Have you recently inherited or purchased a charcoal drawing and want to know its value? Mearto provides quick and affordable online appraisals of charcoal drawings. All you have to do is click on the “Start Appraisal” button above and follow the steps to send us information about and images of your charcoal drawing. One of our qualified and experienced specialists will review and get back to you with a fair market and insurance value, typically within 48 hours. Have questions about the valuation provided, or would you like some advice about selling your charcoal drawing? We are here to help! Our platform allows you to chat back and forth with a specialist to ensure that all of your questions are answered.
Click the "Get Started" button below to set up a free account.
Answer a few simple questions and upload images of your item.
Receive a specialist's valuation by email in 24 to 48 hours.
Get help with the next steps, including consignment and sale.
Charcoal drawing is a dry media achieved by applying charcoal (stick, pencil or powder) to paper. It is a versatile media that can achieve rough, bold marks or smooth and steady ones. Charcoal boldly responds to the drawing surface, while being easily removable. The use of charcoal dates back to ancient times. Charcoal was, and still is used in a variety of artistic techniques outside of drawing, including spolvero, which is a technique of transferring drawings or plans from one surface to another by passing charcoal over small uniform holes that are punched along the drawing’s outline. Charcoal drawing has been historically used as a method of preparation for “finished” works, usually paintings. Preparatory charcoal drawings and finished drawings can be extremely valuable
One of the most expensive drawings sold to date is by the hand of Raphael Sanzio, which went for $47 million. The work titled Head of an Apostle joined another record-setting drawing titled Head of a Muse, which also sold for a record-setting $47.9 million in 2009 at Christie’s.
Charcoal drawings are, by their nature, very delicate. The charcoal itself sits on the surface of the paper. While the charcoal can stain the surface, the particles never fully adhere. For modern works, a fixative is often applied to bind the particles to the surface. Framing and matting with non-acidic paper is a good way to conserve the integrity of your charcoal drawing without using a chemical adhesive intervention.
Lindsey Bourret is the Managing Director at Mearto. In addition to overseeing the daily operations of the business, she also enjoys sharing her extensive knowledge of the fine art and antiques market with our customers through our website, blog, e-newsletter and social media accounts.