Which opinion do you need, and when?
An appraiser, an auction house, a free app and Veriso answer different questions. Veriso is a first opinion: it helps you find out whether a work deserves a full appraisal — it does not replace one.
Traditional appraiser
- Cost
- Typically $300 – $1,000 (or more)
- Turnaround
- Typically 2 – 4 weeks
- Method
- In-person examination by a professional
- Reasoning shown
- Signed written report
- Languages
- Depends on the appraiser
- Valid for insurance / authentication
- Yes — it is the reference document
- Best for
- Insurance, estates, tax, donations, disputes
- Limits
- High cost and delay for a work of uncertain value
Simple price app
- Cost
- Often free
- Turnaround
- Instant
- Method
- Image or signature lookup only
- Reasoning shown
- Little or none: a number without explanation
- Languages
- Varies
- Valid for insurance / authentication
- No
- Best for
- A quick curiosity check
- Limits
- Rough estimate, no evidence or confidence level
Auction house estimate
- Cost
- Free
- Turnaround
- A few days to a few weeks
- Method
- Specialist opinion, from photos then in person
- Reasoning shown
- Sale estimate, sometimes brief
- Languages
- Depends on the house
- Valid for insurance / authentication
- No — it is an estimate for a sale
- Best for
- Selling a work whose value justifies consignment
- Limits
- Consignment only; many houses only accept works above a minimum value
Veriso
First opinion- Cost
- First scans free (3 / month). Price range and comparables with Collector, $9.99 / month
- Turnaround
- Minutes, not weeks
- Method
- AI analysis of your photos: signature, clues, attribution, comparables
- Reasoning shown
- Yes: evidence, hypotheses and a confidence level for every conclusion
- Languages
- English and French
- Valid for insurance / authentication
- No — neither a formal appraisal nor authentication
- Best for
- Finding out whether a work deserves an appraisal, and preparing the file
- Limits
- Works from photos; no human specialist reviews the report
Appraiser, auction house and app costs and turnaround are typical market ranges; they vary by region, provider and artwork.
When to use each
Traditional appraiser
You need a document that others will rely on: insuring a valuable work, an estate, a donation, a tax filing or a dispute.
Auction house
You want to sell and the work seems to have real market value. The estimate is free because the house earns its fee on the sale.
Price app
You are simply curious and a rough answer is enough.
Veriso
You don't yet know what you have. You want to understand the evidence, get a cautious range and decide what to do next — before paying an appraiser or contacting an auction house.
The path we recommend
Veriso sits at the start of the journey, not the end.
1. Veriso first opinion
Signature, likely attribution, value range, confidence level.
2. Decide
Decorative piece? You know where to sell it. Promising work? Go to step 3.
3. Human specialist
Auction house to sell, appraiser to insure or pass on, committee to authenticate.
Start with a free first opinion
Photograph the work, its signature and its back. You'll know whether it deserves a closer look.