You’ve probably tried to buy something second hand with sustainability in mind, or even dreamt of scoring that perfect vintage find. But when you finally make your way to an antique shop or browse an online platform (E-you know the one) you’re overwhelmed by the number of choices. A plethora of picks, all piled up, perhaps covered in dust, and unfortunately placed pricing stickers that require sorting, cleaning, and scrubbing – all things that you just don’t have time for. Same.
We started browsing the vintage art market during the pandemic and quickly became frustrated by the process of searching, bidding, and shipping expenses only to be disappointed in the piece that arrived at doorstep. Sometimes the perfect piece at the right price arrived in molded matting or a cracked frame. Other times, the auctioneers plastered stickers over the glass that left unsightly residue over the scene. And there was that one time when the vendor selling the piece as-is failed to disclose a very prominent scratch. Even with the best of intentions and all the time in the world (pandemic life), we struggled to find that perfect piece to put above our coach.
Tokyo Construction, Leonard Maurer.
Three years later, we’ve finally figured out how to navigate the vintage fine art market and founded Old Town Fine Art to make it easy for you to find second-hand, vintage fine art pieces for your home. To us, curated vintage fine art means:
Regional Connection: While we don’t have a storefront (yet), we’re proud to be based in Alexandria, Virginia, just a ferry ride away from Washington D.C. Public service is a huge part of our story and we strive to source artwork by artists with local connections, prior military service, or ties to public initiatives.
Original Artwork: It’s not just a decorative piece or a beautified item, it's creativity, expression, and history. We strive to bring you signed pieces by listed artists. First and foremost, we will always advise you to purchase artwork that you love. Art as an investment is simply a potential externality, with no guarantees. However, by sourcing original signed artwork we hope to uplift each artist’s journey and support fine art.
Condition Transparency: No surprises. If we are listing something in less than excellent overall condition, we will include detailed descriptions and pictures of the flaws in our listings, or seek professional restoration services before listing the piece for purchase.
Early Morning Light, Leland S. Curtis.
For us, curation is a thoughtful and purposeful process through which we hope to present an aesthetically pleasing collection with meaning and history. We love diving in, doing the research, and keeping the creative narrative alive while providing a cohesive collection for our clients to choose from.