Artwork without a visible signature often triggers immediate assumptions. Many people conclude that the piece must be incomplete, anonymous, or not worth serious attention, while others assume it could be a hidden discovery simply because it looks old or well made. Online listings, inherited collections, and casual advice reinforce both extremes by treating the presence or absence of a name as a shortcut to resolution. Understanding how unsigned artwork is actually evaluated matters because acting too quickly—either by dismissing or overpromoting—can lock in mistakes that are difficult to reverse later.
DJR Real vs. Fake™ guides are designed to help readers understand what commonly goes wrong before money, reputation, or documentation is committed.
This guide explains how professionals think about unsigned artwork, focusing on:
Where public assumptions about signatures break down
Why authorship and attribution are often conflated
How legitimate works can exist without visible signatures
Where uncertainty enters when absence is treated as proof
Inside this guide, readers will learn how to:
Separate lack of signature from lack of relevance
Recognize when unsigned work warrants caution versus dismissal
Understand why some artists did not consistently sign
Identify when restraint is the correct decision
Avoid framing, listing, or insuring based on assumption
Decide when professional escalation may or may not make sense
This guide does not authenticate items or assign value.
Its purpose is to restore clarity, enforce restraint, and prevent irreversible mistakes at the decision stage.
Digital Download — PDF • 4 Pages • Instant Access
Artwork without a visible signature often triggers immediate assumptions. Many people conclude that the piece must be incomplete, anonymous, or not worth serious attention, while others assume it could be a hidden discovery simply because it looks old or well made. Online listings, inherited collections, and casual advice reinforce both extremes by treating the presence or absence of a name as a shortcut to resolution. Understanding how unsigned artwork is actually evaluated matters because acting too quickly—either by dismissing or overpromoting—can lock in mistakes that are difficult to reverse later.
DJR Real vs. Fake™ guides are designed to help readers understand what commonly goes wrong before money, reputation, or documentation is committed.
This guide explains how professionals think about unsigned artwork, focusing on:
Where public assumptions about signatures break down
Why authorship and attribution are often conflated
How legitimate works can exist without visible signatures
Where uncertainty enters when absence is treated as proof
Inside this guide, readers will learn how to:
Separate lack of signature from lack of relevance
Recognize when unsigned work warrants caution versus dismissal
Understand why some artists did not consistently sign
Identify when restraint is the correct decision
Avoid framing, listing, or insuring based on assumption
Decide when professional escalation may or may not make sense
This guide does not authenticate items or assign value.
Its purpose is to restore clarity, enforce restraint, and prevent irreversible mistakes at the decision stage.
Digital Download — PDF • 4 Pages • Instant Access
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