Condition reports are among the most valuable tools available to a buyer. Catalogue photographs flatter, and even detailed images cannot reveal everything about surface, structure and past restoration. A condition report records what a specialist has observed, helping you judge whether an object meets your expectations before you bid.
What a Condition Report Covers
A report typically describes the overall state of an object and notes specific issues. For a painting, this might include the canvas or panel, the paint surface, varnish and retouching. For manuscripts and works on paper, which form the heart of our illumination and calligraphy sales, the report may address:
- Paper or vellum: stains, foxing, tears, creases, losses and repairs
- Pigments and gold: flaking, rubbing, oxidation of silver and later retouching
- Margins: whether they are original, trimmed or remargined
- Mounting: whether a leaf has been laid down on card or set into an album page
- Binding: original or later, its structure and its wear
- Completeness: missing folios or replaced text
Common Terms and What They Mean
Reports use a specialised vocabulary. A few common terms:
- Foxing: small brown spots on paper, often linked to humidity.
- Laid down: adhered to a secondary support.
- Retouching or inpainting: later paint added to disguise losses.
- Craquelure: a network of fine cracks in a paint layer, normal in many older paintings.
- Remargined: original margins replaced with new paper, common in Islamic manuscript leaves.
Note that some features are expected. Minor wear on a centuries-old manuscript is natural and need not deter a buyer. The question is whether the condition is consistent with age and acceptable for your purposes.
Reading Between the Lines
Pay attention to what a report does not say. A phrase such as “in generally good condition” is a summary, not a guarantee of perfection. If a report is brief, ask for more detail.
Questions Worth Asking
- Has the object been examined under ultraviolet light?
- Are there areas of later restoration, and how extensive are they?
- Can you provide additional images of the reverse or of specific details?
- Is the frame, mount or binding original to the object?
The Limits of a Report
Condition reports are normally based on careful visual examination, sometimes aided by magnification or ultraviolet light, rather than scientific analysis. They express an honest opinion and do not usually amount to a warranty. The status of reports is set out in the auction house’s conditions of business, and lots are generally sold as they are. That is why viewing in person, or engaging an independent conservator, can be worthwhile for significant purchases.
Making Condition Part of Your Decision
Condition affects value, care requirements and future saleability. Weigh it alongside quality, rarity and provenance. When you have reviewed the report and are ready, explore our current auctions.
Condition reports also help after purchase. Keep the report with your records, since it documents the state of the object at the time of sale and provides a useful baseline for insurers, conservators and any future owner who wishes to understand how the work has been cared for over time.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a condition report a guarantee?
No. It is a specialist’s opinion based on visual examination and is usually not a scientific analysis. Conditions of business normally set out its legal status.
Does every auction house provide condition reports?
Most reputable houses provide them on request, and many publish them online. It is always worth asking before bidding.
Can I commission an independent inspection?
Yes. Buyers may ask a conservator or adviser to examine a lot during the viewing period, subject to the auction house’s arrangements.
