ownership. A previously undocumented work can therefore merit careful investigation.

Do I need to get my Alexandra Ekster authenticated?

Yes. Authentication is essential if you wish to sell your work for its full market value. It is also important for insurance, estate planning, charitable donations, financing, and many legal purposes.

Is it complicated to get an Alexandra Ekster authenticated?

Not for you. For paintings, send photographs of the front and reverse and close-ups of important details. For works on paper, include the entire sheet, margins, signatures, inscriptions, labels, stamps, and other markings. Include the dimensions and anything you know about the work’s history. The investigation itself is our responsibility.

How long does it take to authenticate an Alexandra Ekster?

It depends on how much is already known about the work when we begin the investigation. In the simplest cases, authenticity can be confirmed within a couple of weeks. More complex cases may require several months.

How much does it cost to authenticate an Alexandra Ekster?

From the low hundreds to the high thousands. It depends on how much is already known and documented, where relevant archives are located, and whether travel or scientific testing is required.

Can a signature alone prove that an Alexandra Ekster work is authentic?

No. A signature must be evaluated together with the work’s technique, materials, date, provenance, inscriptions, labels, and other physical and documentary evidence. This is particularly important for avant-garde works, where careful examination of authorship and provenance is essential.

Can an unsigned Alexandra Ekster work still be authentic?

Yes. The absence of a signature does not by itself make a work inauthentic. Attribution depends on the complete stylistic, technical, physical, and documentary evidence.

What documents help authenticate an Alexandra Ekster work?

Any document that mentions, describes, illustrates, or refers to the work may assist the authentication. Photographs, invoices, correspondence, exhibition records, collection inventories, gallery labels, restoration or conservation reports, insurance documents, auction records, and family papers can all contribute valuable evidence.

Can an Alexandra Ekster work be authenticated from photographs?

Yes. High-quality photography is an extremely useful authentication tool and allows us to study composition, technique, materials, surface, signatures, inscriptions, labels, and other important characteristics remotely. When additional evidence is required, we may recommend an in-person examination. We examine works worldwide.

Is it always necessary to perform scientific analyses of an Alexandra Ekster?

No. Many works can be authenticated through research, provenance investigation, comparative analysis, and technical examination. Scientific testing is generally reserved for more difficult cases when questions remain concerning pigments, binders, grounds, canvas, paper, inks, or other materials.

What if my Alexandra Ekster has no provenance?

Incomplete provenance does not automatically exclude a work from consideration. When ownership history is incomplete, authentication relies more heavily on archival research, technical examination, comparison with documented works, and, where appropriate, scientific testing.

Do you issue Certificates of Authenticity for Alexandra Ekster works?

Yes. Upon completion of the authentication, we issue a Certificate of Authenticity (COA) together with a detailed and fully referenced Authentication Report.

APPRAISALS & VALUATIONS

How much is my Alexandra Ekster work worth?

We will appraise your work and determine its value. Medium, date, subject, dimensions, condition, provenance, exhibition history, rarity, quality, and current market demand are among the principal valuation factors.

SELLING

Can you sell my Alexandra Ekster for me?

Yes. We specialize in private sales but use every appropriate selling method to obtain the highest possible net price. We manage the process professionally, confidentially, and on your behalf.

Do I need an appraisal before selling my Alexandra Ekster?

Yes. Your work should be priced correctly for the country, market, and method of sale. An independent appraisal helps prevent both underpricing and overpricing.

Do I need authentication before selling my Alexandra Ekster?

Yes. Without authentication, your work may sell for only a fraction of its potential market value.

Can you help me maximize the selling price of my Alexandra Ekster?

Yes. Authentication, provenance, valuation, timing, presentation, and the chosen sales method can all influence the final result. We also provide collection management advice designed to maximize value.

Should I restore my Alexandra Ekster before selling it?

Usually not. Buyers often have their own preferences regarding conservation and restoration, and unnecessary intervention can alter original surfaces and materials. We generally recommend selling the work in its present condition unless there is a compelling conservation reason to intervene.

How long does it take to sell an Alexandra Ekster?

Higher-value works generally require more time to sell because there are fewer qualified buyers. Correct pricing, strong documentation, and the appropriate sales method all contribute to a successful sale.

BUYING & ADVISORY

Should I buy an Alexandra Ekster?

If you enjoy Ekster’s work, certainly. If your primary objective is investment, we can evaluate the proposed acquisition and alternative opportunities.

Can you review an Alexandra Ekster before I buy it?

Yes. We provide independent pre-purchase research and analysis for collectors and investors. We also prepare predictive art market forecasts and Buy-Hold-Sell recommendations.

What should I check before buying an Alexandra Ekster?

Three fundamental questions should always be answered: Is it authentic? What is its condition? Is the price reasonable? For Ekster, provenance, exhibition and publication history, materials, inscriptions, labels, and the work’s relationship to documented examples from the relevant period should receive particularly careful attention.

How can I avoid buying a fake Alexandra Ekster?

Call us before you buy. An independent review before completing the purchase is one of the simplest ways to reduce the risk of acquiring a forged or misattributed work.

Can you advise me on building a collection?

Yes. We advise collectors on the financial aspects of acquisition, ownership, collection management, and eventual sale.

REQUEST AN ALEXANDRA EKSTER AUTHENTICATION OR APPRAISAL

Whether you require authentication, a Certificate of Authenticity, an appraisal, valuation, provenance research, buying advice, selling assistance, brokerage, or investment guidance regarding a work attributed to Alexandra Ekster, our specialists are available to assist.

Complete the contact form below or call us at +1 (212) 658-0466 to discuss your work with one of our experts.