Research
Collections Storage Appointments
Telfair Museums is committed to making its collections available to scholars and the general public for appreciation and study, including works not currently on display. It is always recommended to contact the museum in advance to confirm whether an artwork is on public view during the anticipated timing of one’s visit. When scheduling an appointment to view works in storage, please consider the following:
- Requests should be submitted via email and should include full contact information, educational/professional affiliations, a description of the project, a precise list of materials requested for study (including accession numbers, if available), and, when relevant, a list of research and curatorial files for review. Please note: certain objects may not be available for viewing due to fragility or other concerns.
- Requests should be submitted at least four weeks prior to the desired appointment date.
- Preference is given to scholars, students, artists, and Telfair members.
For appointments to view artworks from Telfair’s permanent collection, please contact associate registrar, Markecia Koulesser: koulesserm@telfair.org
Researching Your Art
Telfair Museums cannot legally evaluate or appraise works of art. However, there are many great resources for researching on your own or for seeking an official appraisal.
Getting started:
The Smithsonian American Art Museum website has brought together many useful tips and resources on topics like finding the value of your art, discovering its history, and how to care for it: http://americanart.si.edu/research/tools/art/
Researching locally:
Beyond utilizing the resources of our local public library, the Georgia Historical Society has many accessible resources online. You may search the digital archive here: https://georgiahistory.com/research-the-collection/search-our-collection.
For more information about on-site research services, click here to read more: https://georgiahistory.com/research-the-collection/researching-at-the-georgia-historical-society/
Appraisals:
The International Revenue Service prohibits the Museum from providing monetary valuations or appraisals. Telfair cannot recommend specific appraisers, but you may consult https://www.appraisers.org/ for listings of certified appraisers in your area, with a database searchable by location and area of expertise. Other resources include: https://www.appraisersassociation.org/, https://artdealers.org/, https://www.isa-appraisers.org/.
Caring for Art:
From furniture to paintings, there are many qualified conservators in the Southeast who can clean, repair, and frame your artwork. The Smithsonian Museum Conservation Institute provides tips for the proper care, handling, and conservation of works of art: https://www.si.edu/mci/english/learn_more/taking_care/index.html
The following resource may be helpful if you would like to contact a professional to assist you with caring or treating your work: https://www.culturalheritage.org/about-conservation/find-a-conservator
Selling Art:
There are many avenues for selling art and antiques, including local dealers and estate sale companies, as well as larger regional and national auction houses. Telfair routinely works with many dealers, galleries, and auction houses, but the Museum cannot recommend specific private entities through whom to sell your works. For selling a large collection of art and antiques, you could go through a large regional auction house, which will send a representative to evaluate the collection. There are also a number of estate sale companies in the area.
