UNDERSTANDING THE ENORMOUS IMPACT THE NUMBER OF LIMITED EDITIONS HAS ON A SCULPTURE'S VALUE
What do Limited Editions mean?
PLEASE ASK before you buy!
It's great to buy art because you love it, but its also reasonable to consider it's potential future value. You should always ask "What's the number of limited editions of the piece you are considering?" That number will tell you how many replicas will be available for sale. The smaller the number the better from an investment standpoint. The smaller the number of Limited Editions the higher the chances it will increase in value with time. Some art collectors won't even buy anything over single digits. This number is found carved next to the artist's signature and date. For example, 3/9 represents this particular piece is cast #3, of a maximum total of 9. If this information is not found engraved in the piece itself, you should assume there is no limit to the number of castings, and it should be considered decoration, not fine art. Therefore it's reasonable to expect to pay a higher price for more exclusive editions, but it is worth it from an investment stand point. Makes sense?
What are AP's?
AP stands for "Artist Proof." In addition to the pre-determined number of limited editions, the artist reserves the right to cast a pre-determined number of AP's. Typically AP's are meant to give the artist the opportunity to perfect the patina process before starting to number the limited editions. At times, AP's have been known to sell for more than the limited edition castings themselves, especially when all the limited editions have been sold. It is up to the artist to decide how many AP's to cast, and at which point during the casting process will they be cast. The letters "AP" and the number of AP's should be carved next to the artist signature, date, and limited edition number. For example, AP 2/3 means there are a total of 3 AP's and this is AP #2. In my opinion, the amount of AP's should only be a fraction of the total limited editions, and under no circumstance should they exceed the number of limited editions. For example, if you have a limited edition of nine, I would personally limit my AP's to not more than 3 to 4, otherwise what is the point of having limited editions?
What are AP's?
AP stands for "Artist Proof." In addition to the pre-determined number of limited editions, the artist reserves the right to cast a pre-determined number of AP's. Typically AP's are meant to give the artist the opportunity to perfect the patina process before starting to number the limited editions. At times, AP's have been known to sell for more than the limited edition castings themselves, especially when all the limited editions have been sold. It is up to the artist to decide how many AP's to cast, and at which point during the casting process will they be cast. The letters "AP" and the number of AP's should be carved next to the artist signature, date, and limited edition number. For example, AP 2/3 means there are a total of 3 AP's and this is AP #2. In my opinion, the amount of AP's should only be a fraction of the total limited editions, and under no circumstance should they exceed the number of limited editions. For example, if you have a limited edition of nine, I would personally limit my AP's to not more than 3 to 4, otherwise what is the point of having limited editions?